Porsche has embarked on a much reduced GT programme for the 2016 season, focusing on the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the United States in addition to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, rather than the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The German manufacturer is not turning its back on the class though as an all-new car to replace the 911 RSR in the 2017 season has already been unveiled. The new car, still to be officially named, is designed to race in the GTE and GTLM classes. Now that rollout has been completed on the Porsche-owned Weissach track, a testing phase will begin on other circuits around the world.

Several works drivers have taken the wheel, although Porsche has kept their identity under wraps. “It is definitely unusual to put several drivers behind the wheel at a rollout,” explained Marco Ujhasi, Overall Project Manager GT Works Motorsport. “But since all of our works drivers are involved in the development of the new car, the ones who could fit it into their schedules came to Weissach and turned a couple of laps.”

The car is scheduled to make its first competitive outing at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January 2017. “The race début of a completely new vehicle at a 24-hour race is a big challenge. But we are right on schedule,” said Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Head of Porsche Motorsport.

1st look at our #newporsche, the 2017 GTE/GTLM car. Rollout at Weissach completed. Now testing phase starts. pic.twitter.com/8pO67pCbEJ

— Porsche Motorsport (@PorscheRaces) May 12, 2016

Geoffroy Barre – Translated by David Goward (quotes courtesy of a Porsche media release)

Photo: testing is about to begin on the 2017 version of the Porsche GT. After its race début in Daytona next January, will it appear at the 24 Hours of Le Mans?