Cars - Porsche 911 GT3

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	Cars - Porsche 911 GT3

The Porsche 911 GT3 is a high performance version of Porsche's sports car ,the 911. It is based on their GT3 class race car and is slotted alongside the 911 Turbo and the GT2 in the maker's lineup, as the the GT3 is naturally aspirated unlike both the Turbo and GT2. It debuted on the 996 platform, replacing the similar 993 based 911 RS, which itself was simply the newest variant of a long line of RS models. In February of 2006, the discontinued 996-GT3 was replaced by a new version built on the 997 platform.

History

After the debut of the 996-generation 911 in 1998, Porsche began making plans to enter the car into the GT class at the 2000 LeMans and into the Rolex racing series, and set out to develop the race car, simultaneously developing a road-going variant which was required by GT class homologation rules. The car debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1999 before going on sale.

As with Porsche's 911 RS models, the GT3 was devoid of any unneccesary items that would add weight to the car. Sound deadening was almost completely removed, as were the rear seats, stereo system, sunroof, power windows and air conditioning, although an A/C and radio became optional add-ons. In addition, Porsche replaced the standard powered front seats with manually adjustable racing buckets, fully prepped for the addition of 5-point racing harnesses.

To bring the vehicle's track-prowess to the maximum level, Porsche endowed the GT3 with enlarged brakes, a lowered, re-tuned suspension system, lighter-weight wheels and a new front bumper with matched rear spoiler to help increase downforce, thereby increasing grip.

Most important of all was the re-tuned engine. Although it shared the same basic displacement as the 3.6 litre flat-six cylinder that powered the standard 911, it was based on the dry sump GT1 racing motor. Porsche made significant modifications to the heads, intake, exhaust and computer control systems. In addition, Porsche used a specialized manufacturing process on the GT3's engine; standard 911s use a two-piece engine block split down the center line of the crankcase. On the GT3 the split-crankcase parts are cast separately and bolted to the two blocks of three cylinders per bank, a design that was originally developed specifically for racing applications that makes the engine stiffer and capable of producing more power.

Porsche made slight updates to the GT3 for 2004, bringing power up slightly to 380 horsepower, 80% of which was available from a mere 2,000 RPM.

In track testing by American automotive journals, the GT3 managed a 0-60 time of 4.0 seconds and a quarter mile time of 12.3 seconds at 118 miles per hour. During skidpad testing the vehicle posted 1.03g, higher than any other production car in history except Ferrari's Enzo supercar. Porsche introduced a revised 911 GT3 RS to the European market in 2003, marking the last revision of the 996 platform car before it's discontinuation in 2005.

997 GT3

In February of 2006, Porsche debuted the newest street-legal version of the GT3, now built on the new 997 platform; the car had already been in active race use for several months. In addition to a new, 415 horsepower 3.6 litre flat-six engine the vehicle features "zero lift" aerodynamics, meaning the the car creates only downforce without any lift being present that could negatively affect grip and the vehicle now makes use of a modified, track oriented version of Porsche's active PASM suspension and stability control system. Also new are the availability of a navigation system and the addition of Porsche's "sports chrono" gauage package, making this the most "friendly" lightweight track car porsche has ever produced. Although independent track testing has yet to be performed, it is thought that the vehicle should be able to go from zero to sixty miles per hour in under four seconds (Road and Track produced a 3.9 second time with the heavier, less powerful 911S) and hit a top speed approaching two hundred miles per hour; Porsche's factory performance claims indicate a one hundred and ninety three mile per hour top speed.

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