The Porsche 911 Turbo dons its finest racing attire to become the WEC Safety Car

Racing has always been made up of elements that stir the blood of any motor enthusiast, but I’m sure almost all of us agree on one in particular that we love: the Safety Car. It has always been fascinating to see a production car don its finest attire to take to the track and, equipped with a set of lights and sirens like a police car, set the pace for the drivers who gradually follow it. Porsche has wanted one of its flagship sports cars to take on this role, and has prepared it for the occasion.

The 911 has been chosen to fulfil the important task of guarding and watching over the safety of the drivers taking part in the World Endurance Championship (WEC). To do so, they have turned to one of the most powerful and fastest versions of the nine-eleven, the Turbo; thanks to this supercar’s presence, the championship’s participants will be able to count on safety and assistance in the event of an incident in virtually an instant.

In total, eleven vehicles will be handed over to the WEC, organised by the FIA, to serve as rapid-intervention cars, which will also take part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. To be more specific, two 911 Turbos will travel to all the events organised by the WEC and act as safety vehicles; three other units will travel to Le Mans and be stationed there as permanent vehicles; and finally, other models of the Porsche will be put at the service of the medical team and track safety personnel.

This collaboration on the part of the German manufacturer will remain in place until 2020 and, as time passes, the 911 Turbo will be responsible for meeting the demands. Although the German supercar comes with an unstoppable factory setup, we must bear in mind that its new environment will be the circuit, so a series of mechanical modifications have been carried out.

The six-cylinder, 3.8-litre turbocharged engine is capable of producing 540 CV and reaching 100 km/h in just three seconds, and to complement the experience of acting as a Safety Car, the German engineers have made some modifications to both the brakes and the suspension, two essential elements on the circuit. The interior has become somewhat more spartan, and competition seats with six-point harnesses have been fitted as well as various elements typical of a safety vehicle, such as a radio and a monitor exclusive to the track.

Without a doubt, the Porsche 911 Turbo presents itself as the ideal candidate to meet the demands of the track and, at the same time, to provide assistance in the event of an accident. At the same time, the 911 will not be alone, since 16 units of other models from the brand will carry out various duties on the circuit.

Technical specifications of this car

CoupePorsche 91119 versions · from 157,835 €