NEWS
Porsche won't hurry GT3 fix
Grounded GT3s will be fixed when they're fixedPorsche will not rush through a 'patch' for its grounded 911 GT3 super-sport coupe. That's the message received loud and clear via Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) this week.
Speaking at the local launch of its all-new 911 Turbo and Turbo S models, PCA Director Public Relations, Paul Ellis, stated the company was still investigating the cause of well-publicised fires that affected two European-based GT3s.
As a result of the fires, Porsche 'grounded' all GT3s globally, telling owners not to drive the cars. A handful of the near-$300,000 racetrack-ready PDK-equipped atmo 911s had already been delivered to Australian owners. Those cars and other GT3s landed but not delivered to Aussie owners are now in 'parc ferme' with PCA.
Ellis confirmed the fires were as a result of crankcase damage and resulting oil leaks.
"[The fires were] where oil leaked through the crankcase and got onto the hot exhaust pipes... What's caused the crankcase to crack is obviously an internal engine component [failure]," Ellis stated.
"Given that that is a very high performance, complex engine... that whole [diagnosis] process takes a lot longer. [This is] because of the high threshold for the performance of the engine and its components and also the... tolerances with engine components themselves.
Ellis stated just two GT3s had been affected to date.
"There's been over 700 deliveries [globally] of the car and there's been [only] two incidents where there's been a fire," Ellis told motoring.com.au.
"[But, Porsche] prides itself on its engineering reputation, [so] we're not going to take any shortcuts in making sure that we eliminate all possible causes... Now, if it's as simple a case as an adjustment to an electronic control unit or something like that, that is an easier fix then if it involves a component," he explained.
"We're the sort of company that would prefer to take a little bit longer and make sure we're 110 per cent correct and fix it once and fix it properly, than rush it and have our fingers crossed," he stated.
Ellis says PCA's GT3 customers are "disappointed" but have been "patient".
"These people understand the Porsche philosophy. So we're very pleased with their level of patience with us... [But] they know that when they get their cars back or when they get the car delivered, the car's going to be absolutely bulletproof, which is why you buy GT3," he said.
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Written byMike Sinclair
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If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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