It takes a lot more than a couple of destructive fires to stop people loving the Porsche 911 GT3. Even as the car is fighting to win back the lost trust of the customers by offering them new engines and longer warranty, the GT3 has been named by the World Car Awards panel of experts as the 2014 World Performance Car.

This panel, consisting of 69 automotive journalists from 22 countries, was impressed by the new and bold technologies offered in the Porsche 991 GT3; technologies such as wider front track, active rear wheel steering, and the awesome PDK transmission, which is the first of its kind to actually feel better than a manual.

Porsche 991 GT3 is powered by a 3.8-liter horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine that makes 475 horsepower, sent to the rear wheels via a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplingsgetriebe (PDK) transmission. Or rather it was powered by that before Porsche announced they are replacing it with a new unit that doesn’t catch fire all the time. Still, the performance figures should be the same: 0 to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds and top speed of 195 mph.

“To be chosen as the winner of the World Performance Car by this global jury is extremely rewarding,” said Detlev von Platen, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “Each generation of the 911 GT3 epitomizes our vision of the ultimate pure bred, track ready sports car. And our newest iteration is no exception. To be elected against such formidable competitors by a large number of auto experts pays a huge compliment to our designers and engineers.”