Taking the new GT3 RS to the spiritual home of fast Porsches

[MUSIC] It's funny how two little letters can come to represent so much, RS. It's just sits so comfortably next to each other both in the alphabet and on the ramp of a car. Particularly when that car is a Porsche 911. [SOUND] [SOUND] I've been very excited about driving this ever since I saw it unveiled. And finally, it's here and we're on the roads around the [UNKNOWN]. Sadly, the weather's not entirely with us. But at least we get to find out what it's like in the wet. [MUSIC] Lets talk about the color of this car to start with because it's the first thing you notice when you walk up to it. Guards red, perfect, I love the decals down the side, I'm not sure about the naca ducts and the nose for great cooling. But that rear wing, it just looks so aggressive. Park it next to a GT Three and suddenly the GT Three looks all shy and retiring. And the satin allorous wheels, dull to you and me, they look just amazing on this car. They really set it up. I haven't thought that a gold leaf Lotus color scheme on this would work, but boy, does it. As good as the exterior looks, this car is actually slightly curious spec. There's no club [INAUDIBLE] package, let alone the vice [INAUDIBLE]. This is something of a touring spec. [UNKNOWN] leather replacing the [Alcantara?] on the wheel and gear selector. It's even got a reversing camera for crying out loud. It seems a little odd, if I'm honest. You want an RS, then sure you want that full serious race car for the road feel. [UNKNOWN] just me. So, it looks fantastic, but what are the [different?] Differences to the driving experience because on paper this car isn't wildly different to the one that worked before in many ways. Nought 60 is only a tenth faster. Power is up by just 20. Brake horsepower is up to 513, brake horsepower now. 347 pounds foot of torque, in case you're interested. Well, the differences come down to two main things. First thing we've got that engine. The four liter engine, now revved to 9000 RPM. We've experienced it in the standard GT3 and it is just Magnificent draining it. It's got so much Tor, so you can't really enjoy it all the time even when you're not right on top it's just brilliant, I love the from the low revs like that, you hear different noises, They've all sorts of different routes in this engine. The last one makes it so much more interesting then a turbocharged engine. The second this is the chassis. We've got stiffer springs all around and rows jointed to suspension and the whole car just feels so direct. It's been said for ages not but [UNKNOWN] levels feel less and less rear ended, and yes that [UNKNOWN] is the case of it. On these wet roads you still get a bit of [UNKNOWN], you still feel that rear engine balance, but now the way this gets into corners is just so instant to the front end, and the rear feels more playful. It feels like it wants to be involved. Much more. And of course, that's what helps it get in. They've retuned the rear wheel steering on this. Swell. You've got the standard steel brakes on this car, 180 millimeter discs. They're absolutely brilliant They just match the directness of the rest of the car. And you can really [UNKNOWN] with such confidence. There's no slacking or pedal trouble at all, deep into triggering the behavior And they just give huge confidence even in the wet it feels to agile, all the responses, wonderful response to that natural respiration engine obviously so crisp, the PDK has always been brilliant, I'm sure they sped it up even more. But the fan is so smooth that it feels a little more interesting to me. The shift's now, you get some of the sounds as though it's a race sequential really. [UNINTELLIGIBLE] [BLANK_AUDIO] And I do love that whole road racer vibe. There's just something so exciting about it. What better place to drive a road racer than in an old racing circuit? There's now a road Road. Luckily, there is just such a thing right in our doorstep. [SOUND] Everybody has heard of the [FOREIGN] In fact, that's what people instantly think of when you say [FOREIGN] But as well as the north loop, there also used to be The South Loop. And what's more, it was arguably even more terrifying. At 4.8 miles, or 7.7 kilometers, the Sudschleife wasn't as long, but it was fast and some say the track limits were even more marginal. And when I say marginal, I mean lethal. Actually built before the northschleife, in the elevation profile would look very simple as you plunge