There is just something about the Carrera GT that makes me go on cloud 9

 

ThePorsche Carrera GT comes from a generation of hypercars we’ll never see the like of again. A glorious embodiment of unadulterated analogue car design before the digital age took over and forced us to consider batteries, electric motors, kWhs and range anxiety. Built with the simple aim of providing the thrill of driving, it’s the very embodiment of an evo car.

It was by no means the flashiest or most flamboyant machine of its time but it was built with traditional Porsche attention to detail and offers an exquisite driving experience. When viewed against traditional competitors, the Carrera GT might lack the razzmatazz of machinery such as a Zonda or an Enzo but if its looks were a little plain Jane in comparison, its engineering integrity couldn’t be faulted.

The Carrera GT certainly had a convoluted gestation period that can trace its roots all the way back to the early 1990s when Porsche designed a stillborn 3.5-litre V10 for the Footwork F1 team. While Footwork cancelled the Porsche connection after a fairly disastrous dalliance with an unremarkable Stuttgart V12 in 1991 Porsche was left with a V10 on its hands without a car to which to fit it. It was decided it would make the perfect basis for its next generation of Le Mans Prototype and was further developed during the 1990s.

The rest of the car followed the same attention to detail as you’d expect for a Porsche flagship with lightweight Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, aluminium wheels, lightweight seats and a carbon hood that weighed less than five kilos.

Where some other manufacturers filled their cabins with the sort of fripperies that allowed owners to see where they’d spent their money, the Carrera GT’s cockpit was more functional, even if it did feature the expected air conditioning and sat nav in the floating centre console. The traditional five dial Porsche layout was very much in evidence and combined with a low seating position and perfectly weighted and positioned pedals it had all the ingredients needed for the perfect driving environment.

It was first shown as a concept at the Geneva motor show in 2000 and the curvaceous two-seater garnered plenty of positive response, so much so that Porsche put it into production. The V10, that had had a maximum capacity of 5.5-litres during its racing program, was further enlarged to 5773cc and was dry sumped and bolted to the carbon fibre chassis as an integral part of it. It was as cutting edge as things could be back then with a closed deck construction, a 68-degree Vee angle, variable valve timing and titanium conrods. Perhaps it lacked the wild headline power figures of some of its contemporaries but it was a work of art, weighed just 215kg and sounded absolutely divine.

The rest of the Carrera GT was just as high-tech as the engine. As mentioned, it featured a carbon fibre monocoque with the engine mounted low down for maximum agility while the fuel tanks were mounted either side of the engine for perfect weight distribution, whether they were full or empty. Power was transmitted via a six-speed manual gearbox – no flappy paddle fripperies for the Carrera GT – and it featured a Porsche Ceramic Composite Clutch to cope with 435lb ft of torque and huge 335 section rear tyres.

Specs

• Engine: 5773cc, 68-degree V10
• Power: 604bhp @ 8000rpm
• Torque: 435lb ft @ 5700rpm
• Weight : 1380kg
• Power-to-weight: 445bhp/ton
• 0-62mph: 3.7sec (claimed)
• Top speed: 206mph (claimed)