Nurburgring:
With a lap time of 7:48 mins the new 997 GT3 is just one second off the time set with the 996 GT3 RS before. The best time eas achieved not with PASM "Sport" setting hut the basic setup as the damers were not that hard and the car better to control. The PASM "Sport" setting is only suitable for flat tracks like the Hockenheimring.
Hockenheim:
here the new 997 GT3 was 1.5 secs. faster than its 2 years old predeccessor 996 GT3 and even 0.1 secs. faster than the sportier 996 GT3 RS. Tthis due to the progress made in driving dnymamics. The change from light understeer to light oversteer is easy to control, the 996 GT3 offers best handling.
0-200-0 kmh in 18.6 secs
it is hard to find the right grip. it took a dozen of attemps to get used to it and to achive the best time as there is no launch control and the driver has to find the right balance between the clutch and the throttle. The clutch even stand all these attempts.
The shifter of the 997 GT3 is not as easy to handle as of the Carrera S even though the gear shifts are exact and clear.
The cewramic disk brakes allows better breaking and also lasts longer than the standard brakes.
aerodynamic:
the 997 GT is well ballanced with no up- and no downforce at 200 km/h, so the aerodymanic has no influence to the handling at any speed, it si neutral.
Even though the aero package with the front apron and the rear wing, the drag coeffcient is pretty low: Cd = 0.29.

max. lateral acceleration: 1.3g
the new Michelin Cup Sport tyres, not the same as for the M3 CSL at that time, have a different geometry and offer a better wet handling. 1.3 g is not the max. for s supersports car but pretty much enough.
The 997 GT3 is at the same level as the Ford GT, Gallardo and 996 GT3 RS
specs:
3.6-litres flat-6 eingine
415 PS at 7600 rpm
405 Nm at 5500 rpm
115.3 PS/litre
gear ratios, 6-speed manual, limited slip differential, ASR:
1st 3.82
2nd 2.26
3rd 1.64
4th 1.29
5th 1.06
6th 0.92
axle 3.44
tyres:
Michelin Pilut Cup Sport
235/35 ZR 19 in front
305/30 ZR 19 in rear
length/width/height: 4445/1808/1280 mms
wheel base: 2355 mm
track: 1491/1524 mm in front/rear
weight: 1440 kg
power-to-weight ratio: 288.19 PS/ton
weight ditribution: 38.9/61.1% in front/rear
acceleration:
0-100 km/h in 4.3 secs.
0-160 km/h in 9.2 secs.
0-200 km/h in 13.9 secs.
Vmax = 310 km/h
slalom 18m: 71.8 km/h
slalom 36m: 141 km/h, better than the Koenigsegg CCR (138 km/h) and the Zonda F (137 km/h)
evasion test 110m: 158 km/h, same as the CCR, 1 km/h less than the Zonda F and 1 km/h quicker than the M3 CSL or CGT

wet handling:
best time for the 997 GT3, even 0.3 secs. quicker than the Audi RS4 at the wet hnadling track thaksn to the new Michelin Pilot Cup Sport tyres
verdict:
the 997 GT3 is true sports car and takes you into the spell pull. The 3.6-litres flat-6 engine shows its racing heritage. Even though the pursitc 997 GT3 is an every day racer for the experienced driver, not that challenging but less comfortable.
the 997 GT3 is a perfect sports car, it scores 77 pts., more than the CRR (77) and the Zonda F (74), both are more extreme.
the 997 GT3 has set two new records in the sport auto Supertest:
36m slalom and wet handling!
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Compared to old 996 GT3
Hockenheim: 1.13,2 min
Nordschleife: 7.54 min
0 - 100 Km/h 4,6 s
0 - 200 Km/h 14,8 s

 

Thanks for posting Erik.

Sport Auto always knows its stuff with their great Supertests. I see you didn't publish the whole article. Well gotta buy the mag itself The information they give of lap times is excellent...for example different speeds through different corners are very interesting to see and compare.

It's the only magazine besides evo worth reading imho!

 

Thanks for sharing

 

Eric,

Great post!

Thanks for the information. When compared to supercars in the likes of Koenigsegg CCR and the Zonda F, the car is up there with the handling. Can't wait to see what advantage the 997GT3 RS will have.

 

PRetty good test and article, thanks for sharing. Thought the GT3 would be a bit faster acceleration wise, to match up with its claims (0-100 in 8.7 secs) but oh well!

 

Erik, thanks for the report.