Porsche customer teams make their mark with 991 GT3 R in DTM

This year marked Porsche’s debut in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), the German grand touring car series racing modified versions of GT3 cars, which replace the competition’s hugely popular silhouette-style touring cars, campaigned for many decades. 

For this new era of Porsche motorsport, the 991 GT3 R had a big impact, as demonstrated by the three 911s fielded by SSR Performance (two cars) and Team Bernhard (single entry), which achieved a trio of victories in the storied German racing series by way of wins for Team Bernhard at Red Bull Ring and Norisring, plus a single win for SSR Performance at Spa. Works driver, Thomas Preining, turned heads with a strong result come season end, an achievement made possible by some of the season’s most spectacular overtaking moves — the Austrian concluded the season fifth in the drivers’ championship. Along the way, Dennis Olsen scored a pole position in qualifying for SSR, a first for Porsche in DTM.

Preining headed into the final race weekend at Hockenheim with an outside chance of claiming the title, but all hopes for the big coup were quickly dashed in the first of two races. After a heavy shunt with a rival car in lap six, the Austrian’s GT3 R smashed into the track barriers. While Preining walked away from the wreckage, his severe bruising and the irreparable damage to the no.24 Porsche made it impossible for him tackle Sunday’s race.

Olsen suffered the same fate at the wheel of SSR’s no.94 car. Several vehicles were involved in both accidents, which happened in quick succession. As a result, the only 911 left in the race was the no.92 SSR GT3 R, driven by Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup veteran, Christian Engelhart. As they say, everything comes in threes — the German had to retire early after a collision in the first lap. “We’re disappointed, obviously, that our title dreams in Hockenheim were dashed so early,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport. “The health of our drivers, however, takes top priority. We’re pleased all safety elements in the 991 GT3 R did their job well and that both Olsen and Preining came through their heavy crashes with only minor injuries. Looking at the 2022 season as a whole, our customer teams have established the Porsche brand in the DTM in record time. We’re very proud of these teams and their drivers. In the 911’s very first season of this fiercely competitive series, the GT3 R secured three race wins, which is a tremendous result. My thanks go out to everyone who made these achievements possible.”

Preining remains philosophical after his heavy accident. ”I look like a character from Avatar — I’m completely blue!” he jokes. “Thankfully, the crash can’t take away from my positive impressions of the 2022 DTM season — I climbed to the top of the podium at my most important race weekends and finished fifth overall. I hope to get the chance to win the title in 2023.” The final two races of the season were the last outings for the 991 GT3 R, which will be replaced by the 992 GT3 R for 2023. The newer 911 successfully completed a test race at the Nürburgring on October 8th, scoring third overall. Customer teams are already showing great interest in campaigning the new model in DTM.

THE FINAL TWO RACES

OF THE SEASON WERE

THE LAST OUTINGS FOR

THE 991 GT3 R