The 992-generation Porsche 911 GT3 R made its competitive debut in 2023, replacing the long-serving 991.2 variant. Grove Racing brought the new platform to the Ardennes for the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup's flagship round, the Total Energies 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, held on 27–29 July 2023 at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. Spark Model has documented the entry in 1:43, its detail printing matched to the team's established white, red and black livery.
Built on the 992-generation 911 road car platform, the GT3 R (internal type 992.GT3.R) arrived with a wider body, enlarged front splitter, a substantial rear wing and a FIA/SRO GT3-compliant specification. Power comes from a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six, the Typ 9A2.50 evolution, producing approximately 565 hp, mounted in a rear-mid position driving the rear wheels. With an overall length of 4597 mm, the 992 GT3 R is a measurably larger car than its predecessor. The 2023 season was its first year in international GT competition.
Grove Racing at Spa: Four Disciplines, One Entry
Grove Racing — the Australian team co-owned by Stephen Grove and his son Brenton Grove — is the most prominent Australian outfit competing in the GT World Challenge Europe. For the 2023 24 Hours of Spa, the #23 entered the Pro-Am class with a cross-discipline four-driver roster. Anton De Pasquale, known from Supercars and Porsche Carrera Cup programmes, joined the Grove father-and-son pairing. The fourth seat went to Earl Bamber, the New Zealand-born Porsche factory driver who won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Few Pro-Am entries in the GTWCE Endurance Cup have assembled comparable depth.
The Spark Model in 1:43
Spark Model renders the #23 Grove Racing entry in 1:43 scale, with tampo-printed livery detail across the white, red and black bodywork. Spark's 1:43 range is the specialist's benchmark for GT racing coverage at this scale — the manufacturer has catalogued the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup extensively, meaning the #23 car sits within a documented 2023 Spa grid rather than as an isolated release. The model captures the 992 GT3 R's visual architecture: wide haunches, full aero package and the period-correct race livery.
In the Display Cabinet
This model pairs naturally with other Spark 1:43 releases from the 2023 24 Hours of Spa: the Manthey EMA and Manthey PureRxcing Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) entries from the same event allow a single-race Porsche shelf with factory and customer machinery side by side. Collectors building a Grove Racing history will want earlier Spark releases of the 991.2-generation car. Those assembling a complete 2023 GTWCE Endurance Cup Spa grid — across Ferrari, Mercedes-AMG and Lamborghini machinery — will find the #23 an essential Pro-Am anchor for a race-shelf diorama.
Frequently asked questions
What race does this model represent?
The Total Energies 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps 2023, held 27–29 July at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, as part of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.
Who drove the #23 Grove Racing Porsche at the 2023 24h Spa?
Stephen Grove, Brenton Grove, Anton De Pasquale and Earl Bamber. Bamber is a three-time Le Mans 24h class winner (2015, 2016, 2017) and Porsche factory driver.
What is the Porsche 911 GT3 R (992)?
It is the 992-generation FIA/SRO GT3-specification racing car, first introduced for the 2023 season. It uses a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six producing approximately 565 hp.
Who makes this 1:43 scale model?
Spark Model, the specialist manufacturer known for its comprehensive coverage of GT World Challenge Europe and other international GT series in 1:43 scale.
