Review of Porsche Track Experience/Manthey Racing GT Trackday Racecar Drive of the 911 GT2RS Clubsport at Red Bull Ring on October 7, 2024 – A 700 Horsepower Rocket Ship

Evaluate of Porsche Observe Expertise/Manthey Racing GT Trackday Racecar Drive of the 911 GT2RS Clubsport at Purple Bull Ring on October 7, 2024 – A 700 Horsepower Rocket Ship

Final Monday, October 7 at Purple Bull Ring in Austria, house of the Austrian Grand Prix, I drove essentially the most highly effective non-street authorized buyer racecar Porsche has each constructed for over 350 kilometers on monitor – the 700 horsepower 911 GT2RS Clubsport whereas collaborating within the Porsche Observe Expertise (“PTE”) GT Trackway Racecar program, which is run by Manthey Racing. To completely exploit this uncommon and highly effective automobile, I employed the identical PTE teacher I had for the Grasp Racecar program at Spa I took half in within the earlier month – the all the time wonderful Stefan Schmucker.

SUMMARY: This was a thoughts blowing expertise, maximized additional by the truth that PTE/Manthey Racing had rented out the monitor solely for the occasion.

I can’t suggest driving the 911 GT2RS Clubsport strongly sufficient. The ability and velocity of the 911 GT2RS Clubsport are on one other stage from another Porsche race automobile in addition to the 963 hypercar. At 700 horsepower, a weight of simply 3,000 kilos, and no inside and with slick tires, the automobile is a rolling teleportation gadget. I used to be pulling arduous on all the pieces else on monitor, passing different Porsche race vehicles on the straights like they have been standing nonetheless provided that this beast has at the least 135 horsepower greater than all the pieces else from Porsche on monitor – a full 200 greater than the 718 GT4RS Clubsport, 190 greater than the 992 GT3 Cup automobile and 911 RSR, and 135 greater than the 911 GT3 R that competes in WEC and IMSA.

The 911 GT2RS Clubsport is so quick and so comparatively good natured in its dealing with that, in case you are unafraid of its large velocity and prepared and in a position to brake HARD when wanted in brake zones (as in 90 to 120 bar of brake strain on preliminary brake utility), it is going to make you seem like a greater driver than you most likely are. It positive did for me.

To me, the 992 GT3RS that I drove for two monitor days within the subsequent program felt so underpowered and so sluggish and missing in torque by comparability though it was quicker by means of the excessive velocity corners as a result of it has virtually double the downforce of the 911 GT2RS Clubsport. I didn’t discover the GT3RS practically as thrilling, as far or as rewarding because the 911 GT2RS Clubsport. After all, if you’ll be able to purchase the GT3RS at retail (and few are) it’s virtually half the cash however they’re really promoting for nearly the identical cash on the 911 GT2RS Clubsport. And as a monitor automobile I might by no means choose the GT3RS over the 911 GT2RS Clubsport. However I’m a lover of Turbo energy and that’s me.

By the final of the 5 45 minute stints I had within the automobile (which was my first full day within the automobile and on this monitor), I used to be reliably lapping Purple Bull Ring at 1:37-1:38. My finest lap was 1:37.23 – about two seconds slower than the teacher’s reference lap and solely 5 seconds slower than the quickest race lap set by the automobile in a GT2 race this yr on the monitor (a 1:32). Merely put, I beloved this automobile, which was not a shock to me as I owned a 911 (991.1 technology) Turbo S for 5 years that I had modified to 750 horsepower and I used to trace it, drag race it and do numerous mountain go drives in it.

This was an impressive someday program, which maximizes your monitor time. As such, within the 5 45 minute stints I had within the automobile, I managed to drive about 350 kilometers and over 80 laps round Purple Bull Ring.

The non-obligatory instruction I bought was invaluable. My teacher, Stefan Schmucker, a former Porsche racer, was very educated concerning the automobile, the way to get its tires into the working window, what driving methods to make use of to get essentially the most out of the automobile and what frequent errors to keep away from (as errors in a automobile this quick and highly effective may have very critical penalties).

