2024 Porsche 911 GT2 RS 992.2 set for electrification

Rumours suggest the next Porsche 911 GT2 RS will be the first Rennsport Porsche with hybrid power, making it the most powerful version yet.

A newly developed hybrid drivetrain will power the upcoming Porsche 911 GT2 RS, producing significantly more power and torque than its 700hp predecessor.

According to widely publicised reports based on a source from inside Porsche, the Rennsport halo car is expected in 2026. It will be the most powerful 911 RS yet and the first to be electrified. At its heart is a petrol engine mated to a mild hybrid system. This will be based on technology developed for the 919 Hybrid and finessed for use in its replacement, the new Porsche 963 endurance racer.

The news contradicts earlier speculation that the next 911 might receive a plug-in hybrid system, similar to the one that’s available in Porsche Panamera and Cayenne models. Instead, mildhybrid technology sees a small electric generator and lithium-ion battery working alongside a traditional internal combustion engine. These harvest power via energy recuperation to provide support when required. It’s not plugged into a charging socket like a pure battery electric vehicle (BEV), nor does it typically provide enough juice for the car to drive solely under electric power.

The next-generation system in development for the forthcoming GT2 RS road car is said to be “even more advanced” than the setup that’s currently found in the 963, the racing car with which Porsche hopes to win Le Mans on its debut this summer. The LMDh-category Porsche prototype is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.6-litre V8 petrol engine that’s based heavily on the unit found in the 918 Spyder, itself a development of the 9RD engine originally built for the RS Spyder.

In the 963, the V8 is assisted by a standardised 67bhp Bosch electric motor, fed from a 1.35kW high-voltage battery supplied by Williams Advanced Engineering. The entire hybrid electrical system can produce up to 800 volts, providing a short burst of electrical power that’s equivalent to 30-50kW, which is approximately 40-70bhp.

Traditionally, the GT2 RS is based on the 911 Turbo, so we can expect the same to be true of future versions. The next 911 Turbo has already been spotted undergoing prototype testing. It, too, is expected to employ mild hybrid technology using an electric motor mounted on the gearbox, and an air-cooled battery located behind the front seats. However, it’s unclear how much technology the two cars will share. Reports suggest that the next GT2 RS will use a 400 volt electrical system, assisting it in beating its predecessor’s 0-62mph time of 2.8 seconds.

To achieve this the added weight of the hybrid system – estimated to be 100kg – will need to be offset. For this it’s suggested that a new lightweight body, similar to the Weissach Package available on the 992 GT3 RS, will be required. Total 911 expects the next GT2 RS to cost more than £250,000…