With the arrival of the eighth generation of the Porsche 911 GT3, little by little we are getting to know new variants of the iconic German sports car, and this time it was the turn of its sportier brother (always with permission from the GT2 and RS versions).
Of course, we refer to the Porsche 911 GT3, a nomenclature that could not be absent and that we have gradually learned from its appearances near the Nürburgring and even with a brief cameo already fully uncovered in the Porsche ad in the 2019 Super Bowl At that time we discovered its keys at the design level, the same ones that we have just learned officially: the large rear spoiler, its new air intakes, the ventilated hood, the single-nut rims with the rim in the same tone of the body and a very striking blue paint.
Lighter than ever
All these changes not only provide a more aggressive image but also provide an extra downforce and reduce the weight of the car, especially when we consider that carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) has been used so much on the hood as in the rear wing -the roof is also available in this material-, resulting in the loss of about 70 kilos compared to the previous generation of the GT3. Also, its exclusive diffuser generates four times more downforce to reach a force 150% greater than 200 kilometers/hour. In this way, the car is more secured from behind.
With all this, the Porsche 911 GT3 2022 stops the scale at just 1,428 kilos. To achieve this figure, a multitude of components have also been revised that managed to lighten the whole, such as the windows, the brake discs, the aforementioned wheels, and even the starter battery, 10 kilos lighter. Special mention for the exhaust line, which incorporates two particulate filters and is still lighter, although Porsche does not specify how much. With all this, the German sports car has a weight/power ratio of 2.8 kilos per horse with a manual gearbox, a really good figure that brings it closer to the world of competition.
Porsche 911 GT3 2022 Engine
And since we mentioned the transmission, this sports variant could not forget about this ingredient and its six-speed manual gearbox will delight most purists. However, Porsche has also prepared an automatic alternative, namely the well-known seven-speed dual-clutch PDK. Both are associated with a 4.0-liter six-cylinder boxer mechanics that, how could it be otherwise, is naturally aspirated and generates 510 horsepower –at 9,000 rpm–, as well as a maximum torque of 470 Nm. It is the same block that the GT3 Cup uses.
With the automatic transmission, it is the one that achieves better performance, since it accelerates from 0 to 100 in 3.4 seconds and needs 10.8 seconds to get to 200 from a standstill. The manual is content with 3.9 and 11.9 seconds for the same records. The maximum speed, in both cases, exceeds 318 kilometers/hour. These figures, curiously, are identical to those of the 911 GT3 that stopped selling a few months ago.
Improved dynamics
At the chassis level, it is the first time that a Porsche production model uses a double-wishbone front axle, similar to the one on the Le Mans-winning 911 RSR. This scheme ensures greater rigidity and relieves shock absorbers from disruptive shear forces. Behind it is a specific five-link axle developed exclusively for this sporty version. The rear wheels also are guidelines, so turn up two degrees in the same direction as the front or in the opposite direction depending on the speed, which ensures cornering faster, as we have seen in other cars of similar characteristics.
In the section of the brakes, the front ones have a diameter of 408 millimeters instead of 380 millimeters and guarantee resistance to the fatigue to test the circuit. High-performance tires will be available as an option for most racing drivers. These same speed enthusiasts have the Clubsport package at their disposal at no cost, with a cabin cage, six-point rider harnesses, a small fire extinguisher, and a battery disconnect switch.
IN LESS THAN SEVEN MINUTES
With all this recipe described, Porsche ensures that the 2022 911 GT3 is capable of completing a lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in just six minutes, 59 seconds, and 927 thousandths. This means that the German sports car is no less than 17 seconds faster than its predecessor in turning the track completely. That says a lot about the work carried out on this car, which manages to be much faster and more effective in corners than ever before.