Given the automobile’s immense energy and torque, this could NEVER be the primary racecar that somebody drives on monitor. And certainly, I used to be not in a position to lease this automobile till I had been by means of the 2 day PTE/Manthey Racing Grasp Racecar coaching final month at Spa Francorchamps (which gave PTE/Manthey Racing a chance to judge if I used to be a protected sufficient pair of arms during which to entrust this extraordinarily uncommon, $500,000, 1 of 200 ever constructed automobile).

As a result of this can be a “Clubsport” automobile, the Porsche motorsport specialists attending the occasion defined to me that the dealing with is geared extra towards the “gentleman driver” and as such, is much less snappy (i.e., much less vulnerable to snap oversteer) (and due to this fact barely much less quick) than it could possibly be. That being mentioned, I may definitely see than an overeager utility of throttle with the steering wheel turned too far may simply spin the automobile and a half-hearted utility of the brakes in a brief braking zone making an attempt to decelerate from the 250 kph that this automobile was doing as I entered every of the braking zones on the finish of the of the three longer straights (about 25 kph greater than the GT3RS) may simply ship one into the wall/off the monitor.

When you like driving race vehicles and love the immense torque and energy starting from the low finish that solely a turbo Porsche 911 can ship then that is the automobile for you. However in order for you a very snappy, extra oversteer-biased extra basic feeling 911 that should rev very excessive to make energy, then a GT3 Cup automobile would seemingly be extra for you.

When you like driving a Porsche racecar on a basic F1 monitor, that is the course for you. Footage from my expertise within the course are under. I’ll put up in automobile GoPro and VBOX movies from my quickest laps within the automobile subsequent so you may get an thought what it was like.

PROGRAM SUMMARY: The Porsche GT Trackday Racecar program lets you lease a Porsche racecar from Manthey Racing and drive it on monitor or use your individual Porsche race automobile. This isn’t actually a course however a trackday for Porsche race vehicles that alternates stints with the same program that PTE/Manthey Racing runs for Porsche street vehicles generally known as GT Trackday.

If in case you have ample expertise or have efficiently accomplished the Grasp Racecar course from Porsche Observe Expertise, you do not want to rent an teacher. Nonetheless, though I’ve accomplished that course, I employed a Manthey Racing teacher as I used to be unfamiliar with each the monitor and the automobile and have far more to study. I requested and acquired the identical wonderful teacher I labored with within the Spa Grasp Racecar course – Stefan Schmucker.

Sadly (for me anyway) PTE/Manthey Racing solely supplied someday for this race automobile program. I might have most popular two days as I used to be actually getting higher within the automobile throughout my final 2 stints.

DEDICATED RACECAR AND MECHANIC FOR EACH PARTICIPANT (RENTING THE SERVICES OF AN INSTRUCTOR: Every participant who rents a racecar from Manthey Racing will get their very own race automobile and race mechanic. I used to be lucky to get the identical mechanic with whom I labored throughout final month’s Grasp Racecar course at Spa, Philip.

To get essentially the most out of the automobile and the monitor, each of which have been new to me, I rented the companies of my excellent Porsche teacher who had taught me through the Grasp Racecar course at Spa in September – Stefan Schmucker. Stefan labored with me solely throughout your entire day. Stefan, as he was at Spa, was excellent right here. He has important prior Porsche racing expertise and knew his stuff. His steering was invaluable and he’s an actual skilled and an incredible particular person besides. He additionally has immense Porsche product information as he sells Porsches of their Stuttgart showroom. Extremely really useful.

SIGNIFICANT TIME ON TRACK – 350 KILOMETERS DRIVING – AND TWO OF SETS OF SLICK TIRES: On account of the undivided time in my racecar, I drove 5 45 minute stints within the automobile, driving over 80 laps at Purple Bull Ring or over 350 kilometers. I went by means of two units of slick tires. There was no further cost for the tires.

Notice that the rental price for the automobile, and all different Porsche race vehicles on this program, solely consists of 250 kilometers. Beware that 250 kilometers is NOT sufficient to fill all 5 race automobile stints for those who drive all of them as I did. Slightly, 350 kilometers is. Above 250 kilometers, PTE/Manthey Racing prices you an additional price for each 50 kilometers. For this automobile, it’s 999 Euros for each 50 kilometers. Accordingly, along with my rental price, participation price and the price for my teacher’s time, I paid roughly 2,000 Euros for the additional 100 kilometers, which have been value each penny because the automobile is just unimaginable and it was in these further two stints that I drove my quickest laps as I discovered the way to drive the automobile quicker.

