Porsche has taken the wraps off the most hardcore 911 GT3 yet.
The Porsche 911 GT3 will touch down in Australia during the second half of 2021, with pricing to be locked in closer to launch.
Like its predecessors, the sixth-generation GT3 does away with some of the creature comforts of its more road-focused stablemates in search of better outright pace on the track.
Power comes from a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six engine with 375kW of power and a 9000rpm redline, good for a 3.4-second sprint to 100km/h with the seven-speed PDK transmission fitted.
The engine is derived from the unit in the 911 R endurance racer, and is actually used in the 911 Cup car with no changes. The term racer for the road is often misused, but in this case it rings true.
A six-speed manual is also available, after it was returned to the 911 GT3 options list with the 991.2 model and its de-winged Touring cousin.
With the PDK fitted the 911 GT3 will hit 318km/h flat out, while the manual stretches that to 320km/h. Advantage purists…
Although it’s bigger than before, has more technology than before, and is more powerful than before, the 2021 GT3 tips the scales at 1418kg with a manual or 1435kg with the dual-clutch transmission.
The bonnet is made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic, while lightweight glass windows, forged alloy wheels, a lightweight sports exhaust, and the rear seat delete all help slash weight.
The engine isn’t the only thing derived from motorsports. Porsche says the aero package on the 911 GT3 borrows heavily from racing, from the adjustable swan-neck rear spoiler to the more effective diffuser.
There’s a double wishbone front suspension, development of which was described by Porsche Motorsport boss Andreas Preuninger as “a big discussion and a big problem to solve”.
“But we did it and it was worth it,” Mr Preuninger told CarExpert in 2020.
It’ll lap the 20.8km Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6:59.2 with Lars Kern behind the wheel, more than 17 seconds faster than its predecessor, when equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres.
Inside, the compact shaver-style shifter from the regular 911 has been replaced with a proper gear selector in PDK models. It allows the driver to bash through the gears with push for down, pull for up shifts if they don’t want to use the paddles.
The GT3 debuts a new, more focused track display for the digital instruments in the 911.
It pares back the information on show to the essentials, including oil temperature and tyre pressures, and puts a larger shift light in the driver’s eye line.
A range of Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur add-ons will be available for the GT3, including lashings of exposed carbon fibre, darkened LED matrix headlights, and painted wheel rims in blue or red.
Pricing for the Porsche 911 GT3 will be announced closer to launch.
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