Multiple choice for new Porsche

2024 Porsche 911 GT3 and 911 GT3 with Touring package

Do you prefer driving on a winding country road or hot lapping a racetrack? Whichever you prefer, Porsche has an answer for you.

As the now-iconic 911 GT3 celebrates its 25th anniversary the German brand has done something it has never done before – launch the track-focused GT3 along with the road-honed GT3 with Touring Package. Previously, the Touring Package was a later addition to any new 911 GT3 launch, but with this mid-life update that has changed.

There are some key changes across both models, primarily centred on the aerodynamics with a redesigned front diffuser, spoiler lip and modified fins on the underbody to increase downforce and optimise the air flow underneath the car. While at the rear the diffuser, air inlets and rear lid have been overhauled.

Mechanically the suspension has been tweaked from lessons learnt on the GT3 RS for even sharper handling. The 4.0-litre flat-six engine still makes 375kW but both the seven-speed dual-clutch and six-speed manual transmission have a shorter final drive ratio.

For the track

2024 Porsche 911 GT3 with Weissach package

Another major change for this 25th anniversary is the introduction of a Weissach package for the first time. Weissach packages (which are named after the company’s test track) are traditionally lightweight parts for enhanced lap times. And that’s no different here with the package including magnesium wheels that save 9kg on their own, plus a raft of parts made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) including the anti-roll bar, coupling rods, new rear wing, exterior mirror top shell, the air blades and the roof.

Inside the Weissach package adds leather and Porsche’s Race-Tex upholstery to more areas of the cabin, including the upper side of the dashboard to reduce glare. Even the door handles are made of CFRP to save a few grams and there’s also a CFRP roll cage available as an option.

Former racer and now Porsche brand ambassador Jörg Bergmeister explained the advantages of the upgrades.

“On the track, the new 911 GT3 enables even better control because it holds even steadier and handles better on bumps and when driving over kerbs thanks to the optimised damper tuning,” Bergmeister said. “The anti-dive system noticeably reduces the pitching movement when braking. As a result, the balance of the car remains significantly more consistent under all conditions.”

For the road

2024 Porsche 911 GT3 with Touring package

While you can’t get the Weissach kit on the GT3 Touring, Porsche is offering a unique Lightweight package for it that includes many of the same elements including the CFRP roof, the stabiliser, coupling rods and shear panel on the rear axle as well as the magnesium wheels.

The Touring package comes standard with the manual gearbox and has the same shortened gear lever used on the even faster 911 S/T model, plus a plaque with ‘Leichtbau’ on the centre console.

Porsche’s long-time test driver, and rallying legend, Walter Röhrl, was used to spruik the enhancements to this variant.

“Particularly on winding country roads, you can clearly feel that the steering is even better tuned than its predecessor,” Röhrl explained. “It instils even greater confidence in the car because it responds more calmly from the centre position without losing any of its directness. The shorter gear ratio also significantly enhances driving pleasure on country roads.”