Run what ya brung

[RTHolmes]

It used to be that if you were lucky enough to own a decent sports car, you'd hop in on a friday night, drive down to wherever the track was, go racing then drive back again the morning after with a cracking hangover (assuming you didnt stack it too badly in the race.)

These days race cars based on roadgoing models are rebuilt from the bare shell, likewise engines, gearboxes etc etc then trailered to the track and really bear no relation to the car you can buy from the dealer.

It seems that Porsche decided it was time to revive the good old days, and also maybe to address remarks about their more extreme models being trackday "toys".

So ... they took a standard 911GT3 RS, just like you can buy from any Porsche dealer, ripped out most of the trim, the passenger seat and handbrake, and installed the obligatory FIA-approved roll cage, fuel tank, fuel pumps, steering wheel and switches. the only "mods" they did were different springs and a set of slicks.

They then drove it the 200m from the factory to the Nurburgring, put the slicks on it and went racing.

Not just any race either - The N24. A 24 hour race on the most demanding circuit in the world. each lap is about 16m long and includes about 170 corners. yup you read that right, 170 corners.



145 laps later (2300m, almost 25,000 corners) it crossed the line 4th in class (the rest of the class being purpose built racers) and 13th overall.

Then they put the Michelin road tyres back on it and drove the 200m home again.



how cool is that?

[Masherbrum]

Nice!   

[RTHolmes]

one of the 911 drivers was chris harris, writes for EVO mag (I think theres a US version of it too).

another EVO writer dickie meaden was driving the works aston v12 vantage (called kermit ), finished 3rd in class despite a fuel pump failure and a tow back to the pits:



the 3rd journo from EVO was in a privateer lotus exige (not bad for a bunch of hacks ). his race didnt finish too well though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVI4OR2_kOI

 

[jay]

most car componies ferrari,porche,lambo etc. if theve been racing cars like that forever (which most have?) then its probely a very reliable car in the long run.....racing run that is

[SFRT - Frenchy]

Cool story, but I fail to see where the big deal is?

The week end warrior street car is still much alive and kicking despite the increasing spread between "track safety/being competitive" and "DOT safety" requirements. Mazda Mx5 owners would be the first to throw their hands in the air I'd bet.

Usually manufacturers offer "remove the seats and go club race" versions of their flagship cars. Like Ford could take their F500S and do the same thing.

[RTHolmes]

well the big deal is its a showroom model, a road car, which drove 200m to a race circuit, put on some slicks, raced competitively for 24h (ie. flat out) with turning a spanner, then drove home again. I'm not aware of another car doing that in the modern era.

eg. the aston was pretty close, being road registered and having largely standard engine, running gear and chassis. apart from £100,000 worth of carbon fibre body lightening, aero mods, research and testing. and being towed back to the pits for a broken fuel pump, plus another stop.

when was the last time that happened at Le Mans? or Sebring (just the 12h)? indeed how many club racers drive their cars too and from the circuit rather than trailering them?

PS I'm pretty sure the F500s dont come road-registered from a dealership standard with electric windows, heaters and the option of aircon and CD audio systems etc ...

[Masherbrum]

Cool story, but I fail to see where the big deal is?

The week end warrior street car is still much alive and kicking despite the increasing spread between "track safety/being competitive" and "DOT safety" requirements. Mazda Mx5 owners would be the first to throw their hands in the air I'd bet.

Usually manufacturers offer "remove the seats and go club race" versions of their flagship cars. Like Ford could take their F500S and do the same thing.

FR-500S's are not Street Legal.   This is what RT was saying all along.   This wasn't trailered to/from an event, it was driven to and from the track with the only modification was tires and springs.   The track this was run on, makes it even more amazing.   

[Tigger29]

Just to get this straight, "200m" isn't TWO HUNDRED METERS, is it?  I'm assuming you mean TWO HUNDRED MILES, because 200 meters really wouldn't be all that impressive 

[Shuffler]

Fails as it is no daily driver.

[Masherbrum]

Fails as it is no daily driver.

It for all intents and purposes IS a daily driver Shuff.   It is street legal, save the slicks. 

[Shuffler]

They built it just to take to the track.

Stripped of creature comforts.

I don't think it rates a daily.

[Masherbrum]

They built it just to take to the track.

Stripped of creature comforts.

I don't think it rates a daily.

Given my occupation, I'd DD that thing in a heartbeat.

[RTHolmes]

They built it just to take to the track.

thats the point, they didnt.

its a daily driver. walk into a porsche dealership, drive one out if they have one in stock, or order one in the usual way. usual porsche warranty, spec it up how you like, colours, trim, satnav, cd/multi-speaker sound system and aircon etc. just like any carrera or boxster. you could drive it to work and back every day for 20 years if you dont mind the rather firm suspension (or live in germany )



edit: tbh it wasnt entirely road legal - it had its racing number 11 stickers on the doors, which is illegal in germany

[CAP1]

if it doesn't pass a safety inspection it's not a daily driver.

the roll cage, and lack of emergency brake will fail most street cars.

[CAP1]

It for all intents and purposes IS a daily driver Shuff.   It is street legal, save the slicks. 

how many people do you know that would drive that car every day in any weather? there are a few, but in reality, shuff is right.......she is no daily driver.