Porsche 911 GT3 2009 review
Firm’s racing roots shine through with latest stripped-out model
The new GT3 is a stunningly accomplished car. The howl from the exhaust alone is enough to sell it, and while a price tag of £81,000 certainly isn’t cheap, compared to rivals from Ferrari and Lamborghini, it’s a relative bargain. Perhaps the only thing that lets it down is that the solidly built interior lacks flair. But this doesn’t detract from the fact that you can lap a track all day in it and comfortably drive home at the end of it. In short, this is the finest sports car in the world.
It's the 911 that’s as at home on a track as it is on the road! Porsche’s motorsport-inspired GT3 is back for its fourth generation – and it’s faster and more mind-blowing than ever.
From the moment you walk up to it, you’re aware of its sense of purpose. It rides 30mm lower than a standard Carrera and gets a fresh rear wing that sits above new air intakes. This spoiler is combined with an aerodynamic undertray, so the model generates twice as much downforce as its predecessor. And it can hit some very high speeds indeed, topping out at 193mph and covering the 0-62mph sprint in 4.1 seconds.
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This pace is thanks largely to the new 3.8-litre flat-six engine, which has its roots in the 911 GT1 racer of the Nineties. It uses titanium con-rods to save weight, revs to an incredible 8,500rpm and produces 429bhp and 430Nm of torque. Yet it also meets stringent Euro V emissions regulations.
Porsche deemed its PDK double-clutch gearbox too heavy for the lightweight GT3, so a six-speed manual is the only option. And as with the pedals and steering wheel, the weighty but precise gearshift is a joy to use.
On a twisty road, the new 911 GT3 is staggering. The grip it generates squeezes you hard into the bucket seats, yet the precision and stability with which it changes direction gives you supreme confidence. Understeer and oversteer only occur at race track speeds.
New centre-locking wheels and larger but lighter brake discs help shave 5.4kg from the unsprung weight, which in turn means the GT3 has a more comfortable ride than most race-derived road cars.
Options include a 90-litre fuel tank, a Clubsport pack (at no extra cost) which consists of a roll cage and fire extinguisher, plus a system for increasing ground clearance when tackling speed bumps. It all adds up to a car that brilliantly brings the world of motorsport to the road, yet is still usable every day.
Rival: Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera
The 522bhp Superleggera has 10bhp more than the standard car, yet weighs 100kg less and gets a bodykit and fresh interior. It’s very focused – and, at £130,000, very expensive
