<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1ejkyc_0vT389kY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1ejkyc_0vT389kY00" width="1100" height="618" ><figcaption>Porsche / CarBuzz</figcaption></figure>I'd be the first to admit that I spend an unhealthy amount of time on the <a href="https://carbuzz.com/cars/porsche/911-gt3/">Porsche 911 GT3</a> configurator. Or I used to, at least. Porsche recently told us that <a href="https://carbuzz.com/porsche-911-gt3-production-ending/">the GT3 is no longer available to order</a> and that production has ended. The German automaker needs to make room for other high-performance 911s, which means the production facility in Zuffenhausen is likely prepping to start production of <a href="https://carbuzz.com/porsche-911-gt2-rs-engine-testing-gt3-rs-disguise/">the GT2 RS</a>.Because the configurator is dead, there's nothing left to look at but our old track tests and figures, and that's when we discovered something almost unbelievable: only one 911 GT3 derivative has ever had a top speed of less than 300 kph (186 mph).<h2>992.1 GT3 RS Is Both The fastest And The Slowest GT3 Ever </h2>The 992.1 GT3 RS, introduced to the world in 2022, is both the fastest and the slowest GT3 ever produced, as strange and oxymoronic as that statement may sound. The 2023 GT3 RS holds the record for the <a href="https://carbuzz.com/news/2023-porsche-911-gt3-rs-laps-the-nurburgring-10-seconds-quicker-than-gt3/">fastest naturally aspirated car to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife</a>, beating all of its predecessors by a significant margin. But when it comes to top speed, it can't even reach 186 mph.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2nHRO2_0vT389kY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2nHRO2_0vT389kY00" width="960" height="640" ></figure>2024 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 8.3/10What is Buzzscore?Base MSRP$241,300 Base Trim Engine4.0L Flat-6 Gas Base Trim DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive Base Trim Transmission7-Speed PDK Automatic Base Trim Horsepower518 hp Base Trim Torque342 lb-ft 0-60 MPH3.0 Seconds Top Speed184 mph <h2>How Does The Slowest GT3 Compare To The Rest? </h2>There are four generations of GT3, which is surprising as Porsche didn't actually think anyone would want this car. The OG GT3 was built as a homologation special, so Porsche could go racing, and the Germans didn't think anyone would be interested in a car without a radio or air conditioning. They were so wrong, and the demand was insane. Porsche built the first-generation GT3 until the machines that made it started coming apart, and that's how a legend was born. For the purposes of this article, we're not going to cover every tweak or facelift. We'll use the fastest GT3 and GT3 from every generation.<h2>996.2 GT3 And 996.2 GT3 RS </h2>GT3GT3 RSEngine3.6-liter flat-sixPower376 hpTorque284 lb-ftGearboxSix-speed manual0-62 MPH4.5 seconds4.4 secondsTop Speed306 kphThis was the only time in the history of the GT3 that both models shared the same engine with no upgrades. Or that's what Porsche claimed. The first-generation GT3 RS focused on weight reduction. Instead of upping the power, Porsche reduced the weight, opting for a polycarbonate rear window and a variety of carbon fiber bits. Obviously, Porsche overhauled the suspension and gave customers the option to adjust the suspension top mounts. By doing this, customers could run a cup car position. We doubt any of them did, but it certainly helped actual endurance racers.Speaking of that engine being the same, Porsche did say that the cylinder head was slightly different to provide better intake and exhaust ports for racing. They claimed the same power output, but independent dyno testing showed that the power jumped up to 400 horses.<h2>997.2 GT3 And 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0 </h2>GT3GT3 RS 4.0Engine3.8-liter flat-six4.0-liter flat-sixPower429 hp493 hpTorque317 lb-ft339 lb-ftGearboxSix-speed manual0-62 MPH4.1 seconds3.9 secondsTop Speed312 kph310 kphThis generation of GT3 is notable for two reasons. It was the last time Porsche sold a GT3 and GT3 RS exclusively with a manual gearbox, and it was the first time a GT3 came close to the magical 500-horsepower figure. Porsche has stuck to this figure almost religiously since. The 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0 produced 493 hp in 2009, and 15 years later, the GT3 RS still only produces 518 hp.The 997.2 GT3 RS 4.0 was also a special edition model, limited to 600 models. They are the holy grail for GT3 lovers, even though every generation after came standard with a 4.0-liter engine. If you look at the specs above, you'll also notice the less powerful GT3 was faster. This was the first time a GT3 RS suffered from a condition known as BAWS, more commonly known as Big Ass Wing Syndrome. The fixed wing on the rear of a GT3 RS plays a huge role in its on-track prowess because it provides loads of grip over the rear of the car, where the engine and tires are. That same wing also creates drag, which reduces the top speed.