Why the GT4 is Porsche Racing's Weapon of Choice
Daily Slideshow: Group R-GT is the Class and WRC is the series. This is why it was chosen.
WRC R-GT
Appearing to be named after every consonant in the English language the World Rally Champion R-GT class hosts some of the fastest production-based GT rally cars in the world. Porsche has decided in a historic decision to get back into the WRC. Why the GT4 then? Let’s look at some of the factors that make sense about this platform from a racers point of view. Remember this is a company that won the Dakar Rally with a super car. It’s not their first rodeo.
image courtesy of Porsche
Cost Effective
According to Porsche themselves, the GT4 was chosen to compete here due to the cost-effectiveness of running a season. Walter Rohrl has been chosen as the development driver which means they will likely slice through all the teething issues and produce a competitive car immediately. Operating costs are the #1 cause for racing teams to fail so Porsche is incredibly smart to offer this base platform to a wide range of competitors who want to go out and try their hand at tackling races like the famous tarmac Rally Monte Carlo or the snow banked hills of a Swedish Special Stage.
image courtesy of autoblog.com
All New Everything
Based on the 2020 GT4 as opposed to the current outgoing model this competitor will see a bump in power to somewhere in the 425bhp range. One rumor that made the rounds with this vehicle was the return to a naturally aspirated flat-6 instead of the turbocharged 4 cylinder engine which makes a lot of sense from a reliability standpoint. Turbochargers in rally racing are notorious for having lag which means many teams utilize anti-lag systems that keep the turbo spinning while a driver is off the throttle. It adds complexity and therefore cost which is a smart move on Porsches part from the customer’s perspective and a racer’s perspective. Naturally aspirated engines have great throttle response that allows rally drivers to make instinctive throttle changes in real time which is a big benefit when every decision is critical.
image courtesy of Porsche
Mid-Engines Dynamics
Mid-engine cars have a lot of advantages in tarmac rally stages and we should take a moment to remember that they were once common in the sport as opposed to front-engine machines. Cayman GT4s have a way of dancing through technical sections with ease and Porsche is no stranger to this concept. Couple this with the fact that the R-GT Cup only takes place on tarmac roads and you can quickly see why the decision was made to use this brilliant circuit monster. Uphill, you gain a traction advantage in the rear as well as predictable handling in steep downhill sections. It gives a great balance with a solid promise of podium level finishes with the right driver.
image courtesy of Porsche
Know the Enemy
When Porsche decides to go racing they study their enemy like hawks. Hawks with years of engineering experience who are hell-bent on one thing: winning. Fiat has been mopping the floor with everyone courtesy of their Abarth 124 that chucks out 300hp and 444 lb-ft of torque, but the Cayman GT4 should have it licked without much problem based on a higher horsepower output. It will level the playing field in this class for customers who decide to go racing—Porsche has announced no intent on running a factory team despite creating a goal of selling 100 of these vehicles in order to make a meaningful financial return on their investment. The Fiat Abarth 124 is a front engine rear wheel drive design that hasn’t seen much competition from other manufacturers in this class. Marketing wise this is an effective strategy: customers who compete want a car that wins so if Porsche can dominate these cars will sell. Simple.
image courtesy of autoblog.com
What is the R-GT Program For Porsche?
This program is a way to sell rally cars and generate a strong buzz while simultaneously gauging interest not only in racing but from the brand’s involvement in WRC as well. Will Porsche use this as a litmus test to make a run back into the big leagues of the championship? If there is enough buzz around it, why not? It’s an entertaining proving ground that is more relevant to most people than something like Le Mans as it replicates the tarmac roads most of us drive in our time away from the office. Besides, everyone loves it when Porsche goes rally racing. Thanks for reading.
image courtesy of autoblog.com
For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our How-to section in the forum.