Hear the term “hybrid,” and what comes to mind? A Toyota Prius parked in the Whole Foods lot, plastered with “Free Tibet” and “Coexist” stickers? A Honda CR-Z, getting walked by mopeds off of a traffic light? Chances are good that you brain isn’t conjuring up images of race cars, especially one with a Porsche crest on it, but that may change in the not-too-distant future. Hybrids can be built to boost fuel economy, or they can also be built with an emphasis on increasing performance.
Take the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid, for example. It uses a conventional flat-six engine to power the rear wheels, but also has electric motors to power the front wheels. Electricity isn’t stored in batteries or capacitors, but instead in a cockpit-mounted flywheel; when needed (as when exiting a corner), the flywheel can supply enough energy to power each of the 102 horsepower electric motors for up to six seconds.
In this Road & Track video, technical editor Shaun Bailey shows us what it’s like to drive the GT3 R Hybrid around Portugal’s Estoril racetrack. Bailey downplays the noise from the flywheel mounted where a passenger seat usually sits, but I’ve heard others describe it as “unnervingly loud.” There’s also the pucker factor to consider; although the flywheel is enclosed in a stout, armored casing, should something go wrong the results would be… unpleasant for the driver.
Don’t be surprised when performance-oriented hybrids begin appearing over the next decade or so, changing our perception of what the term “hybrid” means to enthusiasts.
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.