<h2>991.2 GT3 And 991.2 GT3 RS </h2>GT3GT3 RSEngine4.0-liter flat-sixPower493 hp513 hpTorque339 lb-ft347 lb-ftGearboxSix-speed manual/PDKPDK only0-62 MPH3.9 seconds manual / 3.4 seconds PDK3.2 secondsTop Speed318 kph with manual / 320 kph with PDK312 kphWe're definitely going to gloss over the pre-facelift models here because Porsche made a big mistake. Following two generations of manual-only cars, it switched over directly to PDK-only models. We kind of understand why, because PDK just makes sense on a track. But the Porsche crowd was unhappy and brought the manual back with the facelift, but the RS remained a PDK-only car, and that's the way it has been since.As you can see in the spec box, Porsche carried the 4.0-liter over from the previous-generation limited-edition 4.0 RS. The standard GT3 retained the same output, but Porsche refined the engine even further to produce 513 hp, which is just 5 hp less than the 2024 model. As always, Porsche's focus was on how much power it could put down, rather than how much power it could get out of the engine. And it did so using mechanical grip and trick aerodynamics. To illustrate just how little of an impact power had, the 997.2 4.0 RS set a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7 minutes and 27 seconds. The 991.2 GT3 RS only had 20 more horses, but it set a time of 6:56.4.<h2>992.1 GT3 And 992.1 GT3 RS </h2>GT3GT3 RSEngine4.0-liter flat-six4.0-liter flat-sixPower503 hp518 hpTorque347 lb-ft343 lb-ftGearboxSix-speed manual/ PDKPDK only0-62 MPH3.9 seconds manual / 3.4 seconds PDK3.2 secondsTop Speed320 kph with manual / 318 kph with PDK296 kphThis brings us neatly to the recently discontinued 992.1 model (the GT3 RS is still available), which we're sure will return with some sort of facelift in the future. <a href="https://carbuzz.com/reviews/driven-2023-porsche-911-gt3-is-sports-car-nirvana-on-track/">We spent some time with the GT3 on track</a>, but the model we really want to focus on is the GT3 RS because it is a masterpiece. Porsche went to town with this model to ensure owners get the most out of track day. For the first time, the rear wing on the back of a GT3 is active, and it comes standard with a drag reduction system. But the main goal is grip, and in the setting that provides the most downforce, the wing is actually higher than the roof of the car. You can imagine how much drag that creates, but in return you get 900 pounds of downforce at 124 mph. And that's just one fascinating feature this car has.Because of all the trick aerodynamics on this car, it can only reach a top speed of 296 kph, which makes it the slowest GT3 ever produced. But, in a strange turn of events, it's also the fastest. It recorded a time of 6:49.328 minutes around the modern 20.8 km (12.94-mile) Nürburgring Nordschleife.Not only is it the fastest NA car to ever lap the Green Hell, but it's currently in fourth place overall for road-legal cars. And the company it keeps is quite impressive. A second in front of it, we have the <a href="https://carbuzz.com/cars/mercedes-benz/amg-gt-black-series/">Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series</a>, which uses a 720-hp flat-plane crankshaft version of the M178 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. Right behind it is the <a href="https://carbuzz.com/cars/lamborghini/aventador-svj-coupe/">Lamborghini Aventador SVJ</a>, powered by a 759 hp NA V12. Not bad for a car with only 518 hp and the slowest top speed in 911 GT3 history.<blockquote>Every 911 GT3 Ranked By Top Speed </blockquote><ol><li>991.2 GT3 (2017-2019) - 199 mph / 320 kph (manual) </li><li>992.1 GT3 (2021-2024) - 199 mph / 320 kph (manual) </li><li>991.1 GT3 (2013-2016) - 196 mph / 315 kph </li><li>991.2 GT3 RS (2018-2019) - 194 mph / 312 kph </li><li>997.2 GT3 (2009-2011) - 194 mph / 312 kph </li><li>991.1 GT3 RS (2015-2017) - 193 mph / 310 kph </li><li>997.1 GT3 RS 4.0 (2011) - 193 mph / 310 kph </li><li>997.2 GT3 RS (2009-2011) - 193 mph / 310 kph </li><li>997.1 GT3 RS (2006-2009) - 193 mph / 310 kph </li><li>997.1 GT3 (2006-2009) - 193 mph / 310 kph </li><li>996.2 GT3 RS (2003-2004) - 190 mph / 306 kph </li><li>996.2 GT3 (2003-2004) - 190 mph / 306 kph </li><li>996.1 GT3 (1999-2001) - 188 mph / 302 kph </li><li>992.1 GT3 RS (2022-present) - 184 mph / 296 kph </li></ol></div></body>

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The Only Porsche 911 GT3 Ever With A Top Speed Lower Than 300 KPH

I'd be the first to admit that I spend an unhealthy amount of time on the Porsche 911 GT3 configurator. Or I used to, at least. Porsche recently told us that the GT3 is no longer available to order and that production has ended. The German automaker needs to make room for other high-performance 911s, which means the production facility in Zuffenhausen is likely prepping to start production of the GT2 RS.

The Only Porsche 911 GT3 Ever With A Top Speed Lower Than 300 KPH

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