Video: Hybrid Porsche 911 GTS has made its 2024 Festival of Speed debut

It was Mark Webber who had the honour of driving the new 911 for the first time on Thursday. And, fitting for the occasion, the reveal leant into the theatrics, dramatically launching off the start line from underneath a cover, to be seen in the metal for the first time in motion – truly a dynamic debut if we ever saw one. It looked majestic in the sun as it made its way up the Hill under the cool control of its experienced Aussie driver.

It’s not the only electrified Porsche to make the run, however. Porsche’s first brave and brilliant step into the world of high-performance hybridity, the 918 Spyder, is back in support of this altogether different 911, as it turns a wheel in public for the first time.

The 918 and the 911 GTS T-Hybrid are however very different in their approaches. While the 918 set the standard in terms of the application of multiple motors, with a large battery and some usable electric driving range, the GTS T-Hybrid integrates electric power into its turbocharging system and transmission for a more seamless experience. 

Electric power is in the GTS, effectively a replacement for the now-defunct second turbocharger. The result is performance to rival a 911 Turbo, with a cumulative 541PS (398kW) and 610Nm (450lb-ft) informing a blistering 0-62mph sprint of 3 seconds on the way to a 194mph top speed.

Joining the GTS also is quite a different current 911. The S/T is the Porsche 911 experience in its purest, lightest form, with a high-revving, free-revving naturally aspirated flat-six, a manual gearbox, and parred-back chassis trickery. 

On the total other end of the scale in terms of Porsche performance cars, the Taycan Turbo GT Weissach Pack, a full EV with over 1,000PS (735kW) and a Nürburgring lap record.

Between that, the 911 GTS and the 911 S/T really, Porsche’s performance offering has never been so diverse. You’ll can see them all in action on the Hill, alongside the marque’s incumbent hypercar hero, at the 2024 Festival of Speed this weekend. Porsche also has a presence as part of First Glance presented by heycar, where the new Macan EV made its debut. 

The 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed is underway, and you can watch every moment of the action on our live stream right here on GRR!

Photography courtesy of Toby Whales