The 991 was the seventh generation of the Porsche 911, unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show and entering production as the replacement for the 997. It was an entirely new platform — only the third such redesign since the original 1963 car — with a wheelbase extended by 100 mm to 2,450 mm and a body lengthened by 70 mm over the 997. The use of high-strength steel, aluminium, and composites reduced weight while increasing structural rigidity. The 991 introduced a seven-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic.
The GT3 variant occupied the same position in the 991 lineup that it had in previous generations: the highest-performance naturally aspirated 911, positioned below the turbocharged GT2 RS in outright power but ahead of it in driver purity and track-balance.
The 991.1 GT3 was unveiled at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Its most discussed technical feature was Porsche's new active rear-wheel steering system, which steered the rear wheels in the same direction as the front at higher speeds — to increase stability — and in the opposite direction at lower speeds, to reduce the effective turning radius. Porsche claimed that the system delivered higher lateral dynamics than the outgoing 997 GT3.
The 991.1 GT3 was also the first GT3 to be offered exclusively with an automatic transmission at launch — the PDK dual-clutch unit — as Porsche believed the PDK offered faster lap times and concluded the car's performance envelope exceeded what a manual could optimally deliver in its intended on-track use.
However, in early 2014, deliveries were halted following two separate incidents in which 991.1 GT3 cars caught fire. Investigation traced the fault to the engine's connecting rod bolts, which could loosen and cause oil to contact hot exhaust components. Porsche issued a recall in March 2014 covering all 785 cars manufactured to that point, replacing the engines in all affected vehicles before production resumed. The recall was handled at significant cost but was widely praised as an example of decisive manufacturer responsibility.
The RS version of the 991.1 GT3 was launched at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. Compared to the standard GT3, the RS received bodywork changes derived from the 911 Turbo — including intakes in the rear fenders rather than below the rear wing — and a magnesium roof panel. The interior received full bucket seats based on those from the 918 Spyder, carbon-fibre inserts, and lightweight door furniture.
The 3.8-litre engine found in the standard 991.1 GT3 was replaced with a 4.0-litre unit generating 500 PS (368 kW; 493 hp) and 460 Nm of torque. Transmission was PDK only. The car accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.3 seconds and to 200 km/h in 10.9 seconds. The RS also incorporated the paddle-neutral declutching function and a pit speed limiter, alongside the rear-axle steering and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus with fully variable rear differential lock.
The second-phase 991.2 GT3 was unveiled at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. It retained the concept of active rear-wheel steering but introduced a 4.0-litre naturally aspirated flat-six engine, returning to the displacement of earlier GT3 RS variants. Crucially, Porsche restored the option of a six-speed manual gearbox, responding to customer demand that had been vocal following the PDK-only 991.1.
Alongside the standard GT3, Porsche introduced the GT3 Touring in September 2017. The Touring Package was distinguished by the absence of the large fixed rear wing, replacing it with a discreet retractable spoiler — effectively giving the GT3 the visual appearance of a standard 911 while retaining the mechanical specification of the GT3 including the manual transmission as standard. The Touring was conceived as a more discreet grand touring instrument while preserving the GT3's driving purity.
The 991.2 GT3 RS was unveiled in February 2018 and made its public debut at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. It was available with the optional Weissach package, which reduced weight through additional carbon-fibre and titanium components.
The 991-generation 911 GT3 Cup, derived from the road car's platform and engine, continued Porsche's one-make Supercup and Carrera Cup programme through the 991 era. The GT3 R, a full racing version developed for customer GT racing in events such as the Nürburgring 24 Hours, Blancpain GT Series, and IMSA SportsCar Championship, used the same 4.0-litre engine as the 991.2 road GT3.
The 991-generation GT3 is remembered for several firsts and controversies. The 991.1's recall defined how a manufacturer can respond transparently and completely to a safety fault, replacing engines across an entire production run rather than issuing a patch. The 991.2 restored the manual transmission to the GT3 — a decision that cemented the model's reputation for catering to driver preference as much as outright performance. Active rear steering, introduced on the 991.1, became standard architecture for the GT3 in subsequent generations. The 991 GT3 was named World Performance Car of the Year in 2014.