Greatest Drives

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

It has a roof, windscreen and doors – but, in its own way, this Porsche is every bit as track-focused as the Lotus 2-Eleven. Closely related to the Cup racer which competes in Porsche’s one-make series, the RS has a wider track and is 20kg lighter than the already finely honed GT3.

The deep front splitter, prominent carbon fibre wing and plastic rear screen are evidence of the search for downforce and quest for weight saving. Inside, there’s a roll cage, lightweight bucket seats and a grippy Alcantara steering wheel. This is one serious car.

Not every luxury has been dispensed with, though. Air-con remains – which is just as well, as driving the RS is hot work, requiring effort, concentration and skill. In the right hands, it’s dazzlingly fast, but the Porsche doesn’t suffer fools gladly – it would punish you if you made a mistake. No car here sounded more mechanical, nor had a shorter throw or more precise gearchange, while the immense stopping power of the fade-resistant £5,800 optional ceramic brakes ensured nothing outperformed the RS when slowing from high speed.

However, it wasn’t only the blistering acceleration and deceleration that made the 911 GT3 RS so quick around the tarmac of our Anglesey test circuit.

Once the cut slick tyres were warm, the RS delivered astonishing lateral grip. And, around tighter sections of the track, the tactile and responsive nature of the steering and turn-in were sensational.

Downsides? Well, on the road, the splitter is so low that most speed bumps cause scraping issues. And the hard-edged dynamics and semi-slick rubber meant rough surfaces really didn’t suit the RS.

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