The 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 (977)
Why It's Special:
Ever since the introduction of the Porsche 911 GT2 (993 series) in 1994, the GT2 has been a statement to the true potential of the current 911 chassis. The formula is simple: jam a hopped-up version of the current 911 Turbo engine in the lightweight RWD chassis, pull off some creature comforts and voila, you have a serious piece of automotive hardware. With the debut of the 997 GT2, not much had changed from Porsche’s original philosophy.
From the outset the goal of the engineers in Zuffenhausen was to surpass the performance of the 911 Turbo and the sportiness of 911 GT3. In addition Porsche wanted to implement “pure driving dynamics” at the highest level. Aerodynamically the downforce generated has been increased significantly across both axles, and more importantly, balanced. Up front this is accomplished with a front bumper spoiler lip and a small vent in front of the hood. Out back the rear wing profile is much more dramatic and integrates a ram-air induction system for the engine. Remarkably the coefficient of drag has been reduced from 0.34 to 0.32 even though more cooling is required and more downforce is generated.
Under The Hood:
Underneath the monster wings lies a 3.6 liter DOHC Flat-6, equipped with no less than 9 oil pumps and featuring a radical new expansion intake system and a titanium silencer. The expansion intake system takes advantage of air cooling as it expands, reducing fuel consumption by up to 15%. Porsche’s VarioCam Plus system is used to continuously vary both valve timing and valve lift. Feeding air into the engine are two Garrett VGT (variable geometry turbine) turbochargers, boosting 1.4bar of intercooled air into the combustion chambers. The result is 530hp @ 6,500rpm and 501 lb-ft @ 2,200rpm and coincidentally the acceleration is staggering. 0-60 is dismissed in 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 204mph is possible.
To ensure that drivers not named Walter Rohrl can achieve these results, the GT2 is fitted with a launch control system. When engaged the system holds the engine at 5,000rpm until 0.9bar of boost is built up, then the clutch is engaged as quickly as possible and wheelspin is mitigated by the traction control system. Further technical wizardry is employed with the use of PASM (Porsche Active Stability Management) for the first time on a GT2 model. This system incorporates a braking/throttle control, traction control and an anti-lock braking system to form one of the most highly respected stability programs in the industry.
The Verdict:
Settings have been specifically tuned for the extremely sporty nature of the GT2 and it can be completely disabled for those brave enough to drive without it. One thing has always been guaranteed when you buy a Porsche is that it will have world-class brakes. Of course the 997 GT2 is no exception, featuring PCCB (Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes) measuring 380mm up front and 350mm out back. The battle tested 6-speed manual transmission from the 997 GT3 Cup is standard, with GT2 specific gear ratios to take advantage of the monster torque curve. So what does all this add up to? Well let me sum it up in a simple equation: 2008 Porsche 911 GT2 + Walter Rohrl + Nordschleife = 7:32 lap time.
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