Nick Jeffery
Surrey, UK
Model 991.1 GTSYear 2015Acquired AUGUST 2022
I’ve just returned from a road trip in the 991.1 GTS, covering 1,299 miles across France, Luxembourg, Germany and Belgium with TIPEC Kent & South East London Region entitled ‘Gentlemen’s Tour 3 Bringing The Metal Home’. Also known as the GT3!
Day one was a 4:30am start, driving down to the Channel Tunnel. I was glad I hadn’t cleaned the GTS before the trip because it rained all the way down to Ashford and into France. I didn’t fall into a driving rhythm straight away – it always takes time for me to readjust from pedalling the Spyders to the 911.
We had 26 cars and 42 people on the trip with a nice variety of cars including various generations of 911s, Caymans, Boxsters and a 944. The day was spent travelling through rural France and Luxembourg with lunch in Bastogne, ending up in the German city of Trier. The local fuel prices hurt as we topped up our tanks each evening, coming in at €2.23 per litre for Super Unleaded. We should have filled up in Luxembourg, which was far cheaper.
Day two involved ‘bringing the metal home’ with a trip to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart. An early morning raid on clear Autobahns with plenty of derestricted sections meant we made excellent progress. With so many cars on tour, we split ourselves between those parked outside the Museum on Porscheplatz and those in underground parking. After display photos we went inside for a pre-booked group lunch in Boxenstopp and then strolled around the Museum. Even though this was my third visit, there’s always something different to see and experience.
We then visited the Solitude Ring. It’s long since been abandoned as a circuit, but it was great to drive a couple of laps and then have a beer at the Glemseck Biergarten, looking back over the day and soaking up the live music sitting by the side of the circuit. There was more Autobahn action for the journey home followed by dinner in the hotel bar in Trier where, as ever, the conversation flowed as well as the beer.
Day three started with more early morning derestricted Autobahn on our way to the Nürburgring. At one point I hit 178mph! The GTS felt really planted at high speeds – in fact it starts to hunker down above 120mph, a testament to how well these cars are designed.
We grabbed a coffee at the Devils Diner at the circuit to watch the world go by. It was a tourist day so only €35 per lap or €60 per person in a Ring Taxi! Many of our group did both, although I elected to drive some of the local roads and watch from various viewing points including YouTube Corner. Thankfully, there were no incidents to speak of and everyone had a fabulous morning.
We then drove over to Hotel Am Tiergarten for lunch, which is run by Sabine Schmitz’ family and steeped in history. Like the Devils Diner there was literally so much to see and experience, including a car park full of GT Porsche. Fed and watered, we enjoyed a backroad drive to Cochem and then back to Trier through picturesque countryside that’s typical of the region. These are some of the best, most flowing roads I’ve ever driven, with super-smooth tarmac!
Day four greeted us with mist and fog as we made our way to Stavelot in Belgium for a private tour of the Musee Du Circuit Spa Francochamps, which was excellent. Our guide then led us on a drive around the old Spa circuit in his Albert Blue 1966 SWB 911S before we had lunch with the
