Daily Slideshow: The 911 Gets Sole Driving Duties at Camp4 Canada 2018
In the forests of Quebec, the 911 reigns supreme even on ice. You'll want to see how this rear-engined chariot handles the frosty Canadian conditions.
The Uncommon Choice for Winter Driving
When you think snow vehicles, thoughts of a Subaru WRX STI or Range Rover readily come to mind. But think a little harder and you'll realize the rear-engined layout of the Porsche 911 is a great compliment to low traction surface. Porsche knows this better than anyone else and it's something they celebrate at various global ice-driving camps. In North America, Porsche holds a month-long event at Circuit Mecaglisse in the forests of Quebec. Known as Camp4 Canada this two-day driving experience involves a team of instructors and a flock of 911s. Click along to see the 911 in action.
Any Car You Want As Long as It's a 911
Porsche has been hosting the Camp4 Canada event for nearly a decade. As you'd expect there have been some changes and evolution. The most prominent of which was the move away from mid-engined Porsche models like the Boxster and Cayman. The program now exclusively features the 911 in both Carrera S and Carrera 4S configurations. Of course, Porsche has been progressively moving the location of its flat-six closer and closer to the middle of the chassis with each passing generation.
How to Make a 911 Handle on Snow and Ice
A rear-engined platform and a rear drive/rear-biased all-wheel-drive system is a great start. Add in 1.5 mm studded tires and the 911 is about as planted as any sports car given the circumstances. Of course, the driver is required to change their approach when testing limit handling on snow and ice. They need to have the philosophy of a Mika Hakkinen rather than a Jeremy Clarkson. Adapt the rally-style approach of trail braking and transferring weight to the front to avoid stuffing the nose into a snowbank. Throttle applications are best-served in precise amounts while utilizing left-foot braking.
Quieting the Electronic Nannies and Using Technology to Your Advantage
Porsche Stability Management is one of the best stability and traction control systems in the business. That being said, sliding a 911 on snow and ice is best enjoyed without the electronic safeguards that could hinder your fun. Hold down the PSM button and Big Brother goes to sleep.
The flip side of that coin is the benefit of the torque-vectoring capabilities Porsche's mad scientists have engineered into the newest generation 911. An electronically-controlled rear differential splits torque between the rear wheels and also helps the inside tire brake, allowing for sharper turn in.
Changing the vehicle modes from Regular to Sport or Sport Plus also has its own benefits and downfalls on the ice. Each move up the rung to the higher performance setting dials in the responsiveness of the throttle. At its most temperamental setting, the 911's throttle can be too much of an on/off switch for the Camp4 surface. Leaving the 911 in Regular mode is ideal for most amateur and enthusiast level drivers.
RWD vs. AWD
The formula for rear-wheel drifting glory on ice is relatively simple. Apply generous amounts of throttle, induce oversteer, add steering and throttle corrections as required and voila, you're an ice track god.
On the other hand, the all-wheel-drive Carrera 4S requires a more sophisticated and patient tactic. Quieter hands, less steering input, and more trust in the torque split of Porsche's all-wheel-drive system allows the front wheels to pull the 911 from corner to corner. If you're able to rewire your brain, the Carrera 4S is a generous dance partner on the icy ballroom floor.
Why Should You Go?
Any day you can drive a 911 is a good day. Add in the chance to drift someone else's car around a low traction surface and it's pretty easy to see how Porsche convinces enthusiasts to make the trip to Quebec. Camp4 ensures even if you bin one of their fancy Porsches, the damage will be light. That's the benefits of drifting on snow at 30 mph rather than on a canyon road at 65 mph with oncoming traffic. How much will this icy experiment cost you? A cool $4,500. Not bad when you consider the benefits of the controlled environment and the rare chance to push a road car to the limits of traction and beyond.
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