Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport Rally Car Coming To WRC
Being readied for its WRC debut in 2020, the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport Rally Car will compete in the FIA鈥檚 R-GT class. Porsche is getting into rallying in a big way after showing off that one-off rally-prepped GT4 Clubsport concept at 2018 Rally Deutschland. This time they have a full-fledged, thoroughbred rally car based on the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport. With the all-new production model of the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport serving as the canvas, the rally car gets to draw 425 hp from a 3.8-liter naturally aspirated flat-six engine. A 6-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox channels all of it to the rear wheels. The ECU has been optimized so that it is capable enough to handle the racing role. Several body panels are made of a natural-fiber composite material which is being claimed to be on par with carbon-fiber in terms of weight and stiffness. As the rally car shares a lot of its components with the road-going model, it鈥檒l have relatively lower operating costs compared to other cars. The first test run is scheduled to begin this weekend in Austria at the Porsche Winter Event held before the GP Ice Race in Zell am See. The rally car will be piloted by WEC driver Richard Lietz during the test run.
When they achieve the time they set out for, they quit. I've owned 3 911s. I thought after I sold my 997.2 S I'd never buy another one. Now I have a 991.2 4S (wife's car) along with the GT4. When I want to have fun I drive the GT4, inferior rear suspension and all. There is quite a bit of power difference in 981s versus 991s. HP figures from Porsche are pure marketing. I owned both a '12 Cayman R and a '14 Cayman S. Porsche claims a 5 HP difference (330 versus 325 respectively). Felt like a 50 hp difference in the Cayman R's favor. The R also had the better suspension, LSD, more power and lighter weight. So when you compare a 981 Boxster S at 315 hp and a Carrera at 350 HP, first don't believe the HP figures. The GT2 is only on top because Porsche wants it there. Anytime Porsche wants to put something else on top they will.
And Porsche has a history of gaming Nurburgring times. Take a box stock GT2 right off a showroom floor, same driver, same day, and I bet it won't come close to the GT2 they used to set the ring record. If they wanted a 918 on top again, they'd just do it. Porsche also leaves time on the table so they keep incrementally making progress. All ring laps are considered driven "in a safe manner". When they achieve the time they set out for, they quit. I've owned 3 911s. I thought after I sold my 997.2 S I'd never buy another one. Now I have a 991.2 4S (wife's car) along with the GT4. When I want to have fun I drive the GT4, inferior rear suspension and all. All these justifications don't change the fact that a 911 is faster than a same gen boxster/cayman. X car has Y then I will retort with the A car has B. It's a pointless exercise.
Lets be frank, a mid engine car will handle better than a rear engine car if both cars were provided equal power and equal suspension development. That's simply not true as a blanket statement. There are inherent advantages to a mid engine car, but there's so much more to designing a car than just power, suspension and engine location. You think that if they moved the engine of a Dodge Demon to the middle and gave it great suspension, it would run rings around every front/rear engine car with less power? We're not comparing hypothetical identical cars. We're comparing the 911 Carrera S to the 981 Spyder, and the idea that the Spyder is the more capable car is simply not true. I also had a 981 Spyder. The only reason the Carrera S would best it was due to the Spyder's tall gearing, which really takes the oomph out of the car. Braking should go to the Spyder considering they are the same exact brakes and the Spyder weighs much less, but the extra rubber on the Carrera gives it a lot more friction to work with.
My Spyder had PZeros, which were terrible. I often wonder with better rubber would the Spyder grip like you would expect it to. Mine had a lot of trouble with grip but then again I live in a State with relatively slick roads. My GT4 has Michelin Cup 2s and PCCB and will out perform my 991.2 4S except in a drag race. The reality is that this hair splitting is only valid when driving these cars at 10/10ths. If you're just out having spirited fun the Boxster should entertain you more, perhaps unless you're a size XL. Again, I owned both at the same time and drove them back to back down the same mountain roads. The gearing is inconsequential. Carrera just turns in better and carries more mid corner and exit speed. And it is much more composed doing it and easier to drive fast. This is not just my opinion. The Carrera S was almost 12 seconds faster than the Spyder around the Ring and it would be a much bigger gap if there were more slower corners like you find on a short track or on the street.