765LT vGT3

MCLAREN AND PORSCHE OFFER TWO VERY DIFFERENT WAYS TO ACHIEVE THE SAME EMOTIONAL PULL

- LAURENT CHEVALIER

THEY DON’T BOX in the same category, but their philosophies are so close that a meeting was inevitable. Both the McLaren 765LT and 992 Porsche 911 GT3 are authentic breaths of fresh air in an atmosphere charged with electricity, SUVs and heavy hybrids. These two are bound beyond their respective athletic abilities. It’s all about the sensations behind the wheel and their capacity to keep you awake at night and to get you out of bed in the morning. In short, we are not talking about tenths of a second, but about character.

As you, dear readers, remind us, Porsche and MOTOR kind of go hand in hand. It’s a more than amicable relationship, yet it’s still one based on top-quality product – period. Claiming Performance Car of the Year has become quite the habit, with the venerable 911 being the main beneficiary. We’ve conducted numerous tests and completed epic road trips with GT3s. Previous editor Dylan Campbell christened a then just-released Miami Blue 991.2 GT3 on a trip to Falls Creek, with a detour to Winton Raceway for good measure.

Memories like that, and many more, have helped cement the GT3’s place in our hearts. Whatever the premise, the foundations are built upon two ket characteristics: engaging handling and robust reliability. Each generation of the GT3 has only served to deepen the appreciation of something that has become more than a mere car, it’s a living legend. The 992-generation has managed to move the GT3’s own game forward thanks to an entirely new front suspension and small tweaks to the sonorous 4.0litre flat-six engine.