For 25 years, every single Porsche 911 GT3 has embodied the essence of the company. Four generations of the uncompromising sports car continue the 911 success story, showcasing impressive performance both on the racetrack and on the road. “In the 911 GT3, consistent lightweight construction meets outstanding driving dynamics and unmistakable design,” says Andreas Preuninger, Project Manager GT Vehicles. ""Both the racing and road versions carry the Porsche DNA at their core and reflect the company’s motorsport experience. A bit of every victory from racetracks all over the world is contained in every GT3.” At Porsche, it is also tradition that the series is built upon elements that have proven reliable even under the toughest conditions on the racetrack. The GT3 bears the hallmark of the Porsche motorsport department like no other 911. For 25 years, the road-approved sports car has outperformed itself in every new edition, becoming even faster, even more precise, even more dynamic. The racing versions of the 911 GT3 are also a success story. In the history books you will find a wealth of class and overall victories in major endurance races at the Nürburgring, Spa and Daytona. “The GT3 feels at home on the racetrack, but at the same time it is also a high-performance sports car suitable for everyday use,” according to Roland Kussmaul. For four decades, this Ludwigsburg native worked as a racing engineer, test and development driver at Porsche AG.

In March 1999, Porsche presented the 911 GT3 with a power output of 265 kW (360 PS) at the Geneva International Motor Show. A few months later, the 996 generation of the 911 is available and follows in the footsteps of the iconic Carrera RS models. Under the bonnet of the first GT3 is a 3.6-litre engine, a further development of the six-cylinder naturally aspirated boxer engine from the 911 GT1. The final accolade was awarded to the two-time world rally champion Walter Röhrl, who drove the 302 km/h sports car over the 20.8 km-long Nordschleife of the Nürburgring in less than eight minutes. This is the first time that a road homologation car has achieved this milestone. Seven minutes and 56.3 seconds of crisp sound and a remarkable high-revving exhilaration, to be precise. At 7,200 rpm, the engine delivers its maximum power and only at 7,800 rpm does the rev counter needle move into the red range. “This is the most exciting thing that Porsche is putting on the road at the moment,” says Röhrl after coming in under that magic eight-minute mark in the series production car. “The turning in the GT3 is very precise. This allows you to take all kinds of corners very quickly – I’ve generally only seen chassis tuning like this in motorsport.

The internationally acclaimed road sports car follows three previous generations. Every three to four years, Porsche presents a new evolutionary stage, each showcasing the best innovations from motorsport. The first product upgrade to the 911 GT3 appeared in 2003 with an increase of 15 kW (21 PS). This upgrade worked on the principle of offering more power and more torque with the same displacement and fuel consumption. Three more years passed before the worldwide fan community of the puristic sports car got to celebrate an even more powerful output that exceeded 305 kW (415 PS), as well as a new maximum engine speed of 8,400 rpm. In addition to the high-speed concept, Porsche optimised the air supply for the six-cylinder boxer engine in the GT3 generation 997 to improve performance. In addition, for the first time ever, the sports car also featured an active suspension system in the form of Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM).

When the 911 GT3 was next upgraded in 2009, the engineers increased the engine’s displacement to 3.8 litres and increased the power to 320 kW (435 PS). For an even more intense driving experience, they also improved the chassis components and aerodynamics. For example, they redesigned the rear wing and completely covered the underbody. This increased the downforce so effectively that the contact pressure more than doubled compared to the predecessor.

The third generation of the 911 GT3 celebrated its world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2013. Engine and gearbox, body and chassis – Porsche presented a complete redevelopment of the GT3 to mark the 50th anniversary of the 911. The 3.8-litre boxer engine delivered an output of 350 kW (475 PS) and reached a top speed of 315 km/h. The introduction of the Porsche dual-clutch transmission (PDK) in the GT3 was a revolution that enabled faster shift times and better performance. The new chassis with active rear-axle steering and other aerodynamic improvements made the 911 GT3 one of the most agile and precise 911s of all time. A lap on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife was possible in less than 7 minutes and 30 seconds.

It took four years for the sports car manufacturer to once again outperform itself with the next GT3. The six-cylinder boxer engine in this product upgrade grew to 4.0 litres displacement and provides 368 kW (500 PS). Customers could choose between the PDK and a six-speed manual sports transmission. The latter particularly appealed to purist drivers, as well as the optional touring package, which replaced the fixed rear wing with an automatically extending spoiler. The aerodynamic fine-tuning and the further developed chassis make the sports car an even more precise and powerful machine.

The current 911 GT3 is based on the 992 generation of the 911. With this sports car, presented in 2021, Porsche is continuing its tradition of setting standards in the high-performance sports car segment. The 4.0-litre six-cylinder boxer engine produces 375 kW (510 PS). Innovative racing technologies such as the double wishbone front suspension and optimised aerodynamics with a distinctive swan-neck rear wing make the GT3 one of the most advanced 911s of all time. This generation combines motorsport technology with approval for road use in a way that is more powerful than ever before.

