Porsche recalls 911 GT3 after fires

PORSCHE has recalled all 785 examples of its new 911 GT3 road-racer, including the five units it has delivered so far in Australia, after two vehicles in Europe caught fire from engine failure.

The company is contacting all owners and informing them to stop using their cars, as its Stuttgart headquarters reportedly examines the remains of two burnt-out cars used in Switzerland and Italy.

Porsche will pickup affected cars from their owners residence on request, and provide them with loan-cars in the interim.

It is understood the issue appears to involve oil leaking onto the hot exhaust from a damaged crank case. No injuries occurred in either incident reported.

The GT3 is a hardcore, uncompromising and lightweight supercar based on the regular 911, sporting a modified 3.8-litre flat-six with 350kW at a free-revving 9000rpm and 430Nm. It can dash from zero to 100km/h in 3.5 seconds and hit a top speed of 315km/h.

Australian versions cost $294,100 plus on-roads, placing it between the Carrara 4S and the hi-po Turbo in the 911 spectrum.

The news come as Porsche gears up to break its sales record in 2014 on the back of the new Macan compact SUV, with the company set to breach 200,000 units for the first time – three years ahead of schedule.