Today, my husband has written about taking our GT3 to Suzuka Circuit at the end of last year. We hope you enjoy his account.

Last October, heavy rain forced the cancellation of a Porsche driving school, so I never got the chance to take the GT3 on track. I took some time off at the end of the year and brought it to Suzuka Circuit for a proper run. Here’s how it felt, including some comparisons with the Boxster GTS.

Taking the GT3 to Suzuka Circuit

I packed my helmet and driving gloves, left home early in the morning, and headed for Suzuka Circuit.

As ever, the GT3’s high-speed stability was superb. On the smooth, straight sections of the Shin-Meishin Expressway, it felt as if the car were glued to the asphalt. There was very little vertical pitch, and compared with the Boxster GTS, the GT3 felt more firmly planted and even more stable.

I had two 30-minute sessions scheduled, both in mixed groups of advanced and beginner drivers. With 48 cars on track, there was little chance of chasing a lap time, so I focused on driving smoothly and getting a feel for how the GT3 behaved on track.

Getting Acquainted with the Track

On public roads, the GT3 is honestly more car than you can use. It’s incredibly fast, and its cornering ability is extraordinary. There are very few places in Japan where you can enjoy an engine that revs to 9,000 rpm. Most of the time, you have to hold the GT3 back, keeping this thoroughbred under control as it begs to be let loose.

But this time was different. I was at a circuit—the internationally renowned Suzuka Circuit Grand Prix course. There were no speed limits, so I could finally let the GT3 run.

I pulled out of the pit lane and began with a warm-up lap, bringing the tires up to temperature while getting a feel for the steering and engine.

I took Turns 1 and 2 slowly before entering the S Curves. My first impression was simple: easy to drive. There was very little body roll, and the car went exactly where I pointed it. The GT3 felt far more composed than the Boxster GTS.

I flowed through the Dunlop Curve from the Degner Curve, then headed for the Hairpin. The GT3 turned in beautifully here, too. I was taking it easy on the warm-up lap, but it was still a revelation to feel the car respond so effortlessly.

From the Spoon Curve, along the back straight, through 130R and into the chicane, I found myself thinking, “Didn’t I have to work a lot harder to get through here in the Boxster?” The GT3 simply swept through with ease.

Unleash the GT3!

The grandstands came into view. I shifted into second, then third, and finally unleashed the GT3, accelerating hard as if to make up for all the time I’d spent holding it back.

I hit 200 km/h in no time. The tachometer climbed past 7,000 and 8,000 rpm, with no sign of the engine running out of breath. That may sound like a simple observation, but I’d never experienced this kind of power or such rapid acceleration through the rev range at high rpm. If anything, the engine pulled harder as the needle surged toward 9,000 rpm.

Keeping my foot on the accelerator, I pressed the clutch and slotted into fourth. The GT3’s manual transmission automatically matches engine speed, making for smooth shifts with very little loss of momentum. Even so, the acceleration is so strong that I couldn’t help easing off the throttle.

I need to practice shifting while staying on the throttle and make it second nature.

The speed climbed through 230 and 240 km/h, approaching 250, before I eased off and hit the brakes. This was my first time using the PCCB brakes on track, so I wasn’t sure how hard to press the pedal to get the stopping power I wanted.

I started with about 70 to 80 percent of the pressure I thought I’d need, and the car slowed more than expected—in fact, I had more braking capacity than I needed. I was blown away: “PCCB is incredible!” Then I cleared Turns 1 and 2 and entered the S Curves.

I pushed through the S Curves in third gear, and the GT3 made it feel remarkably easy. The lateral G-forces were intense, so I braced myself with my left foot and kept my head steady as I fought to hang on. This over-40 driver was doing his best to keep up with the GT3, and before long, my left hip was screaming and my leg started cramping. (Sweat)

That was a sharp reminder of how little exercise and training I’ve been getting.