Now you shouldn't believe everything that's written on the Internet. However, if these images and the rumours are to be believed, this despoilered Porsche 911 is the return of the
manual GT3
Now let's face it, there was and remains a great deal of consternation about the current
991 GT3
GT3 RS
being PDK-only. Yes, it's a great gearbox and yes, it makes the car faster, but that crucial layer of interaction between man and machine has been removed. The GT3 more than any other 911 is about interaction so it was a huge decision to abandon three pedals and a stick. For outright speed you buy the Turbo, right?
Furthermore, the demand for the Cayman GT4 must have proved to Porsche and the GT department that the manual gearbox still has some life in it. It can't have escaped them either how far the values of 997 GT3s have climbed too. The buyers appear to want manual, so why not give them one? Let's hope the logic can be made into a business case.
As for the car seen here, the wheels, PCCB, rear arches and exhaust clearly give it away as a GT3. It looks like there's a cage back there too. And how good does it look without a spoiler?
But we're probably getting carried away here. There's nothing official from Porsche, and all there is for the moment are these pictures and some Internet excitement. But the second there is anything, you'll be the first to know. It's been quite a while since a 911 R after all...
[Photos: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien]