Don’t worry about wrapping it, we’ll take it just like this
Falken has now been racing in VLN for 20 years, initially using an R33 Skyline GTR for the 1999 season. Since 2011 its car of choice has been a 911 GT3 (joined by an M6 GT3 in 2017), which will continue into the 2019 season.
Now based on a facelifted 991, the 550hp GT3 R is said to have improved aerodynamics over the old car, with 300/680 R18 tyres said to provide more grip at the front – the rear continues unchanged with 310/710 R18s. The driver line up is the same, too, with Martin Ragginger and Klaus Bachler supported by Porsche factory drivers Dirk Werner and Jorg Bergmeister.
Anyway, the main point of interest for now is just how good this new GT3 R looks. Usually a Falken car is painted the trademark blue and turquoise, but for now it’s bare carbon – and all the better for it. The vents, scoops and spoilers that make a racing 911 look so imposing appear all the more evil here, even if the car is perhaps less recognisable because of it.
For a better idea of what the finished product might look like, Falken did one test with this chassis in disguise in 2018. The first event for the new GT3 will be at the first round of this year’s VLN on March 23rd; it’s currently being tested at Portimao, so expect to see plenty more soon. Following on from its most successful season ever in 2018 – with two wins and seven podiums – Falken will hope to build on that in 2019. If this GT3 goes as well as it looks, the job should be easy…
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