The 992 number is the model designation given to the eighth iteration of the legendary Porsche 911.

Despite FMSC being the most strict on Porsche for qualifying cars, with the entry point a GT car or above, it still remains the most numerous brand in our club.

Today we celebrate Porsche as we look at one of the most difficult qualifying car models of any of the marques to get hold of brand new, the GT3.

The GT3 is the high-performance and track focused model variant in the 911 lineup, with the 992 being launched in 2021.

It is powered by a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six engine that produces 502 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds.

More recently, (Aug 2022) the 992 GT3 RS was launched into the range. The RS is even more stripped out, more track focused than even the GT3.

But today we are focusing on the 992 GT3…

This is a track-focused car, and it features a number of performance-enhancing features, including a lightweight body, a rigid chassis, and a sophisticated suspension system. The car also has a number of driver-assistance features, such as a rear-axle steering system and Porsche Stability Management (PSM).

It is also one of the most capable sports cars on the market, with many owners turning to the GT3, despite having owned bigger and more powerful cars previously. When asked why, most members say they are on the search for the ultimate driver’s car.

Here are some of the key features of the Porsche 992 GT3:

• 4.0-liter naturally-aspirated flat-six engine
• 502 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque
• 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission
• 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds
• Top speed of approx 199 mph
• Lightweight body
• Rigid chassis
• Sophisticated suspension system
• Driver-assistance features

The 992 GT3 recently set a lap time at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife with a time of just 6:55.34 minutes.

Double 992 GT3s through the Hindhead Tunnel

Porsche 992 GT3 Touring

The Porsche 992 GT3 Touring is designed to offer a more subtle and elegant driving experience than the standard 992 GT3. It does this by removing the large rear wing, which reduces downforce but also makes the car look more understated and classic looking.

The GT3 Touring is also rumoured to be limited worldwide to just 650, therefore significantly rarer than the non-Touring variant. So rare in fact, there is more chance of you winning the lottery than getting on the list for having one new!

The Porsche 992 GT3 Touring and the 992 GT3 are very similar cars, but there are a few key differences between them.

• Rear spoiler: The GT3 Touring has a smaller, active rear spoiler (non-adjustable), while the GT3 has a larger, more dramatic and adjustable rear spoiler. This gives the GT3 Touring a more understated look, while the GT3 has a more aggressive look.
• Exterior front splitter: The GT3 Touring has a painted front splitter, while the GT3 has a black front splitter. This gives the GT3 a more stealthy look, while the GT3 Touring has a more classic look.
• Interior: The GT3 Touring has a more luxurious interior, with standard features such as an embossed leather dashboard and a Bose sound system. The GT3 has a more spartan interior, with cloth seats and a standard sound system.
• Limited production: The 992 GT3 Touring is a limited-production car, with only 650 units being produced worldwide. The 992 GT3 is not a limited-production car.

In terms of performance, the 992 GT3 Touring and the 992 GT3 are very similar. They both have the same 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six engine, which produces 502 horsepower and 347 lb-ft of torque. They both have the same 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive. They both have a top speed of 199 mph.

The main difference in performance between the two cars is the rear spoiler. The larger, adjustable rear spoiler on the GT3 provides more downforce, which can help the car to corner faster and brake later.

Double GT3Ts along a Country Road

Are you For the Large Rear Spoiler, or Not?

Surely this must be the number one question a GT3 buyer must answer before deciding on anything else. Wing or no wing?

As you can see from the above left photo, the non-touring GT3 actually has 2 spoilers, the lower one that is flush with the bodywork and the other mounted above the body, acting as a reverse aircraft wing, where the air is instead forced over the top.

With the GT3 Touring (right picture above), the active aero spoiler is flat (not lipped like the non Touring variant) and tucked away when not in use. Coming up automatically once you hit a certain speed.

Black Front Splitter, or Colour Coded?

As you can see from the above photos, the GT3 has a black front splitter, offering a more stealthy and aggressive front end. The GT3T however, has a more classic look with the front splitter colour coded to the bodywork.

Price Tag & Resale

The 992 GT3 is not a hugely expensive car, compared to other supercars, with a starting price of just £146,000. This can of course go up significantly once you started adding options. Despite their seemingly accessible price point, they are notoriously difficult to get an allocation for. Some dealers with 300 ready customers will only get allocated maybe 25 units per year. This can cause upset among loyal customers but it does drive demand and media coverage for the Porsche product.

With the GT3 Touring model, this gets even harder to get hold of with dealers struggling to secure one or two slots for the entire model’s lifecycle. Therefore it could be that the residual values will remain stronger than its brother so this will be a factor for some, whether buying new or used.

The downside of all this is it encourages what is known as ‘Flipping’. This is where a buyer takes delivery of the car new and then immediately sells the car with a significant increase on the list price, often referred to as ‘overs’.

There were even rumours that 992 GT3s were changing hands for almost £100,000 over list price, when they first were released.

Porsche dealers would of course frown at any of their customers that were extended the opportunity to be on the list for one, only for it to be flipped straight away after delivery. It is likely they would be removed from any future list for the purchase of such a halo car in the future.

This unavailability to purchase the car of your choice is not unique to Porsche, this is becoming increasingly more commonplace. Ferrari is generally credited with being the first manufacturer to adopt the strategy of only offering certain models to VERY loyal customers. Stories of Ferrari customers having to purchase half a dozen or more cars in order to be considered for a ‘special’.

With Thanks

Thank you to club members Martin B, Michael U, Petro B & Toby L for allowing us to shoot their gorgeous and rare Porsche models.

Thanks to Goodwood Estates for allowing us to use their beautiful grounds as a backdrop for some of the photos.

All photos and videos by @91GCG

Interesting small details to note from these 4 cars are that one GT3 and one GT3T had carbon roofs, and the other two didn’t. It was great to see the differences between the cars side by side.

One GT3 and one GT3T were bought brand new and the other two paid a premium (overs) for their cars, nearly new. Both owners that paid ‘overs’ agreed they were delighted with their cars and were happy to pay extra for the ease of accessibility.

Continue down for the full gallery of images.

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Galleries

Porsche 992 GT3

Porsche 992 GT3 Touring