German tuner SSR Performance is working on a serious upgrade of the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, transforming the naturally aspirated sportscar into a twin-turbocharged powerhouse with more than 800 horsepower. This project, known as “Project Leo,” aims to fill the gap left by Porsche’s discontinued GT2 RS and potentially challenge track benchmarks like those at Nürburgring.
Extensive Bodywork Changes for Turbo Cooling and Aerodynamics
The base is the latest-generation 911 GT3 RS, but it’s heavily modified. The prototype sports larger cooling intakes on the rear wheel arches and rear bumper, designed to feed the added turbochargers. New ventilation grilles appear on top of the front fenders, while a significantly redesigned front spoiler suggests increased aerodynamic downforce.
SSR has fitted forged alloy wheels with carbon aerodynamic discs front and rear, helping reduce drag at high speeds. The rear exhausts have been relocated, currently featuring temporary downward-facing tips spaced widely apart—a common solution while the final rear design is finalized.
Twin-Turbocharged 4.0-Litre Flat-Six with No Hybrid Aid
Under the hood, SSR replaces the stock naturally aspirated 4.0-litre flat-six with a twin-turbo setup boosting power from the original 525 hp to over 800 hp. The tuner has chosen to keep this engine purely internal combustion, refusing hybrid assistance or a gasoline particulate filter (GPF). This approach preserves the engine’s mechanical purity but may complicate registration in some regions due to emissions rules.
The drivetrain is also bespoke, featuring a specially developed gearbox to handle the increased torque and power, instead of relying on Porsche’s standard transmission. SSR is also working on chassis tuning to cope with the heightened performance.
Chasing Nürburgring Lap Records
While SSR has not announced an official launch date, the company openly targets sub-seven-minute laps at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. They benchmark their efforts against Porsche’s own GT2 RS equipped with the Manthey racing kit, which recorded a lap time of 6 minutes 43 seconds in 2021.
This project could appeal to enthusiasts looking for a high-powered Porsche 911 with no hybrid system and extreme track focus, but it will come at a very high cost—reportedly close to one million euros. If it lives up to its promise, SSR’s “Project Leo” may become the GT2 RS alternative that Porsche itself currently avoids producing.
Source: motor.es