Porsche 996 GT3

The Porsche 996.1 GT3 – The Pure Racing Soul on the Street
In 1999, Porsche introduced the 996.1 GT3, a model that marked the start of a legendary line within the 911 family. This first-generation GT3, based on the 996, was intended as a homologation model for motorsport and laid the foundation for Porsche’s future GT variants.

What makes the 996.1 GT3 special is its engine. Unlike the regular 996 models, which used the water-cooled M96 engine, the GT3 received a derivative of the legendary Metzger engine – a robust block based on the engines from the 911 GT1 race cars. This 3.6-liter six-cylinder boxer engine produced 360 horsepower at 7,200 rpm and was mated to a six-speed manual transmission with longer gears designed specifically for track use.

Weighing just over 1,350 kg, with a stiffer suspension, sporty dampers and fully modified aerodynamics, the GT3 was track-ready – but remained surprisingly usable on the street. No all-wheel drive, no turbos, no tomfoolery. Just pure, analog driving dynamics.

The 996.1 GT3 did not get standard Porsche Stability Management (PSM), which made driving extra intense and direct – loved by purists, feared by less experienced drivers. It reached 0-100 km/h in about 4.8 seconds and tapped the 300 km/h mark – impressive for the time, especially for an atmospheric sports car.