The price for the additional distance pushed is dependent upon the particular Porsche raced automobile you rented, starting from about 500 Euros for every further 50 kilometers within the 718 GT4RS Membership Sport to 2499 Euros for every further 50 kilometers within the range-topping 911 RSR (a automobile with a lot downforce that the Porsche racing drivers there on the program instructed me you’ll be able to take Eau Rouge completely flat in it (and which nobody rented on this monitor day – a full day rental is 48,000 Euros for that super-rare, ultra-expensive machine and a 2 stint take a look at drive of 1 hour is, I imagine, 10,000 Euros). The opposite Porsche race vehicles are all a lot much less with the 911 GT3 R (the automobile that Porsche at present makes use of within the LMGT3 class in WEC and the GTD Professional and GTD courses in IMSA) being about half that value at 24,000 Euros per day to lease and the opposite vehicles all being cheaper than that).

THE PORSCHE RACE CARS: Every participant rents no matter Porsche race automobile they need offered that PTE/Manthey Racing believes they’re certified to lease it. All first-time clients (assumedly aside from these with substantial documented prior racing expertise in a Porsche) should drive the 718 GT4RS Clubsport the primary time they drive a PTE/Manthey Racing race automobile.

As a result of it was my second race automobile program with PTE/Manthey Racing and since I had beforehand accomplished the Grasp Racecar program at Spa Francorchamps to PTE’s/Manthey Racing’s obvious satisfaction, I used to be free to lease no matter Porsche race automobile I needed from PTE’s/Manthey Racing’s fleet.

The fleet begins with the bottom racecar, the 718 GT4RS Clubsport with 500 horsepower, mid-engine and the least downforce of the Porsche race vehicles, which is about 6,000 Euros a day to lease along with a program price. That is the race automobile model of the 718 GT4RS street automobile.

Subsequent up the meals chain is the 911 GT3 Cup automobile with 510 horsepower, the best-selling buyer race automobile on the earth in accordance with Porsche. The price for that’s, I imagine 9,000 Euros a day.

Above that’s the automobile I rented, the 911 GT2RS Clubsport with 700 horsepower from a 3.8 liter twin turbo flat 6 cylinder engine, and virtually 1,000 kilos of downforce at full velocity (just a little over half that of the 992 GT3RS street automobile), the rental price for which is 10,000 Euros per day. That automobile is a race automobile model of the 991.2 GT2RS street automobile. The powertrain is similar or just about the identical because the street automobile.

The 911 GT2RS Clubsport is closely modified from the street automobile model and virtually 200 kilos lighter with the inside ripped out and changed with a cage and race automobile inside, slick tires, carbon fiber physique panels and different carbon fiber elements changing most of the heavier street automobile elements. The brakes are straight up racing brakes out of the GT3 R and are metal. And they’re very loud. The suspension can also be out of certainly one of Porsche’s race vehicles. The aero bundle is far more radical than the street automobile model of the GT2RS with an enormous rear wing and an enormous downforce-producing hood scoop and ducts changing the entrance trunk. Principally, this can be a race automobile model of the GT2RS with large acceleration and grip. This can be a very uncommon and particular automobile and solely 200 have been ever made. Porsche subsequently made an “evo” bundle for the automobile to, amongst different issues, enhance aerodynamics for 85,000 Euros however the 2 PTE/Manthey Racing GT2RS Clubsports current lacked the “evo” bundle.

As was the case in Spa, the vehicles have been glowing clear after they arrived and have been meticulously maintained by Manthey Racing. Manthey Racing is, for individuals who don't know, one of many high GT racing groups in Europe in addition to the main efficiency/racing bundle provider for Porsche, which is almost all proprietor of the corporate.

That being mentioned, my teacher’s 911 GT2RS Clubsport suffered a gap in its radiator (maybe from an object on monitor) and was knocked out of service so my teacher then had to make use of a 911 GT3 Cup Automobile which was not in a position to hold tempo with my GT2RS Clubsport within the straights though it was greater than a match for me and my GT2RS Clubsport within the corners particularly with my teacher’s far superior race driving expertise.