downhill for the first half to the village of Mullenbach, before climbing steeply back up for the return leg. It's appropriate that we're in a Porsche too, because any time the German GP was held on this circuit in 1960, it was dominated by Porsches thanks to being run by F2 regulations Today, if you imagine travelling down the pit straight [UNKNOWN] main GP circuit just as you do in a [UNKNOWN] race but instead of turning right at the bottom turning left. This is where the [UNKNOWN]. There is now a public road which describes pretty much exactly the same path through the trees. It is easy to see why it was feared because you can feel the gathering momentum. Names like Bryan Copt and Selden must have struck fear into most driver's hearts. But not all drivers. I remember asking Hans Do, About the [UNKNOWN] life, because he raced with [him?]. Did he like it I said. Yeah, he loved it apparently and he's slightly insane. He said he loved the first part of the lap, because it was just so quick, all being downhill. And it's so narrow, it gives you an impression of what a [UNKNOWN] life is like. Back in the day even more dangerous. As it that's possible. [SOUND] And this is all the remains of the mighty Mullenbach corner. The [UNKNOWN] signal actually the lowest point of the [UNKNOWN] life but never bring in general and as you an see More [UNKNOWN] to the vagaries of the weather. Now, well there's just some scrappy land behind the fence where the circuit once would have been. This is as far as you can actually drive on the old [UNKNOWN]. You can still walk a little bit further. Up the hill. Occasionally, the Nordschiefe were combined into one huge 17.5 mile circuit called the Gesamtstrecke. It was on this that an increible 84 hour race called the Marathon de la Route was run, the last of these was in 1970 and there was a clean sweep of the podium for yes, you guessed it, Porsche. Gerald Lewis, Hellet Marco and Claude Haldi Taking the win in 9146. Just one year later Sid's life was no more. And this is all that's left of the return uphill leg. I say all that's left. Roads over there. In some ways it's more than the downhill stretch. This is now just an access road to the Grom Preserking Store. The Sacking as I've heard some people, Crowley call it. It's every bit as steep uphill as the downhill stretch is downhill. It's a bit like a sort of extended run up to Hoact in the same way that was like an extended run down to the foxhole. It's rather beautiful, if a little poignant. They used to say that there were ghosts and spirits living in the trees around this circuit because I think With the weather being so cruel on this half of it. Now, well the circus itself is something of a ghost. But it's sad in some ways that it doesn't exist anymore. We should just be grateful that the [UNKNOWN] still exists. Talking of which, I think it's about time we went and had a go on it. [SOUND] [BLANK_AUDIO] I think it's fair to say that turning up to the [UNKNOWN] car park with a brand new GTRS is just about the most rock star thing I've ever done. Everyone wanted to have a look which made heading out into the rather slippery track Even more nerve wracking. [MUSIC] It's just such a brilliant place. Now we're followed by a previous generation car. She's slightly [MUSIC] So excuses out of the way first, if you want to watch a proper lap of the [INAUDIBLE] of the GTRS Find the one from yesterday because this won't be anywhere near that quick. The norm and hasn't driven a lap there for a few years. It felt even more intimidating than normal, particularly with huge amounts of slippery pollen waiting to trip you up if you went offline. But the car was sensational. You could tell that this is where it belongs. It inspires confidence, and it's incredible how hard you can lean on all that typical 911 traction. You really can feel the big 325 section rears digging for grip And the wonderful thing is, that even at [UNKNOWN] speeds, you still feel involved and you can always still enjoy the glorious soundtrack. [BLANK_AUDIO] IT probably won't surprise you to hear that this is a wonderful car. Perhaps it doesn't feel like there is such a big gap between this and a standard GT3, like there was with the first generation, hence the need in my opinion for full Weissach pack with the magnesium wheels, etc. for that really differentiating track refugee vibe. But the latest RS certainly hasn't let the Rennsport moniker down. Those two little letters R and S still give you goosebumps. [BLANK_AUDIO]