Porsche 911 GT3: the purest sportscar spirit throughout history

When we think of sports cars, we cannot help but think of large-displacement engines, figures that exceed our imagination and a scandalous sound that resonates everywhere. However, we can come to perceive the concept of sportiness from a softer and cleaner point of view, two elements that come together in a single vehicle, the Porsche 911 GT3. It is not the fastest, nor the most powerful, nor the most radical, but its essence and soul make this German contender one of the purest models on the market.

Not long ago, we saw the latest GT3 variant arrive on the market, one of the few sports cars today that remains faithful to its principles: a naturally aspirated engine, three pedals and a gearbox where the driver is in charge of engaging the gears. It is true that the other variants of the 911 have given up these characteristics and opted for turbo engines, but the brand has taken its most purist customers into consideration.

The 911 GT3 was born as a more radical variant of the German sports car, ranking second behind its bigger brother, the GT3 RS. However, the prestige and good reputation this car enjoys were not achieved overnight, and that is why we are going to review the history of this model. To do so, we must go back a number of years.

Porsche 911 Carrera RS: the origin of a legend

In 1974 the company created the father of the GT3, the so-called Carrera RS. These initials made their first appearance on a production sports car, standing for Rennsport in German, whose literal meaning is racing car. Under its bonnet it hid a powerful naturally aspirated 2.7-litre engine capable of producing 210 CV of power, which moved a mass of barely 1,075 kg.

Without a doubt, this model marked a before and after in the history of the brand, given that from this version onwards the 911 adopted a much more fierce and fun character. After the appearance of the RS initials, the GT3 designation was attached.

The 996 generation: the first official GT3

It was in 1999 that Porsche introduced the GT3 badge on a production model. They used the 996 version of the 911 to create this great sports car, which inherited a strong legacy from its predecessor. Its philosophy remained intact inside, as it featured a naturally aspirated six-cylinder engine based on those the brand used in its racing cars, such as the 911 GT1.

It produced 360 CV of power and was paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. Without a doubt, this 911 became a true pure-bred sports car because, without being the most powerful or the fastest, it was capable of conveying sensations in every way. In 2005 the next version replaced the 996.

Porsche 911 GT3 997: the legacy continues

The second generation of the GT3 arrived with the 997 in 2006. This variant featured a great aerodynamic effort, with every last detail reinforced. It was the first GT3 to include adaptive suspension, with the intention of making it a more versatile vehicle, although its conception was clearly focused on the track.

Inside it had a six-cylinder engine -also naturally aspirated- producing 415 CV of power, drawn from 3.7 litres. The excellent power-to-weight ratio allowed this GT3 to reach 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds and a top speed of 311 km/h.

Porsche 911 GT3 991: refining perfection

In 2013, Porsche presented the sporting variant of its latest 911, the GT3 991. Originally, it featured a 3.8-litre engine capable of delivering 482 CV of power and revving up to 8,250 rpm. This vehicle can reach 100 km/h in 3.1 seconds, making it one of the fastest production Porsche models in history.

It was at the last Geneva Motor Show that the brand announced the second generation of the GT3, called 991.2. This variant was presented with a total output of 500 CV, capable of outperforming the previous GT3 RS and with the option of fitting a manual gearbox.

Without a doubt, the history of the GT3 tells how one of the purest and most natural sports cars of all time was conceived, capable of marking a before and after in the history of the automobile. From here, we wish with all our strength that this type of vehicle never dies out and that the life of the GT3 -and of course that of the RS- be long and lasting.

Technical specifications of this car

CoupePorsche 91119 versions · from 157,835 €