2022 Porsche 911 GT3 and GT3 Cup hit the track at Road Atlanta
Cars
Speaker 1: I'm Andy Pilgrim with CNET roadshow. We are here at road Atlanta in Brasel, Georgia. It's like the sun's out right now. We had a fun morning and then it dumped a bunch of rain on us. It's now drying out. We here to test the GT three, the new 1 20 22 and the 2021 GT three cup race car. It's just been a fun [00:00:30] day. You're gonna see some good stuff here. So let's have a quick look at this shark blue GT three that Porsche has provided us with today. I think it looks fast just ending still. The first thing I noticed was the wider front track, and of course there's a new fascia. The whole thing comes together for a very aggressive front look. The side of the car really emphasizes the racing heritage. Obviously you've got massive breaks on this one as well. And that Swan neck wing at the back, I really like the [00:01:00] way that thing looks and the new rear aphasia. Well, honestly all put together. This is probably the best looking GT three street car Porsches ever made
Speaker 1: A few points that stand out to me from the new interior are, first of all, the sport bucket sees. They hold you in tremendously on track and then the steering wheel effect size and feel as far as I'm concerned. And of course this latest generation PDK, the seven speed is brilliant. [00:01:30] And I do particularly like the new 9 92 interior, just enough buttons and switches for me. It's a great place to spend some time and the whole thing smells fantastic. So here we go. Road Atlanta, turn 12 in the GT three, it's about 130 mile an hour corner in front of me is pat long, well known Pusha factory driver. He's got this 2021, the new 9 92 turbos and I'm in the 2022 [00:02:00] GT three, impossible to follow Pat's down the straightaway. It's just too fast. But through the corners, I've got the Mitchell link cup to our tires and I'll tell you what they grip. They really grip the steering. Feel on this car is almost telepathic. The double wish bone suspension developed from the RSR race car is amazing Coming to through turn five, very bumpy parts of road Atlanta these days, but still the GT [00:02:30] three is just tenacious grip
Speaker 1: Coming into turn six and then into seven. And we start down this long straightaway. It feels honestly feels like the last generation RS, the way it grips with the down force. They've done a superb job of saving weight on this new GT three, the exhaust systems lighter. They've got a carbon fiber reinforced plastic hood. They've got lightweight glass in it, and that's just the name of few [00:03:00] ripping into turn 10, 160 miles an hour. You really need the breaks and then turn 10 a and then turn 10 B. And you come up this little hill and towards the bridge under the bridge and back down towards Atlantis, turn 12.
Speaker 1: I had a few laps in the car and I'll tell you what every lap it was getting quicker and quicker water blast. The dessert part of the day at road Atlanta was the opportunity [00:03:30] I had to drive the new 9 92 version of the Porsche GT three cup race car. There's not a whole lot of difference. When you look at this race car, it very much like the GT three street car, not a bad thing, but under the skin, there are a lot of differences. The most obvious thing when you open the door is a stripped interior that's to do with weight savings. The race car is actually about 400 pounds lighter than the GT three street car. That's a chunk, two other parts that speak performance on the race car, improve [00:04:00] down force and be spoke. 18 inch Michelin race tires, not the 20 inch and the 21 inch you get on the GT three street car.
Speaker 1: The final thought before we get on track, this new car also comes with abs brakes. That is the first time for GT three, cut race cars here. We are ripping up to turn 12 down hill and through the crazy speed, 3, 2 12 in this car, you can see it bounces around a lot. The race car has to for suspension, the brakes are completely bonkers in the car. You've got [00:04:30] 400 pounds less weight down the street car. You've got pure race tires, and more down force. When you get on the brakes is basically not your fillings out. It's so awesome. And the latch or support in the car, you can fly through some of these turns at road Atlanta. It's a great experience. It sounds good too. It sounds very much like a, a proper race car, even though the GT three street car sound good.
Speaker 1: Just listen to that [00:05:00] heavy break in six and then into seven. And then it's just winded out, down the straightaway. Now the acceleration feels stronger than the street car only because of the 400 pounds lighter weight. The engines are the same 510 horsepower for the cup car over 5 0 2 for the street car, pretty much comes from the exhaust system. Turn 10 is just nuts in this car. You, the breaking [00:05:30] is fantastic. And then you just get to flip through turn 10 a and B like you're in a go car. It's amazing, very bumpy under the bridge here and the race you are because of that stiffer suspension. I mean, it's just, I mean, you can't see me smile under there, but trust me, I am smiling. It's been a crazy day here at road Atlanta, between the morning and the rain and the afternoon and the drying conditions. I have to say this race car. I've [00:06:00] already mentioned it. It's as close to a GT three full race car as I've ever driven. And this new GT three, well, they just keep making them better.
