Porsche has been so dominant in world motorsport for so long, in so many categories, using so many cars, that its performance hegemony is a given to many of us. Head to any round of the World Endurance Championship and you’ll see how numerous Porsche is, particularly in the non-prototype GT categories. A big part of the reason why is that when the green is unfurled, Porsche is always ready to play. Its most prominent race offerings recently have been the 911 RSR and the 911 GT3, a car so popular that it’s inspired its own racing series. It’s inspired a truly ultra version of the 911, one that proves that you still can buy a genuine race-bred automobile for the road, with that level of capability, for your very own if you choose your manufacturer appropriately.
The 2021 911 GT3 is directly derived from Porsche’s production-themed racing cars. Its double-wishbone front suspension is lifted directly from the 911 RSR, and its aerodynamics, including the swan tail, as it’s now called – “ducktail” is relic of the 1970s RS and Carrera – is similarly sourced. The engine is, again, decisively race-bred. It’s a water-cooled 4.0-liter flat six with dry-sump lubrication and 510 horsepower, running off a compression ratio of 13.3:1 that ought to get your track day positively crackling. Porsche refers to this engine as “acoustically impressive.” Sounds good in our book. The standard transaxle is a six-speed manual. Deliveries, for those with the fortitude to accept them, commence in May.
Jim Donnelly On Wheels 