Porsche 911 GT3
The Porsche 911 GT3 is a high-performance homologation model of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is a range of high-performance models, which began with the 1973 911 Carrera RS. The GT3 has had a successful racing career in the one-make national and regional Porsche Carrera Cup and GT3 Cup Challenge series, as well as the international Porsche Supercup supporting the FIA F1 World Championship.
Road cars
996 GT3
The "GT3" nameplate was introduced in 1999 as part of the first generation of the Porsche 996 model range as a homologation model for the cars entered in the Le Mans GT class, predating the Group GT3 which was introduced in 2005. As with Porsche's previous 911 RS models, the 996 GT3 was focused on racing, and so was devoid of items that added unnecessary weight to the car. Sound deadening was almost completely removed, as were the rear seats, rear loud speakers, sunroof, and air conditioning, although automatic air conditioning and CD/radio became no-cost optional add-ons.The engine of the 996 GT3 sets it apart from 996 Carrera models, as it shared nothing with the standard so-called "integrated dry sump" flat-six engine used in the water-cooled 996 Carrera engine introduced in MY1999. The 996 GT3 engine is naturally aspirated and based on the "Mezger" racing engine used in the 962 and 911 GT1 race cars. That engine was known as the "Mezger" engine after its designer, Hans Mezger. The engine uses the original air-cooled 911's versatile dry-sump crankcase with an external oil reservoir. The 996 GT3 has, compared to the of the standard 996. In GT3 configuration, the so-called "split" crankcase uses, instead of a fan and finned cylinders, separate water jackets added onto each side of the crankcase to cool banks of three cylinders with water pumped through a radiator. Thus, the GT3 engine is very similar to the completely water-cooled 962 racing car's engine, which is based on the same crankcase. The 962 differs, however, by using six individual cylinder heads while the "Mezger" uses two cylinder heads, each covering a bank of three cylinders. The GT3 engine could thus also be thought of as similar to a 959 engine, but with water-cooled crankcase. Up until model year 2004 996 production, the basic casting used for the "Mezger" crankcase of the GT3 was the same as the 996 GT1 LeMans cars, and the same "964.." block part-number is visible on the bottom of the crankcase. Beginning with MY2004 however, production was outsourced to Valmet facilities in Spain, France, and Austria, and all subsequent road-legal Mezger engines are part-numbered "996..".
Because the GT1 Mezger block uses the same legacy Porsche 356 engine to transmission mounting flange configuration, the 996 GT3 used a 6-speed manual gearbox also of air-cooled 911 heritage. This new G96/50 gearbox has interchangeable gear ratios and is more durable making it more suitable for racing than the standard type 996 Carrera's gearbox.
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.
Porsche offered a no-cost option for the GT3 called the 'Clubsport' package. This option replaced the standard electrically adjustable leather front seats with manually adjustable racing bucket seats finished in fire-retardant fabric, single mass flywheel, bolt-in half-roll cage, 6-point drivers racing harness, fire extinguisher and preparation for a battery master switch. The Clubsport option was never offered to US customers, ostensibly due to the additional DOT crash testing that would have been required to allow US sales.
996.2 GT3
Porsche made significant updates to the GT3 for 2004 model year, using the 2002 996 facelift including headlights that were differentiated from the entry-level Boxster. This model is commonly known as the 996.2 GT3. Engine power output rating was raised to and torque to, 80% of which was available from 2,000 rpm. The braking setup was upgraded, now featuring 6-piston calipers on the front, and the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake system was offered as an option. The GT3 now used the body shell of the Carrera 4.In track testing by American automotive journals, the GT3 managed a acceleration time of 4.5 seconds and a quarter mile time of 12.0 seconds at. During skidpad testing, the GT3 posted 1.03g.
Porsche's official test-driver Walter Röhrl completed the Nürburgring Nordschleife with the 996 GT3 in 7 minutes 56 seconds, a feat which was used by Porsche to promote the car.
996.2 GT3 RS
In 2003, Porsche introduced the Porsche 911 GT3 RS, an even more track-focused version of the 996 GT3. RS is short for the German RennSport, translating to "racing sport" in English. The "RS" moniker, and the characteristic lightweight blue or red wheels and "GT3 RS" side stickers link the 996 GT3 RS to historically important Porsches such as the Carrera 2.7 RS of the early 1970s. The 996 GT3 RS is lighter than the 996 GT3 thanks to a polycarbonate rear window, and a carbon fibre hood & rear wing. Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide ceramic composite brakes, which are also more heat and fade resistant than the cast iron units fitted as standard, were optional.The 996 GT3 RS has a slightly different engine specification to the 996 GT3. The cylinder heads of the 996 GT3 RS have reshaped intake and exhaust ports for race homologation. Porsche claim the same power output as the standard GT3 but Porsche's control dyno showed a jump to nearly The RS also has progressive springs rather than linear. The dampers are uprated and are between 10 and 15 percent stiffer than the 996 GT3 in bounce and rebound.
