Porsche has developed and produced two outstanding examples of their legendary 911 series. One is the 2008 Porsche 911 GT3 RS that provides outstanding agility intended for both the road and the race track. The other is the 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo, capable of delivering stupendous performance while still managing to meet both European and North American emissions and fuel economy requirements. But if that weren’t enough, the iconic German sports car manufacturer went and upped the benchmark with yet another incredible 911 that surpasses both of the aforementioned vehicles - the 2008 Porsche 911 GT2.
This latest iteration in the fabled 911 series builds and improves upon both the GT3 RS and Turbo Coupe, delivering better driving dynamics and power. The newest 911 GT2 is internally coded as the 997, and though it is essentially a street legal racecar, it still manages to serve as a well-appointed two-seat coupe, complete with all the safety and environmental technology inherent in other 911 models.
The 911 GT2 is an attention grabber. Up front is a very large rectangular air intake flanked by smaller matching intakes. A horizontal slot, located at the leading edge of the sharply raked hood, adds to the cooling. Stylish but functional scoops are positioned just behind the door and ahead of the rear wheel-well openings, which are followed by air-escape “gills.” Even the fixed rear wing spoiler features integrated carbon fiber ram air ducts to feed the twin turbochargers. The sticky Michelin tires are specially formulated, sporting a tread that is nearly non-existent - not intended for running in the wet. The entire car sits low, necessitating extremely cautious negotiation of driveways and speed bumps.
The Porsche 911 GT2 is an incredible car. Acceleration in any gear comes on like a rocket boost when the turbochargers kick in. Braking is equally impressive, with the ability to stop on a dime and deliver change in the process.
With only a few hundred available in the U.S., the 911 GT2 isn’t easy to come by. But if you’ve got the money and the driving mastery, it’s worth the effort to track down the most sophisticated race machine Porsche has yet produced.
| 
|