The structure is from the Carrera 4 to allow the fitment of a larger fuel tank, but the panelling is from the narrow-hipped Carrera 2 (only the RS variant gets wider arches) with an aluminium bonnet and plastic doors and engine cover.
The heart and soul of this new GT3 is the 3600cc flat six engine. The development theme has been to reduce the mass of the engine’s internals, allowing higher rotational speeds. There’s Variocam variable valve timing, new polished cylinder head ports, double valve springs and hollow camshafts. The result is an astonishing 114bhp per litre and 409bhp at 7600rpm. Torque is 298lb ft at 5500rpm.
The bespoke gearbox has been revised, with ratios two to six brought closer together and a reduction in shift movement. But perhaps the most significant change is the adoption of electronically controlled damping (PASM) and variable-ratio steering.
The chassis has firmer springs and dampers and thicker anti-roll bars. The PASM dampers have two settings: a normal mode for road use and coyly recommended by Porsche for the north circuit of the Nürburgring, and a sport setting purely for “very smooth racetracks”.
That’s not all. With adjustable spring platforms front and rear allowing various ride heights, two basic camber settings for either road tyres or competition slicks with fine adjustment from the track control arms, and five anti-roll bar settings up front and three at the rear, ruining your GT3’s set-up in the garage should take mere hours.
Naturally a limited-slip differential is fitted, and there’s also a traction control system, but no ESP.
Although 350mm cast iron brake discs are fitted as standard – six-pot calipers up front and four-pots at the rear – another £5800 gives you 380mm carbon-ceramic discs.
Ordering the Clubsport specification at no extra cost gives you deep bucket seats, the rear half of a roll cage and preparation for a battery master switch, fire extinguisher and harness.