With the advent of the water-cooled 996 in 1999, it was inevitable that a GT2 version would be on the cards soon after and in 2001, Weissach duly obliged.

First revealed at the 2000 North American International Car Show costing £114,900, around £30,000 more than the already bonkers Turbo, the GT2 was powered by the M96/70 3.6-litre, twin-turbocharged flat-six producing 463bhp and 620Nm of torque, all transferred to terra firma through the rear wheels.

The Mezger engine fitted to the GT2 utilised the newly introduced Variocam Plus system and had 10% more power than the Turbo, which was achieved by fitting larger turbochargers and intercoolers, a revised air intake, a modified exhaust system and a re-programmed ECU.

The GT2 also made use of a race-derived gearbox which was reworked and fitted with the lubrication system from the GT3 RS, plus the addition of a friction plate, limited-slip differential tuned to match the car's ultra-stiff suspension which was 20mm lower than the Turbo ...