Driving the $375,000 Porsche 911 Cup that debuted as $12 DLC in iRacing

Porsche's new 911 Cup arrived first in the simulator, debuting in iRacing before it hit the real track. The physical race car lists for $375,000, while the iRacing version sells for $11.95 as downloadable content. iRacing also serves as a digital feeder to Porsche's Carrera Cup, and the Cup's hard-edged focus suits the service's competitive environment.

The Cup builds on the road-going 911 GT3 but increases performance largely by subtraction rather than extra power. Porsche gutted the interior and reshaped the body for more downforce, and it made a few concessions to reduce running costs: a three-piece front splitter, a simpler front bumper, and a less complex rear wing to make repairs cheaper.

Before driving the real car I ran laps at home on a Fanatec DD1 rig with Asetek pedals and an HP Reverb G2, tackling bumpy Sebring in the $11.95 digital car. The new model benefits from recent iRacing enhancements, feeling more settled and more approachable than earlier virtual 911s, which helped me get comfortable quickly.

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