It's frankly bizarre that, just as we were wondering what to do with the £380,000 we found down the back of the Car Enthusiast sofa, Porsche would unveil the 2011 911 GT3 RSR.
It's not a brand new model but an update for the new racing season, although its six-cylinder boxer engine does swell from 3.8- to 4.0-litres, and power to 444bhp. It revs to 9,000rpm, but to make it more driveable, Porsche has made the power peak at just 7,800rpm - not far after the 317lb.ft of torque peaks, at 7,250rpm.
Aerodynamic changes include more adjustment for the park bench spoiler and some work under the body. The radiator and cooling piping have been revised for better efficiency as well, which explains the new vents in the bonnet, in case you'd noticed them.
The brakes are 'weight optimised', which is a phrase used often during Half Tonne Hospital on DMAX, so we assume it means they're lighter. Or possibly that they've developed cankles.
Other changes? Well, there's a new multi-function display on the dashboard including an optimum gearshift indicator. Not because of the environment, you understand, but because of beautiful, fast speed.
The unit also allows teams to programme a specific blinking pattern for the lights on the front apron, making the car easy to recognise from the pits during night races. They've even moved the oil refill reservoir to the back for easier access - again, the same sort of thing that happens on Half Ton Hospital.
The 911 GT3 RSR is available now for €380,000 plus local taxes, which in the UK puts it at about £380,000 including the new 20 percent VAT rate. Buy one and you'll be part of a very exclusive group: Porsche has made abut 20 911-derived racers so far, including this, the GT3 Cup and the GT3 Cup S.
Mark Nichol - 14 Dec 2010