Living the Legend
Nick Jeffery
Surrey, UK
@npjeffery
@npjeffery
Model 997.1 GT3
Year 2007
Acquired DECEMBER 2019
Model 997 CARRERA 4 GTS
Year 2012
Acquired OCT 2018
Through my role as experiences director at Porsche Club GB, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the 17th International Porsche Club Presidents’ Meeting that took place in and around the Portimao race track in Portugal. The event was organised by Porsche for all the officially recognised Porsche Clubs around the world. The two-day itinerary consisted of test drives on local roads in the new Taycan Turbo S and 991.2 GT3 RS Weissach Pack plus plenty of track time in each car too.
We were also given insight into each car during detailed workshops around electric vehicle technology and Porsche Motorsport, both the development of their GT cars and their road to track to race programme, which was absolutely fascinating. Unfortunately, we were not permitted to take any photographs during the workshops.
The event was also an ideal opportunity to spend time with other Porsche Clubs across the globe, share ideas and be surrounded by other Porsche enthusiasts!
So, let’s start with Porsche’s new electric vehicle – the Taycan. I was convinced, determined even, not to like an electric vehicle, but once you accept it does not have an internal combustion engine and does not make any noise, it is actually rather good. So good in fact, I found myself throwing a five-metre long, 2.3-tonne vehicle around like it was, well, a 911… Plus, I cannot begin to convey how ferocious the acceleration is in a straight line. With 761PS and over 1,000Nm of torque, it was quite unlike any other car I have ever driven, especially when you consider it will comfortably seat four adults with a large boot. Handling was precise and sure footed as you would expect from Stuttgart’s finest, with more poise and body control than you would imagine for a car of this size.
Readers will be pleased and relieved to know the GT3 RS Weissach Pack was on another level entirely. What a car! GT3s have evolved so much since the original 996.1 was launched over 20 years ago. It was as accomplished on road as it was on track, with a soundtrack to die for! Portimao is an exceptional race track, with swooping curves and plenty of gradient change, so it really is a challenging track to drive around. To do so in such a special vehicle is an experience I will never forget! It also reminded me how much I like track days and has made me even more determined to book some track time in 2020 in my 997.1 GT3.
The whole trip was an unforgettable experience but I could not wait to get home and back behind the wheel of my GT3. I wanted to draw an immediate comparison between the brand-new Rennsport generation and my 2007 car. The similarities were immediately obvious. Focused and raw, yet civilised enough to drive on the road. The orchestra out back from the wailing flat six and central exhaust pipes. The purposeful rear wing and lowered suspension, plus the fact that you know you are driving something very special from the moment you turn the ignition key!
Having only recently got the 997.1 GT3, I was hoping the awesome time I had in the brand-new GT3 RS would not take the ‘shine’ off my car. I am very pleased to report that proved not to be the case. It’s proof once again that Porsche has an uncanny ability to make each generation of 911 GT3 feel special and unique in their own way!