The wheel carriers are totally redesigned to maximize the improved dynamic camber control. The suspension top mounts can be turned 120 degrees to a cup car position. Both front and rear control arms are adjustable. The RS is lower than the 996 GT3.
The rear wing delivers of downforce at. The RS has ram air ducts on the engine bay which force air into the intake with of pressure at and this is enough to create an excess power output of. This additional power output cannot be homologated since the official engine output figures are certified on a dynamometer.
The 996 GT3 RS had a production run from 2003 to 2005. Only 140 right hand drive cars were built by Porsche and 113 of those were officially imported into the UK. The 996 GT3 RS was not sold in the United States or Canada.
Automobile magazines claim the 996 GT3 RS can accelerate from in about 4.3 seconds, maintains over 1.0g on the skidpad, and has a top speed of around.
The RS completed a lap of the Nürburgring 7:43, four seconds faster than the 996 GT2, the top-of-the-line 996 variant of the time.
997 GT3
997.1 GT3
In February 2006, Porsche unveiled the second generation of GT3, the 997 commonly now known as the 997.1 GT3. In addition to a new 3.6 litre flat-six engine, the vehicle featured "zero lift" aerodynamics, meaning the car creates only aerodynamic downforce and no grip-diminishing "lift" upwards and away from the road surface. The GT3 made use of a modified, track oriented version of Porsche's active PASM suspension making it the first of Porsche's RS or GT3 versions to feature an electronically adjustable suspension system. Also available was a navigation system and Porsche's "sports chrono" gauge package. The car went to sale in summer of 2006. A total of 917 units were sold in the United States and 46 units in Canada.The 997 GT3 has a rated acceleration time of 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of. Road and Track was able to achieve a acceleration time of 3.8 seconds. Porsche's official test-driver Walter Röhrl completed the Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7 minutes 42 seconds with the 997 GT3 in 2006.
997.1 GT3 RS
Porsche also offered an RS version of the 997 GT3. In common with its predecessors, it was a homologation model for use in a range of racing series. The 997 GT3 RS was introduced in Europe in October 2006 and in North America in spring 2007.The 997 GT3 RS is lighter than the 997 GT3, weighing in at. This weight-saving was achieved by the use of an adjustable carbon fibre wing, a steel engine cover, and a lightweight plastic windscreen. The weight savings gives the 997 GT3 RS corresponding engine power to curb weight ratio of per tonne.
The body of the 997 GT3 RS is wider at the rear than the 997 GT3. The muscular-looking rear end conceals a wider track that not only improves directional stability but also increases the potential cornering grip. However, drag is increased and top speed is reduced due to the larger rear wing. In addition to the new technology, the paint scheme and body panels are all designed specifically for the RS.
The US version of the 997 GT3 RS has a standard rear window and the smaller 911 fuel tank to comply with rules of SCCA, Can-Am, and IMSA. For Grand-Am races, the central locking wheel nut is replaced with the standard five-lug pattern required under Grand-Am rules.
Production of the first generation 997 GT3 RS ended in 2009. An estimated 1,168 vehicles were delivered worldwide, with a total of 410 units sold in the United States and 42 units in Canada.
997.2 GT3
In 2009, Porsche launched the 2nd Generation 997 GT3, with an enlarged 3.8 litre engine rated at. It also featured a number of new options including dynamic engine mounts and a pneumatically lifting front axle to compensate for the low ground clearance. The rear spoiler was also modified along with other parts of the bodywork. Deliveries in Europe commenced in November the same year. A total of 654 units were sold in the United States and 58 units in Canada.997.2 GT3 RS
For 2010, the second generation 911 GT3 RS received an additional due to a new 3.8-litre flat-6 engine, bringing total power output up to. Its transmission received a shorter final drive of 9:35 and a taller 6th gear of 0.88 ratio compared to other 997 GT3 variants’ 9:31 and 0.92 respectively. The car was not approved for competition in the United States by IMSA American LeMans. Grand-Am originally did not approve the car, but after performance issues, Grand-Am approved the second-generation car in April 2010.Porsche test drivers had intended to enter the 2011 12 Hours of Nürburgring on a standard road legal 911 GT3 RS, but had to withdraw for health reasons from the team that comprised racers Roland Asch and Patrick Simon, plus journalists Horst von Saurma and Chris Harris. The car, entered in cooperation with sport auto, is registered as S-GO 2400, and was driven from Weissach to Nürburg. The RS was modified according to safety requirements, which included a larger roll cage and fire extinguisher. As no race tyres were available for 19" wheels, the 18" wheels of the Carrera Cup racers were used. Asch qualified with 9:15, 42nd overall, and 9th among the 17 SP7 class entrants, only beaten by its race-prepared Porsche 997 siblings. In an otherwise disappointing race for Porsche, with the best race 997 finishing only 6th, the road-legal car did 145 laps, 9 less than the winning BMW, for place 13. It supposedly had to cover another 306 km, on the Autobahn back home.
A total of 541 units sold in the United States and 71 units in Canada.