Three years after the premiere of the first Cayman GT4 Clubsport, Porsche launched a successor: The new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport represents a consequent further development of the successful model from Weissach. For the first time, the near-standard mid-engine racer comes in two versions ex-works: the “Trackday” model for ambitious amateur racing drivers and the “Competition” variant for national and international motor racing.
Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport Three years after the premiere of the first Cayman GT4 Clubsport, Porsche launched a successor: The new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport represents a consequent further development of the successful model from Weissach. For the first time, the near-standard mid-engine racer comes in two versions ex-works: the “Trackday” model for ambitious amateur racing drivers and the “Competition” variant for national and international motor racing.
More power, greater sustainability
In developing the new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, the focus was put not only on further improved driveability and faster lap times but also on the sustainable use of raw materials. The 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport is the first ever production race car to feature body parts made of natural-fibre composite material. The driver and co-driver doors and the rear wing are made of an organic fibre mix, which are sourced primarily from agricultural by-products such as flax or hemp fibres and feature similar properties to carbon fibre in terms of weight and stiffness.
Powering the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport is a 3.8-litre flat-six engine producing 313 kW (425 hp). Compared to its predecessor, this represents a 40-hp increase in performance. The power is transferred to the rear wheels via a Porsche dual-clutch gearbox with six gears and mechanical rear axle differential lock. The lightweight spring-strut front suspension is taken from its big 911 GT3 Cup brother. The impressive racing brake system features steel brake discs all round measuring 380-millimetres in diameter. Tipping the scales at 1,320 kilograms, the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, delivered ex-works with a welded-in safety cage, a racing bucket seat as well as a six-point harness, is a real lightweight.
Porsche was the first German manufacturer to bring to market a production mid- engined sports car in 1969. To celebrate this anniversary, the Porsche Museum has invited all fans of the two-seater to the “Typically Porsche Day” on Sunday, June 2, 2019 at the start of the special show “50 Years of the 914 – Typically Porsche”.
Over 120 owners of private 914 models, including from the club scene, will be in attendance. As well as a range of promotions, visitors to the “Typically Porsche Day” will also be able to enjoy expert panels on the 914. For example, former development and race engineer Roland Kussmaul, former chassis developer and race driver Hans Clausecker, as well as engineer and race driver Günter Steckkönig together with author Jürgen Lewandowski will look back at the genesis and legendary moments of the Porsche 914. Anthony Hatter, Head of Design Quality Style Porsche, together with former Porsche development engineer Jürgen Kapfer and product developer for race cars Hermann-Josef Steinmetz, will explore the question of the roots and above all the future of the mid-engined concept at Porsche and investigate why the mid-engined configuration, design, technology and lifestyle are typically Porsche today. Entry to the “Typically Porsche Day” on Sunday, June 2, is free.
50 years ago, Porsche was striving to expand its position in the market with a sports car in the promising segment beneath the 911. However, such a project would not have been viable for the small company on its own. The Zuffenhausen-based car manufacturer found a partner in Volkswagen, since at the time VW was looking for a successor to its then rather outdated Type 34 sports coupé, better known as the Karmann Ghia. Ferry Porsche and VW Director Heinrich Nordhoff shook hands on a joint project in the mid-1960s. When Nordhoff unexpectedly died in 1968, the project was in danger of collapsing. Ferry Porsche worked out a solution with the new Managing Director of VW, Kurt Lotz: the two companies established the VW-Porsche sales company. It marketed the project on the European market as the VW-Porsche. It was available in two versions: the 914 with a four-cylinder engine from Volkswagen and the 914/6 with a six-cylinder engine from Porsche. In the USA, both variants were sold under the Porsche marque.
Since its launch in November, the new Porsche 911 has been dangled from a helicopter, thrown around race tracks and scrutinised by the world’s media.
During testing of the exceptional eighth generation model, the cars travelled some three million kilometres, across gridlocked cities, enduring all weathers and in extremes of hot and cold.
But none have been driven up a ski slope. Until now.
In order the demonstrate the new intelligent control and chassis elements on the latest incarnation of the iconic sports car, along with its all-wheel drive capabilities and the incredible Porsche Traction Management system, a 911 Carrera 4S travelled to Andorra, in the Pyrenees, to take on the slopes of the Pas de la Casa ski resort.
Early in the morning, before the busy runs opened to the public, the 911 was joined by a new Macan and charged with driving to the top of a steep slope, 2,400 metres above sea level. Both cars were completely standard and simply fitted with Porsche-approved winter tyres.
Enrique Monteverde, Marketing Manager at Porsche Ibérica, explained: “The new 911 has a much wider track front and rear and we took advantage of this, the all-wheel drive and the Porsche Traction Management system to get all of his power perfectly on the ground, here on the snow.“We wanted to demonstrate how quick the 911’s reaction times are, even on extreme surfaces, and that the same agility is possible with the smaller-engined Macan. “The conditions were perfect but it was the ease with which the cars took on the mountain that really impressed the crowd.”
