The new Porsche 911 GT3 is a barely veiled cover of an all-out race car from arguably the world’s most successful sports car maker, and it’s available for the street.
Developed in collaboration with Porsche Motorsport, the GT3 transfers pure racing technology into a production model, as far as the rules will allow, to enter the GT3 class of motor racing with a mass-market car such as the 911.
Launched in 2006 as part of the FIA GT Championship, the GT3 category of racing is for sports cars with no limit on engine sizes or build numbers, but adopts a strict power-to-weight ratio to keep things competitive.
While several manufacturers developed a race car to satisfy the rule book, finding one to buy for the street is near impossible, whereas the 911 GT3 is stocked in showrooms and is street legal, complete with a roll cage and a basket of track-only options.
Powered by a naturally aspirated, 4.0-litre, flat six-cylinder engine based on the racing power plant from the 911 GT3 R, it develops 510 horsepower (that’s 10hp more than the last 911), and delivers it at 8,400rpm, rising to an ear-splitting 9,000rpm red line with 470Nm of torque at 6,100rpm.
Unlike many modern high-performance supercars, the 911 GT3 has no gimmicks or computer trickery to get you from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in 3.4 seconds or on to its 318kph top speed. There are no turbochargers or superchargers helping under the hood, and no ECU-assisted exhaust pops, fluted engine noise piped through the speakers or drift mode — because it doesn’t need it.
This is about as raw and as emotional as it gets in the 2022 performance car world and about as close to a race car for the street The National has ever tested.
Of course, with that comes the downsides of trying to drive a car which is built for the track in traffic. The GT3 is not the place to hold a conversation even when you’re taking it for a spin around town, as there’s little sound deadening to stop road noise from penetrating the cabin.
Weight is the nemesis of performance, so Porsche has stripped 70 kilograms compared to the 911 Carrera S by removing sound insulation and using lightweight panels. This means things you’ve not previously noticed on your daily commute, such as the yellow lines across intersections or tiny gravel flicked up from the tyres, are now rather loud even at the slowest of speeds.
This being the most focused sports car Porsche makes, the suspension is stiff. When coupled to a seven-speed PDK transmission, it needs a gentle right foot when cold to ease it away without lurching at parking pace and must be treated with some respect.
Another urban hazard are the speedhumps, and, while several supercars feature a lift kit to raise the nose, the GT3’s party trick is that it remembers the hump or driveway lip with the nav system and prompts you to store the location in its memory, lowering again as you reach 30kph.
The lightweight theme continues through the interior with loads of carbon fibre. Looking over the dash, you can see the underside of the bonnet in naked carbon fibre as a reminder of the special vehicle under your control.
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The seats in our test car were a one-piece, leather-covered carbon-fibre shell that hug you tight and do a fantastic job on a racetrack. However, you may end up looking for a place to stretch your legs about 25 minutes in. Thankfully, Porsche also offers cushier, fully adjustable leather seats.
The options list is extensive, so while the 911 GT3 starts at Dh634,200, our test car maxed out at Dh774,200 with two pages of extras to make it a distinctive, one-off head-turner at every intersection.
The 911 GT3 is utterly glorious and the ultimate track car you can sneak out on to the road with the most evocative-sounding engine delivering a shrill that has been synonymous with sports car racing at places such as Le Mans, Spa and even the Dubai 24 Hour for decades.
It’s the sound of success because no car has won more races than the Porsche 911 and this GT3 model, which is made specifically to win endurance racing. Thankfully, you can also buy one for the road.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Read more about the coronavirus
'Joker'
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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The story of Edge
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.
It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.
Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.
Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab
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Types of fraud
Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
* Nada El Sawy
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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