UNDERSTAND this, the GT3 badge is not for the ordinary driver. This is a badge that sits on a rather special supercar that needs a level head behind the wheel. For over five decades, Porsche has heavily invested in rear-engine, rear-wheel driving technology.
Then in 1999, Porsche made a bold decision to take their then popular 996 model and race it professionally. This gave birth to the first ever Porsche 911 GT3. It was no ordinary Porsche and in fact it was no ordinary supercar.
Motorsports success
Over the last 21 years, GT3 cars have had countless class wins in various races around the world. The GT3 also achieved numerous overall victories in the major endurance races, including the 24 Hours of Spa, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours Nürburgring, which it won seven times starting with the year 2000.
It is part of the recipe for success of the Porsche 911 GT3 that the experience and innovations from motorsport are always incorporated into the development of the next road version. It is no wonder that around 80% of all 911 GT3 ever produced are regularly driven on the race track.
The seventh
Now, for 2021, comes a brand new GT3, the seventh edition and it comes with a very close engineering collaboration with the Porsche Motorsports department.
It transfers pure racing technology into a production model even more consistently than ever before. Starting with the double wishbone front axle layout and sophisticated aerodynamics with swan neck rear wing and striking diffuser originate from the successful GT race car 911 RSR and the 510 PS four-litre six-cylinder boxer engine, which is based on the drivetrain of the 911 GT3 R and has been tried and tested in endurance racing.
The acoustically impressive, high-revving engine is also used practically unchanged in the new 911 GT3 Cup. The result is a brilliant driving machine which is efficient and emotional, also precise and high-performance, perfect for the circuit and superb for everyday use.
How fast
The distinctive strength of the 911 GT3 lies in the sum of its characteristics. With a top speed of 320 km/h (318 km/h with ‘PDK’ quick shifting gearbox), it is even faster than the previous 911 GT3 RS. It accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.4 seconds. Porsche also offers the new model with a six-speed manual transmission for a particularly puristic driving experience.
Losing some kilograms
Despite a wider body, larger wheels and additional technical features, the weight of the new GT3 is on a par with its predecessor. With a manual gearbox it weighs 1.418 kg, with PDK 1.435 kg. The front bonnet made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), lightweight glass windows, optimised brake discs and forged light-alloy wheels ensure weight discipline, as does the cover for the rear seat compartment. The lightweight sports exhaust system reduces the weight by no less than 10 kg.
Drivers point of view
The cockpit is in line with the current model generation. A new feature is the track screen, this at the touch of a button reduces the digital displays to the left and right of the central rev counter, which reaches up to 10,000 revs, to information such as tyre pressure indicator, oil pressure, oil temperature, fuel tank level and water temperature, which are essential when driving on the circuit. It also includes a visual shift assistant with coloured bars to the left and right of the rev counter and a shift light derived from Motorsport.
Visit any of the four Porsche dealerships in Malaysia to order your very own unit soon. It will be sold out before the end of this quarter like all previous versions.
The previous GT3 in 2017 was priced from RM1.7 million with taxes and delivery included. This new 2021 will probably be around the same price as at press time the selling price had not yet been shared with us. – The Vibes, February 22, 2021
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