Even after 25 years, the 911 GT3 remains synonymous with sports performance and technological innovation. Porsche continues to make progress in order to continue the success story of the 911 GT3 with new models and technological leadership. As always, a passion for motorsport and enthusiasm for performance remains at the core of everything we do.

After a two-year break, a purely digital version of the popular format took place for the first time on 18 September 2021 with the Porsche Sound Night "Next Level". On this day, the Porsche Museum started the engines of 20 selected racing and production vehicles. Brand ambassadors and distinguished representatives made the four-wheeled sound artists in the Porsche Museum and on the race track at the Weissach Development Centre roar and resound.

In the museum, the focus was primarily on production vehicles, which were presented by Walter Röhrl, Tony Hatter, Alexander Klein, "Mr. 911", August Achleitner and many other prominent Porsche legends and experts. There were also foreign developments, for example the Mercedes Benz E 500 and the Harley Davidson V-Rod. But the engines did not only sound in the museum, the directors of the Sound Night repeatedly switched to the company's own race track in Weissach. There, racing legends like Hans-Joachim Stuck, Timo Bernhard, Marc Lieb and racing engineers like Norbert Singer or Frank-Steffen Walliser were waiting. And vehicles from the glorious racing history were also at the start in Weissach.

Those who missed the Sound Night or simply want to experience it again can do so on YouTube.

We want to make the past fit for the future today. This is why we are enriching the here and now with important insights from our history and embedding our heritage sustainably in our company strategy. We do not see origins as having one single dimension; they are always affected by other defining social, cultural and societal influences too. This is also part of our identity.

Besides showcasing historical content in the museum, it is important for us also to present the Porsche brand identity and Porsche products internationally. We call the engagement with our past and the transfer of the most important insights to the present “Heritage Work". We consider it paramount to foster an exchange that focuses on important subjects such as identity, respect and cultural sensitivity – also beyond the brand – and to experience other cultures and to have the opportunity to learn from them.

By using historical cars from our collection, we are not only showcasing the functionality of Porsche sports cars but, more importantly, conveying the fascination for Porsche in an authentic way all around the globe – as a brand ambassador. We are increasingly developing our own formats to allow media reporting from an entirely new angle (Heritage Experience) and in order to convey internationally important product and corporate messages (Heritage Concepts). In doing so, our goal is to always sharpen the understanding of the origins of the Porsche brand.

The Porsche Museum stands for vibrancy and variety, and also for origins and tradition that can be seen and experienced. The museum applies this philosophy consistently with its Heritage Experience (formerly “The Museum on Wheels”) – all over the world. We participate in national and international historic racing events and classic car rallies with the cars in our collection. Our museum exhibits therefore fulfil the purpose for which they were once built: they are driven.

Driving events include historical formats, specially created events such as the "Porsche Legends@" series, as well as collaborations and media partnerships. The Mille Miglia, Targa Florio, Le Mans Classic, Historic Monaco Grand Prix, Solitude Revival and the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed in England are just a few of the highlights from the past.

One of the best bits of 2019 was our Heritage Experience in China, which represented a very special form of cultural exchange. For the first time, the Porsche Museum made it possible for 20 Chinese journalists to take an unforgettable trip against an extraordinary backdrop. This cultural trip did not go to the usual tourist destinations, but to the Chinese province of Yunnan in the South-West of the People's Republic.

With Heritage Experience, the Porsche Museum aims to proactively transport its historic work out into the world. One aspect always remains at its forefront: making it possible to experience history – nationally and internationally – with cultural sensitivity and always with an awareness of tradition.

For us, heritage is not a product, or an item to be ticked off a list, but is rather the practical expression of Porsche’s identity as a company. This is why the topic of heritage does not end at the doors of the Porsche Museum, but extends to all brand contact points in the world – and indeed far beyond. The Heritage Concepts area deals with the public image of historical work, addresses important topics, translates them into modern times, and brings them to strategically important venues outside the museum’s exhibition.

The most recent example is the roadshow celebrating Porsche's success story at Le Mans, which will make stops at around 14 locations in ten countries from June onwards, including France, Great Britain, the USA, China, the United Arab Emirates and Germany. Porsche enthusiasts can look forward to static and dynamic performances by more than 20 original winning cars from the historic collection. In keeping with the roadshow, there will be so-called "Heritage Corners" in the Porsche Experience Centres around the world, dedicated to delving deeper into history. Other examples are the “356 ‘No.1’ World Tour” to celebrate “70 years of Porsche sports cars” in 2018 and the “Follow the 911” World Tour to celebrate “50 years of Porsche 911” in 2013.

The aim of the creative concept team is to use Porsche history and products to make it possible to experience brand values such as pioneering spirit and tradition outside the company’s own locations. The project’s diverse presentation forms range from special activities such as road shows and museum co-operations to exhibitions all over the world.