An Unexpected GT3

The other day, just after lunch, I suddenly got an email from my husband. “I just heard from Mr. H that a slot opened up for the GT3 Touring! If we’re buying, we have to decide the specs right away, so I’m heading to the Porsche Center now!”

Wha-what!? (；ﾟДﾟ)

Me: “Do we even have parking space?! What about the Boxster!?”
Him: “That can wait! We can’t miss this chance!”

So about an hour and a half later, I got another email: “I placed the order!” Honestly, I never imagined my husband would decide to buy a 911 GT3 so quickly.

My Husband’s Ideal “Purebred 911”

He had always said, “If I buy a 911, I want the most solid, purebred 911 possible. But it’s hard to find one with the specs I want.” When the 911 Carrera T was released last year, he said, “This is great!” but…

Since the manual transmission (MT) version wasn’t available in Japan, he gave up. Back then, he often grumbled,

“I get why PDK is good, but it’s so disappointing that the Japanese 911 Carrera T doesn’t come with a manual. If only it did, I’d buy it. Why can’t they offer the same options as in Germany? Even if limited in numbers or a bit pricier, I just want the choice…”

Later, when the GT3 with MT was announced, he got excited, saying, “A 500-hp naturally aspirated engine with a manual? That’s rare, maybe one of a kind!” He even played with the configurator, but rumors said “It’s uncertain if MT cars will officially come to Japan”(not parallel imports), so he stopped seriously looking.

Decided the Specs in 30 Minutes

Then, the 911 GT3 Touring was released.

“This is amazing! A GT3 without the wing! At first glance, it’s a ‘GT3 that doesn’t look like a GT3’—what a classy car ( ﾟ∀ﾟ)!”

He was instantly captivated, though (he’s not one for flashy things and prefers subtle branded items that only those in the know recognize). But rumors said “It might not be officially introduced in Japan”, and the Japanese configurator website didn’t offer the Touring Package option, so he had pretty much given up, thinking “It probably won’t come to Japan.”

One day, by chance, he met a Porsche owner on the Royu Driveway who told him, “There are official imports of the GT3 Touring in Japan.” He immediately contacted his dealer rep, Mr. H, and asked, “If a slot opens for the 911 GT3 Touring, please reserve one for me.” Mr. H said the chances were slim, so he didn’t expect much.

Then one day, the dealer called: “Luckily, we have a slot for the GT3 Touring. If you can decide quickly, we can secure it.”

“I can buy the new 992 later, but this GT3 Touring is only available now!”

He made the decision on the spot. When he got home, he was still in disbelief: “I ordered the GT3 in just 30 minutes…”

He chose the GT3 Touring in the body color he had always wanted: Crayon, with the optional PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes). I’ll share more details about the specs later.

Apparently, this GT3 Touring will be produced around February 2019, with delivery expected late April or just after Golden Week.

When I asked, “What about the 981 Boxster GTS?” he said, “I just changed the tires recently. It’s a great car, so I’ll keep it for now. It’s an expensive purchase and maintenance will increase, but I’ll work hard and earn more.”

Found the GT3 Brochure

While my husband was excited, I had almost no knowledge about the GT3 or the Touring, so I just replied with a lukewarm “Oh, really?” So I decided to look at the GT3 brochure he got from the dealer.

I remembered a few years ago, when I wasn’t interested in cars at all, he said, “GT3 is awesome!” but I said, “What’s with that wing? Looks like a street racer! If you buy it, I’ll take that wing off at night!” (-_-).

But strangely, after I started liking Porsche and got interested in cars, that wing grew on me and I thought, “Actually, it’s cool because it has that wing.” Yet, just as I started to like the wing, my husband chose the no-wing version… (LOL)

The 911 GT3 brochure is quite thick. Flipping through it, I saw the phrase “Born in Flacht.” The 911 GT3 is made in a place called Flacht. I’d never heard of it before.

Flacht is the home of Porsche Motorsport in the Swabia region of Germany. It’s a cutting-edge complex near the Weissach Development Center, where the 911 GT3 Cup, 911 RSR, and 919 Hybrid were born. Not only are engines, transmissions, and chassis assembled here, but in a construction hall over 12,000㎡, vehicles are developed from scratch.

Next to it is a passage:

Porsche engineers pour their experience from all kinds of racing into their work, pursuing perfection every day. At the end of the day, they might think, “It can’t be improved any further.” But the next morning, they ask themselves, “Can it be made even better?” To be 0.01 seconds faster, 1% more agile, 1 gram lighter. This mindset alone creates Porsche’s finest cars.

Amazing… I feel many people love Porsche because of this attitude too.

What Makes the 911 GT3 So Special?

The brochure explains many of the GT3’s charms.

Engine

The engine is a newly designed 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six derived from the 911 GT3 Cup. It produces 368 kW (500 PS) and 460 Nm of torque. This engine is mounted low at the rear, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.4 seconds, with a top speed of 318 km/h. (For MT, 0-100 km/h is 3.9 seconds, top speed 320 km/h) The rev limit (maximum engine speed) is an astonishing 9,000 rpm. The pure sound of this high-performance naturally aspirated engine is a major part of the GT3’s appeal.

Wow… truly the pinnacle of NA engines.

Lightweight Body

The body uses a composite of aluminum and steel, with lightweight polyurethane on the front and rear ends. The rear lid, rear spoiler, and uprights are carbon fiber, and titanium is used for the connecting rods. No wonder it’s so expensive.

Standard Rear Axle Steering

Our Panamera Turbo has optional rear axle steering, but the 911 GT3 comes standard with it. This system electronically controls the rear wheels to steer based on driving conditions, steering input, and speed.

At low speeds, the rear wheels steer opposite to the front wheels, effectively shortening the wheelbase and reducing turning radius, allowing more dynamic cornering.

At high speeds, the rear wheels steer in the same direction as the front wheels, increasing stability like a longer wheelbase and improving agility by steering both axles simultaneously. This is especially helpful for overtaking on circuits or lane changes on highways.

Since this feature is on the 911 and not on the much larger Panamera, it’s no wonder the GT3 is so nimble.

High-Performance Brakes

The 911 GT3 is equipped with an extremely powerful braking system, including a brake booster tuned specifically for the car’s performance. The brakes use two-piece cast iron discs and aluminum calipers, reducing unsprung and rotational mass significantly. They deliver strong stopping power even in bad weather or under the harsh conditions of motorsports.

You can “feel the joy even in the moment of deceleration.”

The price exceeds 20 million yen including tax, but considering the lightweight body, high-performance engine, and brakes, “that price makes sense.” Adding options easily pushes it over 25 million yen.

The Touring Package

Here it is: the Touring Package. The GT3 offers an option for a no-wing “Touring Package.” This package is designed for enjoying driving in a variety of situations, not just on the track. Without the wing, it looks much like a regular 911 at first glance, but its performance is described as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

“A true GT sports car fused with calm sophistication.” This unique Porsche style balances two seemingly contradictory qualities. My husband muttered, “I like that it balances contradictions. Those who understand, understand; those who don’t, don’t. That’s the beauty. There’s an aesthetic in that…”

Delivery in Four Months…?

I found some test drive videos of the 911 (991.2) GT3 (MT) online. They said “The ride is very supple” and “The clutch is lighter than expected,” so it seems very natural to drive. It looks quite suitable for daily use.

I’d love to drive the GT3 when it arrives, but since it’s again a “manual two-seater,”…

I really need to get better at driving the Boxster MT first! (Though lately, I feel like I’m getting the hang of it.) I’ll do my best!