23.04.2009
Yesterday we brought you Chris Harris’ first drive review of Porsche’s new Gen.2 997 GT3, and today we bring you the accompanying video with Chris picking out some of its key features and showing the GT3 in action on the roads around Weissach.
If you’ve reached this page without reading the feature, then why not click on the following link, catch up on the discussion and read the magazine for yourself.
Read the FEATURE magazine. 
Then watch the video.
Click the image and go to DR TV
About Eds
Tell us what you think..
When you post a comment, it will also appear in your News Feed on Facebook (if you so choose), enabling you to take the conversation to where your friends already are. Thereafter you can continue discussing on Facebook and the conversations between SkiddMark and Facebook will be auto-magically synched, regardless of where the comment was made.
24 Comments
DriversRepublic (The DR Team)
April 23, 2009Posted on DR: Video: 997 GT3 Gen.2 first drive http://bit.ly/J6UEl
DriversRepublic (The DR Team)
April 23, 2009Posted on DR: Video: 997 GT3 Gen.2 first drive http://bit.ly/J6UEl
Ivo
April 23, 2009It does sound very nice. And it looks much better with the new aero tweaks and those awesome wheels. Pity they changed the steering wheel, but apart from that it’s a pretty much perfect.
Will be very interesting to see how much faster it is on a track then the MkI 997 GT3.
Ivo
April 23, 2009It does sound very nice. And it looks much better with the new aero tweaks and those awesome wheels. Pity they changed the steering wheel, but apart from that it’s a pretty much perfect.
Will be very interesting to see how much faster it is on a track then the MkI 997 GT3.
Stig
April 23, 2009That GT3 motor must be one of the best sounding and most rewarding road-car engines ever made. If you’re not yet convinced, just try Preuninger’s GT3 equation…
* 911 GT3 + Sport Mode + 8500rpm = Driving Nirvana!
The new GT3 is a truly world-class application of motorsport technology to a sportscar. The chassis, aerodynamics, suspension, handling, steering and brakes that would have impressed on a Le Mans racer in years gone by… but the defining feature of the GT3 remains that awesome GT1-derived motorsport engine!
Clearly the GT3 motor is designed with performance in mind, but it’s also an incredibly efficient engine – with 435bhp translating to over 114bhp/litre from a normally aspirated engine – surely this is the technology the world should be investing in…
Many thanks and congratulations to Andreas Preuninger and Porsche’s elite team of Weissach motorsport engineers on the ultimate road and track sportscar… the awesome 911 GT3!
An excellent video, a great feature article and an amazing sportscar…
Great work by Chris Harris, Richard Meaden and the DR team!
Stig
April 23, 2009That GT3 motor must be one of the best sounding and most rewarding road-car engines ever made. If you’re not yet convinced, just try Preuninger’s GT3 equation…
* 911 GT3 + Sport Mode + 8500rpm = Driving Nirvana!
The new GT3 is a truly world-class application of motorsport technology to a sportscar. The chassis, aerodynamics, suspension, handling, steering and brakes that would have impressed on a Le Mans racer in years gone by… but the defining feature of the GT3 remains that awesome GT1-derived motorsport engine!
Clearly the GT3 motor is designed with performance in mind, but it’s also an incredibly efficient engine – with 435bhp translating to over 114bhp/litre from a normally aspirated engine – surely this is the technology the world should be investing in…
Many thanks and congratulations to Andreas Preuninger and Porsche’s elite team of Weissach motorsport engineers on the ultimate road and track sportscar… the awesome 911 GT3!
An excellent video, a great feature article and an amazing sportscar…
Great work by Chris Harris, Richard Meaden and the DR team!
Guy
April 23, 2009just when I’m about to write a complaint because your feature of the rs6 v m5 v xfr is 2 weeks later than promised you go and completely redeem yourself.
What a fine fine sexy car that is!
I know from watching that video you guys did a bit back that this isn’t in the cards, but it sure makes me wonder what a cayman gt3 would be like.
Guy
April 23, 2009just when I’m about to write a complaint because your feature of the rs6 v m5 v xfr is 2 weeks later than promised you go and completely redeem yourself.
What a fine fine sexy car that is!
I know from watching that video you guys did a bit back that this isn’t in the cards, but it sure makes me wonder what a cayman gt3 would be like.
Neville Contractor
April 24, 2009I think the point Chris makes about a highly specified 911 C4S being the same price or more makes the new GT3 the default choice for me (if only…), especially considering the performance. Quicker than the turbo in certain areas? Amazing.
And that soundtrack. Sounds like you were driving a racing version!
Neville Contractor
April 24, 2009I think the point Chris makes about a highly specified 911 C4S being the same price or more makes the new GT3 the default choice for me (if only…), especially considering the performance. Quicker than the turbo in certain areas? Amazing.
And that soundtrack. Sounds like you were driving a racing version!
BN
April 24, 2009I know the relevance may not be all that great, but Walter Rohle and Porsche just ran the ‘ring with the new GT3 @ 7:40. They drove a F430 Scuderia at the same time and got a time of 7:45. (Check Autoblog).
For reference, their best time in the Turbo was a second quicker, but there are so many things that have an effect on the lap times it’s not really comparable unless they ran the car at the same time.
