Watching British Police Chase Down a Stolen 996 GT3 Is Hilarious and Sad

From Road & Track

In the intro to Top Gear's famous cheap police car challenge, Jeremy Clarkson lampooned the rather undramatic nature of English police versus their American counterparts. I couldn't help but think about that watching this video of West Midlands police chasing down a man driving a stolen 996-generation Porsche 911 GT3. It's as sad as it is unintentionally funny.

Sad, obviously, because we hate to see such a cool car stolen and damaged in the process of apprehending the thief—who's currently in jail, per the West Midlands Police—funny, because, well, just watch. The pursuing officer narrates the proceedings in such a calm fashion that doesn't at all square with what's happening. How many other cops can you imagine describing those they're pursuing as "struggling for traction?"

As it turns out, the driver of the GT3 spun on a roundabout, which allowed the police to catch up with the driver, with one car eventually running him into a snowbank. At that point, the GT3 is really struggling for traction as he bounces the car off the rev-limiter spinning his wheels. One cop then smashes the GT3's window and apprehends the thief.

Hopefully, the car will be brought back to perfect health because if it's a real 996 GT3—and I believe it is, given the sound and its unique bucket seats—it's one of the all-time great 911s. And for would-be West Midlands thieves, let this be a warning—the police will get you and they'll do it in an unusually calm manner.

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