Porsche reveal cause of 991 GT3 fires
The pair of engine failures that caused two brand new Porsche 991 GT3s to ignite were the result of a problem with a piston connecting rod bolt. Speaking to Total 911, Porsche GB Product Affairs Manager, Nick Perry, explained that “the broken connecting rod bolt caused damage to the crankcase” of the burnt out GT3s.
After a ‘stop driving’ notice was issued by Porsche four weeks ago, Zuffenhausen has been flat out in an attempt to diagnose the cause of the two catastrophic failures. Just last week, we reported that there had been little further news from Porsche regarding the issue.
However, today’s news (which 991 GT3 owners will be receiving in letter form imminently) signals the major breakthrough that all 785 owners have been hoping for during the past month.
Porsche have not confirmed if the two bolt failures happened at the big- or small-end of the conrod but, rather than replace the offending items, Stuttgart will now embark on the process of replacing the engines in every 991 GT3 produced so far.
Perry did not want to put a timescale on this process as many of the 100-odd GT3s delivered so far in the UK will need to be recovered to an OPC, and the engines need to be built and transited from Germany, before the motor switch can be performed.
The new engines, which will feature an improved connecting rod bolt, will also feature on any new 991 GT3 rolling off the production line as of today. While the end appears to be in sight, Total 911 will keep you abreast of any further developments.
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