My first Porsche was a 2.5L 944 in Guards Red, purchased in 1989. It was a good car that gave me an insight into Porsche ownership and the seed was planted. I then started hankering after a 911 and this came to fruition in February 1991. That car served me well over seven years and 40,000 miles.
Then, in 1998, I had my eye on a Targa model with the large sliding glass roof for some time. I started to search the motoring papers and, after a few weeks, up came an Ocean Blue 911 Targa Tiptronic with Classic Grey interior and only 70 miles on the clock. Off I went, cheque book in hand. I enjoyed this very practical car for four years and, a year or so after selling it, I spotted a feature in the October 2003 911 & Porsche World where my old Targa was being road-tested. The writer stated that it was “a rare beauty and a good buy”.
In January 2003 came a 996 Carrera 4S Tiptronic in Meridian Metallic. This purchase also started me on the long and very pleasant journey with my local Porsche Centre, which was H.R. Owen at the time and is now PC Hatfield.
I did a couple of events in this one which whetted my appetite for competitive driving. I wanted to join the “big boy’s club”, so a 997 Turbo Tiptronic in Black was duly ordered for factory collection in January 2008. The Turbo’s power fuelled my trackday passion and, at my first full one, which I think was at Castle Combe, I was in my element and enjoying every minute of it.
At around 4pm, Steve Kevlin asked me how I was getting on. I bragged how many laps I had completed and my top speed and so on, and I said that I was just going out to do a few more fast laps before the track closed. “Have you had a good day?” he asked me. Yes, I had. “Well, go home,” he said. I asked why. “Because your car is tired, you are tired – you don’t know it, but you are,” he explained. “Go home with a straight car and we’ll see you in a couple of weeks at the next trackday.” This was very good advice to a trackday virgin and it is a message that I have also passed on.
I soon realised that the Turbo was not the best trackday car. Although it was very fast, it was heavy, it didn’t handle as well as I would have liked and, on occasion, I ran out of brakes. As the 997s were running out of production, I secured one of the last GTSs built in 2011. It was in Guards Red again and was ordered with a sports chassis, LSD and PDK gearbox. This proved to be a good set-up for trackdays and I was well and truly hooked.
The more events I attended, the more I lusted after a GT3. Three years later in early 2014, I had the opportunity to order a 991 and this time I chose an Agate Grey GT3.1 with PDK, leather interior and a few goodies. It was a very enjoyable car and my horizons were expanding, with trackdays such as the RS day at Oulton Park and a two-day trip to Spa in 2016. This trip was a real eye-opener and the first time I went through Eau Rouge and up over Raidillon, I thought to myself: “What the %&£@ am I doing here?”. By the second day I was a little more comfortable, but still very respectful.
Could this car be improved on? Yes. Along came the second generation 991 GT3 with small improvements in a number of areas such as a few more horses, a slicker gearbox and improved handling. Hatfield were able to secure me a build slot and (again) a Guards Red 991 GT3.2 arrived in September 2014. Like my previous cars, this one ran perfectly over the next four years and 19,000 miles were split between road and track. When word leaked that a 992 version of the GT3 was going into production, I let Hatfield know of my interest. As a result, I have been fortunate to have taken delivery of a new GT3 in glorious Voodoo Blue to replace the 991.2 GT3.
My journey started many months ago. Sales Executive Lee Prendergast was very supportive in helping me select from the options list and, as well as the PTS colour, I opted for a Comfort spec, PDK, steel brakes, silver wheels, carbon fibre interior, front lift and Bose sound system together with a handful of smaller items. I have also ordered, as a dealer fit, carbon fibre mirrors and these are awaited on back order.
Silver wheels have, in my opinion, lifted the whole appearance of the car and contrast with the black factory detailing. Although my main use is trackdays, it also has to be usable on the road, hence Comfort spec and Standard seats – I am of advancing years and find buckets difficult to get in and out of.
After a lot of thought, I have stuck with steel brake discs because they are now dimpled and not cross drilled, so hopefully reducing the tendency to crack. PDK was chosen because it is a no-brainer for track days, and front lift is essential for speed bumps in my village.
During the waiting months, I received the build schedules from Lee and could see the car going through the various stages. Progress was spot on and I was eventually informed the car was at Emden, awaiting loading. In a matter of days, the new car would be in the showroom ready for the handover. In the meantime, I met with Lee and the Hatfield Centre Principal Dan Jones and we quickly agreed a part exchange deal on my 991.2. At handover, I got a lesson from the very capable Product Expert Stephanie Bennett on what all the new gadgets were, with the offer of a Masterclass at a later date that I will be taking up. The car then went off to Azuri Car Care in Stevenage for full PPF and full window tinting, and it was returned in superb shape.
I carefully ran the car in, doing 1000 miles and gradually building up the revs without going over 6-7000. This was followed by very enjoyable PCGB trackdays at Donington Park and Castle Combe where I was able to stretch the car a little more. Its front grip and turn in are fantastic and way beyond anything I have experienced before. The car then went off to Center Gravity, where Chris and Peter checked the current set-up and introduced a few track-orientated tweaks.
I often wonder what makes the 911 GT3 such a special car in my mind. Looks, creative flair, reliability, a usable near-race car that you can comfortably drive on the road, great value for money? Nothing else comes to mind that approaches all of these parameters.
I would like to end this by saying what a pleasure it has been to deal with Hatfield, including Dan, Lee, Stephanie, workshop manager Andy and the receptionists, who have all contributed to an enjoyable experience.