BN
April 24, 2009I know the relevance may not be all that great, but Walter Rohle and Porsche just ran the ‘ring with the new GT3 @ 7:40. They drove a F430 Scuderia at the same time and got a time of 7:45. (Check Autoblog).
For reference, their best time in the Turbo was a second quicker, but there are so many things that have an effect on the lap times it’s not really comparable unless they ran the car at the same time.
johnny senna
April 27, 2009I would like to know if Chris thinks there is any point getting ceramics on this car. The new steels are just as big as the ceramics, but are they as good?
johnny senna
April 27, 2009I would like to know if Chris thinks there is any point getting ceramics on this car. The new steels are just as big as the ceramics, but are they as good?
chris harris
April 30, 2009I’d want to drive the car in the UK to see whether you’d want ceramics. They improve braking distances (especially in the wet, according to Andreas) but the new steels are pretty awesome. For me, PCCB has always been as much about ride comfort as it has reduced maintenance and stopping ability. When they launched them on the 996 GT2, then the rest of the range, I think Porsche missed a PR-trick. The message we received was all glowing red-hot discs and performance, when arguably the biggest benefit was in unsprung mass: hence comfort. The irony is, a GT3 comfort, used 99 percent of the time on the road should probably have PCCB, and a Clubbie, used 60 percent on the track should have steels.
chris harris
April 30, 2009I’d want to drive the car in the UK to see whether you’d want ceramics. They improve braking distances (especially in the wet, according to Andreas) but the new steels are pretty awesome. For me, PCCB has always been as much about ride comfort as it has reduced maintenance and stopping ability. When they launched them on the 996 GT2, then the rest of the range, I think Porsche missed a PR-trick. The message we received was all glowing red-hot discs and performance, when arguably the biggest benefit was in unsprung mass: hence comfort. The irony is, a GT3 comfort, used 99 percent of the time on the road should probably have PCCB, and a Clubbie, used 60 percent on the track should have steels.
Pioneer
May 5, 2009Quick Question for Chris,
£90k cash to spend – new 997 GT3 Gen 2 or 2 year old F430 coupe?
Mainly for road use, around 3-4k miles per year
Which one and why?
Thanks!
Pioneer
May 5, 2009Quick Question for Chris,
£90k cash to spend – new 997 GT3 Gen 2 or 2 year old F430 coupe?
Mainly for road use, around 3-4k miles per year
Which one and why?
Thanks!
Mark McTavish
May 6, 2009I can’t think of anything sensible to say…soo…ermm….I’ll just say this…
WAAAAANNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!
As for the ‘ugly’ steering wheel: perhaps it’s shape might have something to do with PDK? Perhaps they’ve change the basic shape of the wheels for this? Or…perhaps it’s lighter like just about everything else?
Mark McTavish
May 6, 2009I can’t think of anything sensible to say…soo…ermm….I’ll just say this…
WAAAAANNNNNNTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!
As for the ‘ugly’ steering wheel: perhaps it’s shape might have something to do with PDK? Perhaps they’ve change the basic shape of the wheels for this? Or…perhaps it’s lighter like just about everything else?
Guy Wheeler
May 8, 2009get the ferrari, have a blast then sell it and find a new or low mileage gen 2 997 gt3. otherwise I imagine you will always wonder what the 430 would of been like.
Guy Wheeler
May 8, 2009get the ferrari, have a blast then sell it and find a new or low mileage gen 2 997 gt3. otherwise I imagine you will always wonder what the 430 would of been like.
johnny senna
May 8, 2009Thanks for the feedback, Chris. Much as I expected really. Like you (and I haven’t even driven one) I think this choice is a hard one to call. I think I’d settle for steels and hit the track not worried about silly costs.
Originally Posted By chris harrisI’d want to drive the car in the UK to see whether you’d want ceramics. They improve braking distances (especially in the wet, according to Andreas) but the new steels are pretty awesome. For me, PCCB has always been as much about ride comfort as it has reduced maintenance and stopping ability. When they launched them on the 996 GT2, then the rest of the range, I think Porsche missed a PR-trick. The message we received was all glowing red-hot discs and performance, when arguably the biggest benefit was in unsprung mass: hence comfort. The irony is, a GT3 comfort, used 99 percent of the time on the road should probably have PCCB, and a Clubbie, used 60 percent on the track should have steels.
johnny senna
May 8, 2009Thanks for the feedback, Chris. Much as I expected really. Like you (and I haven’t even driven one) I think this choice is a hard one to call. I think I’d settle for steels and hit the track not worried about silly costs.
Originally Posted By chris harrisI’d want to drive the car in the UK to see whether you’d want ceramics. They improve braking distances (especially in the wet, according to Andreas) but the new steels are pretty awesome. For me, PCCB has always been as much about ride comfort as it has reduced maintenance and stopping ability. When they launched them on the 996 GT2, then the rest of the range, I think Porsche missed a PR-trick. The message we received was all glowing red-hot discs and performance, when arguably the biggest benefit was in unsprung mass: hence comfort. The irony is, a GT3 comfort, used 99 percent of the time on the road should probably have PCCB, and a Clubbie, used 60 percent on the track should have steels.