Touring with Wata, a Boxster Enthusiast

My husband has long regarded Wata-san, famous for his blog about his Porsche Boxster (previously a BMW Alpina), as his “mentor.” Wata-san’s 981 Boxster, purchased new, has already surpassed 160,000 kilometers, having conquered countless roads all over Japan multiple times—a truly remarkable driver.

My husband often said,

I love driving and touring too, but I can’t match Wata-san. He’s really amazing. I hope to meet him someday and drive together.

This time, thanks to a mutual acquaintance, he was invited to join Wata-san’s touring group, fulfilling his long-cherished wish. When I asked him beforehand, “What car will you take this time?” he replied,

It has to be the GT3! If I’m going to drive with Wata-san, I have to show up in the GT3!

He prepared with great enthusiasm (laughs).

This was a two-day, one-night tour with nine cars around Mount Ontake, spanning Nagano and Gifu prefectures. After he returned home, I asked him to write a report. Please enjoy it.

Heading North in the Porsche 911 GT3

Lately, I’ve been driving the 992 mostly to finish the break-in quickly, so it’s been a while since I drove the GT3. This might also be my first long-distance tour in it.

The destination for the Heart of Japan Meeting was the Nigorigawa Onsen “Yumotokan” near Mount Ontake. This tour brings together members from both the Kanto and Kansai regions and has been held several times before.

This time, I set off the day before, exploring around Fukui, Kanazawa, and Toyama before heading there. First, I took the Maizuru Expressway aiming for Fukui. Driving the GT3 on the highway after a while was truly special. The 992 is also wonderful and comfortable at high speeds, but the GT3 adds an extra layer of stability.

This is especially noticeable in high-speed corners, where it sticks to the road without any slip, almost crawling through the turns. The lateral G-forces hit the body cleanly with no feeling of slipping at all. This kind of grip is hard to experience in the regular 911 models.

In terms of highway “stability,” the GT3 definitely earns five stars. The 992 might be around 4.5 stars. On the other hand, for highway “comfort,” the 992 takes the lead. It feels less speedy and more comfortable.

So, if you want to cover long distances without fatigue, the 992 is your car; but if you want to feel overwhelming performance and power while driving, the GT3 is the way to go.

First, I headed for the Angel Line in Fukui and took photos at the mountaintop parking lot. The road isn’t great, but the summit offers a rare spot where you can shoot your car against the sea without guardrails in the frame.

Next, I drove north on Route 162, enjoying the superb winding roads along the Sea of Japan coast. The GT3’s gear was fixed between 2nd and 3rd. I kept the accelerator pressed, shifting up, and used SPORT mode’s auto-blip for downshifts.

The engine roared “Bashun! Bashun!” echoing as I reveled in the GT3’s incredible handling. This kind of handling can only be experienced in the GT3.

Afterward, I took the Hokuriku Expressway to the Chirihama Nagisa Driveway. Carefully, I brought the GT3 onto the sandy beach and drove along it. I wonder how many GT3 owners have dared to do this before.

ポルシェ911 GT3で千里浜なぎさドライブウェイを走る！

I stayed overnight in Toyama city, and the next day was the long-awaited meeting with Wata-san and the others.