The revamped 2018 Porsche 911 GT3 has lapped Germany’s famed 12.9-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in 7 minutes, 12.7 seconds, cutting 12.3 seconds off the time posted by the car it replaced. Much of that improvement is attributed to the 2018 911 GT3’s new 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-6 making 500 horsepower – a modest but meaningful 25 more than the 3.8-liter six that motivated the previous 911 GT3.
Some of the extra quickness in this new 911 GT3 also comes from a host of other significant racing-inspired upgrades starting with a redesigned adaptive suspension that now includes rear-axle steering as well as Porsche‘s Torque Vectoring. The car was also equipped with the latest strain of super-grippy Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Those enhancements are complemented by the expanded use of carbon fiber to trim weight and numerous aero tweaks that collectively generate nearly 20 percent more high-speed downforce.
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“A few years ago, lap times like this could only ever be achieved by thoroughbred racing cars with slick tires,” noted Andreas Preuninger, director of the GT product line following the car’s successful ‘Ring run. “The new GT3 can now achieve this with comparatively modest power, but is still fully suited to everyday use.”
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