Wow - none of that sounds good. Add in the ugly body kit shown in the spy photos along with center locks, and it gets more grim.

Mike, taken as a percentage, GT3 horsepower is shrinking vs the 911 - from 20% over the 996.2 down to 12.5% over the 991S (if that figure of 450 is correct).

 

Alan, I do get that. But being realistic, as HP numbers continue to rise it's going to get harder and harder to achieve the same percentage increases as previous models unless Porsche goes completely out of character in terms of the HP race. In raw numbers, the presumed 50 HP advantage of the 991 GT3 over the 991 S is the same as the diff between the 997.2S and the 997.2 GT3.

It still comes down to the fact that if someone thinks 435HP in their current GT3 is ok, why would they scoff at 450HP in a lighter new one? That 15HP and a lighter chassis is a big deal to RS owners, but now it's not when you're talking about a 991 GT3?

 

If you really have 50k burning a hole in your pocket and 450 hp is not enough, just build a monster 4.2L for your 997.2. Easy as that.

 

Mike, 450hp is certainly enough to get anybody into trouble both on the street and on the track - the problem is the bigger picture, not the specific output - if Porsche is using a warmed-over 991 drivetrain instead of something motorsports-derived, it had better be impressive. 3 year old GT3 RS 3.8 numbers are not impressive.

 

Rear steering as in when the wheel falls off due to pos CL's? Mike

 

We don't know the particulars (tires, options, driver, etc.) of that 7:34 Ring time or even if it's accurate. We don't know about that 0-100KPH time either, but given that Porsche is typically conservative, if it's really 3.5 seconds, that's about as fast as a 4.0 RS. In any event, I wonder if 3.8RS owners feel their car's numbers aren't impressive?

Really though, I get your point Alan. The "if Porsche" part is the issue. A DFI motorsport engine to replace the Mezger is coming. What will it be like? Is the basis for it in this car? Lots of ifs....

 

It will be interesting to see what it weighs. With the 991 already almost half aluminum, coming here without sunroof, and not significantly lighter than the outgoing model, short of options like sport buckets, PCCB, and LiON battery, it will be hard to get any weight out for the GT3.

 

The new engine is lighter then the old one. Weight savings right there.

 

I don't think the GT3 was ever much lighter than the carreras, anyways. In the case of the 996, it was actually heavier.

One thing that numbers do not communicate is the chassis improvement. The 991 is going to be a better overall car, even if it had no power increase or weight savings.

 

Actually the 9A1 3.8 X51 engine is race proven.

All the Caymans in GX ran these motors in the Daytona 24 and all cars finished without ANY engine failures.

From what I have been told the engines were basically stock.

 

If this info is accurate, I'll probably be leaning towards the C7 ZR1, especially if GM introduces a bulletproof dual clutch tranny. I love manuals as much as anybody, but I'm ready to try the next gen transmission.

 

The 9A1 is no doubt a stout motor; it has also serves the Cayman in the Interseries races. But 330hp from a 3.4 is 97hp/liter; 450 from a 3.8 is 118hp/liter. Big difference. And the Cayman was not competing directly against Ferrari, Corvette, etc. in that class.

 

Actually the X51 3.8 with head work puts out about 450hp (engine caymans were running).

No they did not run against the ferarri's as you can compare $500,000+ factory built race cars to modified street cars that were built in less than 3 months before Daytona and all ran 24 hours straight with no engine failures on the highest banked track in the USA.

Oh yeah and these Cayman teams: BGB, BULLET, & Nap.. all did it without any factory support....the mazda's cant say the same or didn't even finish 1/4 of the race.

I think this proves that the 9A1 3.8 engines are race proven now.

Do I think the Gt3 should have the same engine as a C2S.. no.. but thats why i still have my RS

 

Hope these are wrong. If they aren't, you guys will hold onto your 997.1 RSs and I'll never get my orange one

 

Guess I am less impressed than others with the 9A1-powered car finishing 26th, and winning the class over a 4-cylinder diesel sedan.