Porsche isn't focusing on laptimes as much as the driving experience with the new 991.2 GT3

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This is not really surprising but it is good to get confirmation that Porsche is not putting laptimes above all else. The 911 GT3 is supposed to be the 911 in its purest form. A race bred machine that puts the driving experience as the focus. Unfortunately, Porsche got away from this a bit in recent years.

How so you ask? The lack of a manual transmission option with the 991 generation GT3 models. Porsche went with the PDK purely to go after numbers. It is no secret the PDK is substantially quicker than the manual.

It is also heavier and although a fantastic transmission it will never replace the connection and feel of a manual. The problem was since Porsche had no GT2 model suddenly the GT3 was branded as the car which should be the range topping performance killer.

The GT3 will never be able to match modern forced induction monsters in raw output. The 3.8/4.0 liter flat-6 is relatively small and in naturally aspirated form will simply never produce the kind of torque a C7 Z06 with its blown 6.2 liter V8 will. Yet, for some reason, people compare those cas as equals and simply omit that they are very different cars with very different goals.

If you want to go Z06 hunting the upcoming 991.2 GT2 and GT2 RS models will fit the bill as they are all about pushing the 911 to the limit. Porsche suddenly remembered what the GT3 is about as the head of the GT department states:

We are taking a lot of care about the driving emotion. Not so much stubbornly, seriously, German-ly chasing lap time, lap time, lap time. At least, that's not my intention anymore.

We found out that if you focus on the agility–making the car fun in tight turns, fun on canyons–we transferred something of that knowledge into the new GT3 as well.

The GT3 should be all about emotion. The sound, the throttle response, the driver interaction, the steering feel, etc. Everything should remind you of it being a race car with civil enough manners that it is street legal.

If you think a GT3 is supposed to be all about laptimes, you don't get it. The manual option returning shows Porsche realized their mistake.

Expect the new 991.2 GT3 and GT3 RS to impress:

This engine for me, hands down, is maybe the best Porsche street engine ever made

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