The Porsche 991 GT3-R is one of the more formidable GT3 cars in ACC, but it’s also one of the more notoriously difficult to drive if you aren’t used to it. The Porsche can reward its driver with great braking, fantastic agility, and torque for great acceleration; however, it severely punishes the driver that isn’t smooth and attempts to force the Porsche to do things that it doesn’t want to do.
The Basic Car Setup
Of all the cars in ACC, this one requires a custom setup to truly make it manageable for the majority of drivers and even more crucial if you want to be competitive in it. The default setups aren’t terrible, but if you aren’t versed in vehicle dynamics it can be difficult to know what adjustment will improve the handling of the car. Like most cars in ACC, the correct tire pressure can have the single largest impact on how the car behaves on any track, and you must always be mindful of the track temperatures before you set out in the Porsche. Special attention must be paid to the rear tires – if the pressures are out of the optimum window you experience highly unstable handling.
Our setups here at Coach Dave Academy help strike the balance and can help you tame the beast that is the 991 GT3-R. Starting at £7.99 per month and including early access and regular updates, our ACC setup subscription is the thing to have if you wish to become the next best thing in ACC.
Aerodynamics and Bodywork
The engine and transmission layout of this car is the reason why it has such great traction off the line and out of corners, as the weight is placed aft of the drive wheels. This can be a blessing or a curse depending on how you manage your inputs with this car, as sharp changes in direction can upset the car and cause a spin. If this is something that you struggle with, you can always take up one of our world-class coaching sessions starting at $40.
The fuel cell is placed in the front of the car under the bonnet and aft of the front wheels. This isn’t normally a problem for the street-faring version of the 991 since the car as a whole is very balanced, but in race guise where it’s being driven at the limit, the fuel cell is a component that varies in weight as the fuel level changes throughout a race. This alters the handling characteristics of the car quite a lot depending on the fuel load. This is because as the fuel burns off during a stint, the weight over the front wheels decreases as the front end raises, affecting not only the front end grip but also pushing the weight distribution of the car rearwards.
Power Delivery and Braking
Traction control is another important tuning element that needs to be paid attention to before you leave the pits so that you don’t spin on the first corner that you encounter. When you have a baseline traction control setting that you are comfortable with, it will be easier to make small adjustments as needed during your stints.
The Porsche boasts two separate traction control settings: TC1 and TC2. TC1 is the “cut” phase and TC2 is the “slip”. It is important to understand how your driving style works with both settings and it will require some practice to understand which settings are needed for both. There are 8 settings, with the higher the number providing more interference, the lower the number providing less.
Traction control will play a critical role in how you can attack apexes in corners especially when you begin to apply throttle in on the exit phase when the throttle is applied. This will also help preserve your tires by reducing wheelspin and oversteer. The Porsche can be very hard on tires if driven too aggressively so be mindful of how enthusiastic you are with your right foot. It is important to understand the relationship between TC1 and TC2 with the car.
Here at Coach Dave Academy, we offer one-to-one sessions with our professionals to help you hone your craft. This includes data comparison and a focus on technique, helping you to master a beast that’s as challenging as the Porsche 991 GT3-R.
Steering and Cornering
The most critical aspect of the Porsche that needs to be explored is the reliance on pitch control and how it needs to be managed. The car has a very short wheelbase and runs a much less effective diffuser than other cars. This means it has more reliance on its rear wing and therefore the rake plays a key factor in how you set the car up.
Due to the Porsche’s engine placement hanging over the back wheels, the car can be extremely snappy under heavy braking if the pitch of the car is not successfully managed. This is especially true if your setup has a low wing level and there is less downforce pushing the rear of the car into the tarmac as a result.
On our YouTube page, you will be able to watch hotlaps for the Porsche 991 GT3-R that were made by the people who work tirelessly to bring you the best setups on the market. Why not take this opportunity to see how our team fling the Porsche around its favourite haunt of Misano, the recently-added Watkins Glen, or the British GT fan-favourite of Oulton Park? All of these and more are available at the touch of your fingertip.
Need any Extra Help?
The Porsche is definitely one of the more difficult cars to drive effectively in ACC but with practice and the use of some of the tips identified here, you’ll have tamed the beast and will be ready to unleash its fury on your opponents. It will take time but if you want to get off on the right foot with this car, the staff at Coach Dave Academy will be more than happy to coach you through the finer points of mastering the Porsche 991 GT3-R. Make sure to join our Discord server for more updates as well as the hottest gossip in the world of sim racing!