Nonetheless, as a result of I got here up the training curve in a short time on the 911 GT2RS Clubsport and since this automobile was SO a lot quicker than the GT3 Cup automobile by the point of the braking zone on the finish of the lengthy three straights (a 190 horsepower distinction can’t be pushed round on a protracted straight), I requested to drive in entrance for the rest of the day, which by the purpose of that call was someplace by the 4th or fifth stint.

VIRTUALLY ALL OF THE RISK OF LOSS OF THE CAR REMAINS ON PTE/MANTHEY RACING: Not like personal racecar leases, the chance of lack of these vehicles for collision harm (though not for legal responsibility for harming others) is NOT on the members however stays with PTE/Manthey Racing aside from a modest deductible in relation to the worth of the automobile – 10,000 Euros for the GT4RS and 25,000 Euros for the GT3 Cup Automobile and, as I recall, additionally for the GT2RS Membership Sport. Which means that, not like personal racecar leases, you do not want to purchase monitor insurance coverage, which could be very costly.

THE INSTRUCTION METHOD – HOW THEY TEACH YOU: After an preliminary security briefing, my GT Trackday racecar program with my teacher consisted of 5 45 minute driving stints on monitor, separated by roughly 45 minute intervals the place my teacher and I took a break and reviewed the info and video from my automobile and the teacher's automobile (the road/street automobile monitor classes have been held throughout these intervals). Throughout these classes, my teacher gave me pointers as to what I used to be doing flawed and the way I may enhance in addition to what our improvement objectives have been for the following stint. Initially of the day, my teacher had a plan for each certainly one of our 5 stints, which he executed.

THE RACING GEAR: For this program, members can lease racing gear from PTE/Manthey Racing. I introduced all of my very own racing gear – the helmet, HANS gadget, firesuit, gloves, boots, balaclava, in ear headphones, and many others.

SUPPORT FROM YOUR DEDICATED MECHANIC: My devoted race mechanic, Philipp, was superior. Not solely did he guarantee my race automobile was operating in tiptop form, however he helped me strap into the automobile in order that the harness was very tight and correctly positioned over the HANS gadget (if the shoulder harness straps are usually not correctly positioned over the HANS gadget, the HANS won’t work and defend you) in addition to helped to attach my helmet communication methods to the automobile's radio. He additionally assisted with entry and exit, eradicating the steering wheel and placing it again on.

THE RISK LEVEL: Driving race vehicles on monitor isn’t with out danger. Individuals will generally make errors and push their vehicles past their very own driving capabilities or the capabilities of the vehicles. Throughout our 5 stints there have been about three crimson flags because of racecar members going off the monitor. Nobody hit the wall and there have been no heavy crashes however these 3 or so members did go off into the gravel and wanted to be pulled out by the security vans.

The Spa occasion, in contrast, produced extra heavy crashes and collisions with the wall – not stunning as Spa is a tougher, increased velocity and customarily extra harmful and difficult monitor than Purple Bull Ring.

As for me, I had no offs, spins or crashes. I had no oversteer moments aside from a slight one exiting the storage throughout my first stint when my slick tires have been ice chilly and it was about 40 levels F. I barely touched the fuel pedal however that was sufficient to get the rear finish sliding barely. This was a danger my teacher had warned me about. I actually babied the accelerator till the slicks have been within the correct working window of about 1.6-1.7 bar minimal.

Additionally, as soon as going into flip 1, I overcooked my entry into the braking zone, knew instantly that my automobile wouldn’t make the nook and used the paved escape street as I had been skilled to do. Straightforward, fast and painless. You steer onto the escape street as you brake straight after which take the street and rejoin the monitor on the finish of flip 1.

GROUP MEALS AND GIFTING: PTE/Manthey Racing provided very nice hospitality and catering for the occasion in a devoted very giant tent, supplying a really high-end, breakfast, lunch and dinner the place members of this program and the simultaneous GT Trackday program for roadcars (the street vehicles and race vehicles have been by no means on monitor collectively and alternated stints on monitor) in addition to instructors, may eat, speak and mingle (the identical hospitality tent they used at Spa). On the finish of this program, every participant in this system acquired a certificates of completion, a Porsche cap and a mannequin of the primary 930 Turbo. A pleasant contact.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: This was a incredible program and I extremely suggest it. I look ahead to rejoining PTE/Manthey Racing subsequent yr. They may have open signal ups I imagine in November 2024.