Porsche 911 GT3

By Ian Kuah

March 2003

Faster, cheaper and better to drive than before, the ΂£77,000 road-going racer has been a labour of love for the engineers who have worked on it. Ask to see areas of improvement and you'll be pointed towards components deep inside the 3.6-litre 381bhp engine, each of which saves only a few grammes. You will also be shown new ceramic brake discs and a more efficient aerodynamics package that reduces high-speed lift. The bodywork, you'll be told, is derived from the stiffer Carrera 4, rather than the softer Carrera 2.

At 50 yards, you'd be hard pushed to spot any of this, but that's not to say the GT3 lacks presence. An ultra low ride height and bigger rear wing add drama to the looks. Inside, race style seats and a stripped cabin give a minimalist feel that completes the race-ready appearance. The deep bucket seats are surprisingly comfortable, and as the engine fires up, the car feels unusually refined. Although the clutch is heavier than in the Carrera 2, and the throttle response is sharper, it's not hard to drive the GT3 smoothly.

Because there's no turbo lag, the normally aspirated motor seems like it is directly connected to your right foot. Put slight pressure on the throttle in the lower gears and the car leaps forward, the speedo needle soaring round the clock nearly as fast as the rev counter. Meeting EU drive-by noise levels, the GT3 is not anti-socially loud on the outside, but its stripped cabin gives occupants a full cocktail of inspirational sounds. Growling at low revs, the soundtrack ramps up through the distinctive flat-six whine until it reaches a full-blooded race car crescendo. Snick the short and precise six-speed gearbox up into the next ratio and you can hear it all over again. On bumpy roads, the Porsche requires a steady hand and unflinching concentration. With the 0-60mph sprint taking only 4.5 seconds, high speed is never far away.

As there has been no increase to the engine's 3,600cc capacity, performance has been gained by making the unit rev higher. An extra 400rpm at the top end sees peak power for Porsche's highest-revving production motor ever arrive at 7,400rpm, with the limiter set at a wailing, screaming 8,200rpm. Lighter and better balanced than the heavier Turbo and GT2, and with lessons from four race seasons of motorsport under its belt, the new GT3 is even more fluid in the bends. Now with Porsche's 350mm ceramic discs and six-pot calipers as an option, the brakes slow the car time and time again from high speeds with no fade.

The GT3 was born on a race track, and it shows. We drove the original two years ago and loved it. The new version maintains that edge.

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