Video game launches for new cars are increasingly common these days—Gran Turismo alone has hosted dozens of “Vision” concepts—but Porsche decided to go a little more serious for the digital debut of its latest model. iRacing, the online driving sim that has been punishing people’s digital driving indiscretions since 2008, was not only the first place anyone could drive the new 911 Cup, but also serves as a sort of digital feeder series to Porsche’s one-make Porsche Carrera Cup.
That sim makes a great venue because the 911 Cup is as hardcore a racer as iRacing is a hardcore racing game. When I was invited to drive that new car for real, I knew exactly where to start.
Making the Cup
While there are faster and more expensive versions of Porsche’s 911, the GT3 has long been the ultimate “racer for the road” spec, riddled with track-focused upgrades yet offering just enough creature comforts for daily driving.
