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A fire-risk with Porsche's latest 911 GT3 has led to the firm stating it will replace all the engines in delivered cars. The German sports carmaker has delivered 785 GT3s around the world, of which around 100 are in the UK.

Concerns were raised over the model when two GT3s caught fire earlier this year. Owners were advised by Porsche to stop driving their cars while the problem was investigated – an unusual course of action for any car maker.

According to The Telegraph, which spoke to one of the firm's spokesmen, Porsche traced the issue to faulty screws that fixed the crankshaft to the piston connecting rods – resulting in crankcase damage.

Trials on the car are being carried out at present, after which a timeframe for engine replacement will be given to GT3 owners. It is unusual for Porsche to be at the epicentre of a product recall situation – one of the few cars that attracts little attention from the nation’s breakdown cover providers.

Porsche has faced criticism over the way it has dealt with the engine problems, with some owners unhappy that they found out about the issues from the media, rather than from the carmaker itself. For a vehicle that costs £100,000, owners perhaps expect better customer service.

The decision of whether or not to hand back deposits for yet-to-be-delivered GT3s lies with dealerships, according to Porsche.

Critics praised the GT3 for its handling and performance when it was launched in 2013. The track-focussed car uses an uprated 475bhp version of the standard 91 4.0 litre engine, instead of Porsche’s race engine - as previous GT3s have been fitted with.