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Update: BMW F80 M3 Goes Toe to Toe with Porsche 997 GT3 on the Nurburgring

To be completely frank, BMW is playing catch up with Porsche when it comes to sportcars. Yes, the Bavarians are very good at what they do, especially when it comes to M cars but the truth of the matter is, Porsche will always be one step ahead.
BMW F80 M3 vs Porsche GT3 1 photo
Photo: screenshot from Youtube
Sure, both manufacturers have their strengths and while the BMWs might not be as agile and fast on the track, they do make up for it in everyday usability. But then again, to each his own and if you’re only looking for bragging rights, without taking into account the livability of a car, feel free to go with Porsche every day of the week.

What I’m trying to say here is that, as in all other aspects of our lives, moderation and balance need to be present in everything and the BMW M3 seems to have the upper hand here, no matter what the track performance says.

To get a better grasp at what we’re watching here, we need to take a closer look at the cars and what they were developed to do. While the M3 is definitely a car that can be used in a wide variety of scenarios, the GT3 is a track-focused beast.

The spec sheet looks like this for the BMW: a 3-liter inline 6-cylinder biturbo engine under the bonnet making 431 HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque coupled to a 7-speed DCT with a total weight of 1,480 kg (3,262 lbs). That includes the four seats and four doors of this sedan.

On the other hand, the Porsche 997 GT3 uses a 3.8-liter flat six engine making 430 HP and 430 Nm (317 lb-ft) of torque. Yes, the power numbers are slightly down but so is the weight factor (1,395 kg / 3,075 lbs), not to mention the fact that it has been developed for track usage in the first place. Oh, and there are only two, barely useable seats inside.

Therefore, what we have here is a battle between a conventional, daily driver and a track focused car. As you can notice, the BMW pulls away on the straights due to its superior torque but then again, the Porsche is able to brake later due to its lower weight and carries more speed into the corners, catching up. It’s an interesting race nonetheless!

UPDATE: we just learned that both cars were actually modified and not stock. The BMW Kaege kit installed, with the engine developing 517 HP and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque and a modified suspension while the Porsche had a clubsport package one, shedding 60 kilos and adding 25 HP to the mix. Now the whole thing makes a lot more sense.
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