GT3 - Dolomites, Autobahns and the Nurburgring

[AlexHancock]

Just returned from a 12 day, 2.5K mile trip to the Italian Dolomites (around Cortina) with a 2 day stint at the 'ring - who says a GT3 isn't an everyday car?

Fantastic fun, particularly the 'ring - I'll need a lot more laps to really get the best from the car but very impressed. I got a ride for 2 laps with a chap called William in his trick GT3 - very, very quick - nice to see what the car's really capable of. Autobahn was a bit too busy to check out the top speed but got a quick run to 170 mph before having to back off - very stable and pulling strong.

Best purchase I've ever made - can't think why those cars are sitting at the dealers.

Cheers

Alex

[johnny senna]

AlexHancock said:

Just returned from a 12 day, 2.5K mile trip to the Italian Dolomites (around Cortina) with a 2 day stint at the 'ring - who says a GT3 isn't an everyday car? Fantastic fun, particularly the 'ring - I'll need a lot more laps to really get the best from the car but very impressed. I got a ride for 2 laps with a chap called William in his trick GT3 - very, very quick - nice to see what the car's really capable of. Autobahn was a bit too busy to check out the top speed but got a quick run to 170 mph before having to back off - very stable and pulling strong. Best purchase I've ever made - can't think why those cars are sitting at the dealers. Cheers Alex

Hi Alex,
Sounds like a great trip. I must take another blast across the continent at some point.
On the subject of using the GT3 Mk2 as a daily driver, can you give us some more insight into this please? I would have thought the ONLY issue is the ground clearance and catching the splitter on ramps? I suspect multistory car parks are out of the question? Do tell.

[craig]

Alex

Did you ever get the sports exhaust fitted?

Was contemplating it but am yet to hear one on the GT3.

Craig

[superlightr]

How do you find the GT3 on the UK roads ie country, camber, poor surface etc.

Ta

[AlexHancock]

Johnny, I live in West London and have to park in an underground car park with a very steep ramp. The lowest point of the front is the middle of the splitter so it's best to approach ramps (both types ^ or v) at an angle to avoid catching the splitter. I can do this for my car park provided no one's coming the other way. Some car parks have kerbing which would prevent this so should be taken with care. I rarely have problems with speed bumps but do avoid them if possible - the worst ones are the ones where the car's wheels normally pass on either side but these are only a problem if you can't put one side on and one off. The splitter is very flexible and you will scuff it from time to time but are unlikely to do it too much harm at low speeds - reversing is best in really tough situations as it prevents the splitter from digging in. Overall I thought it would be a problem and made sure that on my test drive I tackled all of the above before buying. I only caught the splitter once on the 'ring by exiting the Caroussell too early. The Recaro seats make getting in & out and putting luggage in the back a little tricky but otherwise the car is very practical.

Craig, not yet! But after hearing some of the others GT3s at the 'ring (I've never seen another on the road but there were about 10 there that weekend) I'm sure I will soon. Peashooter (Ralph) has one fitted and I'm going to see if I can have a listen soon - I'm only delaying things as it is quite a chunk of change and I'm sure I should be buying track lessons instead but...

[murray]

I was really looking forward to a trip to Magny Cours with Bookatrack next week but have had to cancel.

Jim

[AlexHancock]

That's a shame Jim - hopefully you will get another chance this year. If you ever decide to take it to the 'ring let me know and I'll try to join you. I know you were dissappointed with how 'soft' the GT3 was so would be interested in your views after a few laps. Did you get your RS engine fixed?

[Harris_I]

johnny s: having recently taken ownership of a Mk2, I echo Alex's comments. I drive everyday into a multi-storey with some medium slope ramps. I go dead slow as the gradient changes from steep to level(downhill), and providing I lift my brake pedal gently just before the wheels hit the level (so the nose comes up fractionally), I avoid scraping the front splitter.

It might be a little frustrating for anyone behind you at the time, but you soon lose them as you exit the car park!

Also, the clutch can be a little heavy for stop-start town traffic, but I have got used to it. I tend to keep a pair of comfortable shoes in the car which I swap whenever I drive to work as I wouldn't want to knacker the Church's.

Reversing in the bucket seats is a pain, as it's difficult to turn around, plus there's a ruddy great wing and roll cage in the way, but hey at least that means my wife can't drive it...

[AlexHancock]

James, sorry didn't see your post before. Very broken up surfaces aren't much fun at slow speeds (as in most sports cars) but are better if you can speed up. Otherwise, provided the tyre pressures are equal between left and right (very sensitive to slight differences and will make the car feel unsafe at speed), the car handles all surfaces very well. It does 'follow' the road so you shouldn't fight it but just take in this feel/input and decide whether you need to correct anything - mostly you don't need to adjust your direction. Anyone who's been will tell you that the 'ring's surface is not very good but the car felt amazing around it. When you do find that perfect road with high and low speed corners with a good surface it really does feel 'glued to the road'. Even if you don't intend to buy one take a test drive.

[johnny senna]

Alex and Harris, thanks for that.

[AndrewD]

Echo the sentiments, we recently did a 2k mile round trip to south of France and back in our mark 2, fabulous!

Is it me or are the brake cooling ducts even lower than the sacrificial front splitter?

[murray]

rs has been 'fixed' a couple of times although they now think they have got to the bottom of it. Some oil feeder pipe coming from the crank thingy has collapsed. We'll see.
At Pau last year the splitter on the rs was fine but the 'flaps' underneath, at the front were scrapping on one of the downhill corners

Jim