Saying "auf wiedersehen" is never easy, especially to the 911 997 series, one of the most popular generations of German supercar ever built. But Porsche have found a way of doing so with a smile and their secret is this: the GT3 RS 4.0. This machine is billed as the ultimate expression of the brand's race and road car know-how, and only 600 of them are being built, costing each new owner £128,466 to take one home.

The 4.0-litre flat-six is packed-full of race-bred technology which makes it the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine ever put inside a 911. Performance is exceptional, completing 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds. High-speed stability is amazing; the revised rear wing increases downforce, while for the first time on a production Porsche, front bumper winglets balance out this rearward pressure and control nose lift. Unlike some road cars, the handling is so focused that at track speeds you’re left in no doubt that the spoilers are more than just a visual gimmick and that the aerodynamics really work.