The hardcore bucket seats of this Clubsport sit you virtually on the floor and their deep bolsters clamp you in place. The flat six jars into life with an angry clatter and you soon realise that a change of gear requires a bit of bicep work. The trade-off is the pure, satisfying sensation of gear teeth meshing with each other and a tremendously quick shift.
Off the line on cold and slightly greasy asphalt, our GT3 leaped to 60mph in 4.2sec, reached 100mph slightly behind the claimed figure at 9.2sec and topped 150mph in 22sec, just 0.5sec behind our time for an F430. This is a very quick car.
If we do have a criticism, it’s that the gear ratios are set too long; second takes you to over 80mph and third to nearly 120mph, which isn’t terribly useful for driving in the UK. Shorter ratios would improve the GT3’s acceleration. Indeed, shorter gear sets are available to order, at a cost. Nevertheless, this is a magical engine to work hard, with a wall of screaming noise as it revs ever higher.
Porsche has a reputation for great brakes, and with the ceramic option fitted our car didn’t disappoint. They are as close to faultless as we’ve ever experienced, with brilliant resistance to fade, lovely pedal feel and immense power.
The GT3 doesn’t feel much more uncomfortable than a Carrera S, so although at times it is unyielding – telegraphing the surface you are passing over – because it deals with bumps and ridges in such a decisive manner you’re inclined to relax and let it do its thing.
Body control is terrific over all but the bumpiest of roads. With Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres – a lightly treaded road-legal slick – it is necessary to re-calibrate the brain as to what will stick and what won’t. But it’s on a circuit that the GT3 is in its absolute element, with prodigious levels of grip adding to the package of power and braking ability. Although the variable-ratio steering isn’t as alive as before, there is plenty of feel and absolute precision.