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Porsche really needs to go back with a 918 and stickier rubber to set a better time. Can't imagine those folks who paid a $million+ are happy that a car costing 1/4-1/5 as much is faster around a track.
Impressive that they beat the Lambo by 5 seconds right out of the gate though.
911s handle spooky well, an excellent example of what top engineers can accomplish on an obsolete design given forty years to refine it. I have *not* yet been on a track with mine, to be sure, but tossing it around in cones and on the street reveals quite a bit about what I call "cult of 911." I've been in the Cult six years with no intention of leaving. I like how they handle w/AWD, but the purists are pretty clearly right that the limits are way higher w/RWD only.
A 991-series GT2 RS is the craziest factory car I've heard of yet, given what it is. 700hp? Pffffw: I'd bet money it's closer to a thousand, they can do that with boosted engines on that 3.8 liter flat six. Whoever drove that record lap must have balls of steel, there is no stopping a GT2-anything once it comes on-boost. The older 996 and 997 had few electronics to stop them, if-any. Now, who knows.
why do so many people obsess over performance of cars they will never drive?
That's not entirely true, performance cars of previous decades are affordable today or sooner when superior technology such as turbos allowed for cheaper performance cars.
You don't need a V8 or V12 to have good performance on the track. The real question is where can you use the power.
911s handle spooky well, an excellent example of what top engineers can accomplish on an obsolete design given forty years to refine it. I have *not* yet been on a track with mine, to be sure, but tossing it around in cones and on the street reveals quite a bit about what I call "cult of 911." I've been in the Cult six years with no intention of leaving. I like how they handle w/AWD, but the purists are pretty clearly right that the limits are way higher w/RWD only.
A 991-series GT2 RS is the craziest factory car I've heard of yet, given what it is. 700hp? Pffffw: I'd bet money it's closer to a thousand, they can do that with boosted engines on that 3.8 liter flat six. Whoever drove that record lap must have balls of steel, there is no stopping a GT2-anything once it comes on-boost. The older 996 and 997 had few electronics to stop them, if-any. Now, who knows.
I don't think the design is obsolete. It's that most car makers have not opted for their rear mounted engine design which gives them superior handling without the bad weight distribution.
I think the future is still intelligent AWD systems like the Nissan GTR which so many car makers are copying. Because it has the ability to claw out of any corner and put the power down without the driver adjusting. It can detect wheel speeds between each wheel and help the car rotate so fast that not even race car drivers can keep up.
Big Porsche fan. To some degree they nickel and time you for upgrades, but they also offer a lot you can do. At the same Porsche is one, if not the best, care you can get that you can take on the track and drives even better on normal roads. They always seem to be ahead of the competition, and they are always chasing Porsche.
911s handle spooky well, an excellent example of what top engineers can accomplish on an obsolete design given forty years to refine it. I have *not* yet been on a track with mine, to be sure, but tossing it around in cones and on the street reveals quite a bit about what I call "cult of 911." I've been in the Cult six years with no intention of leaving. I like how they handle w/AWD, but the purists are pretty clearly right that the limits are way higher w/RWD only.
A 991-series GT2 RS is the craziest factory car I've heard of yet, given what it is. 700hp? Pffffw: I'd bet money it's closer to a thousand, they can do that with boosted engines on that 3.8 liter flat six. Whoever drove that record lap must have balls of steel, there is no stopping a GT2-anything once it comes on-boost. The older 996 and 997 had few electronics to stop them, if-any. Now, who knows.
Not even Porsche agrees that RWD only is the better setup. The 918 is still the faster car, and my guess is, the better handling car at the limit. The 918 set a record on the Nurburgring over 2 years ago, with what is now obsolete tire tech, and weighing 1000 lbs more. Put the new Cup rubber on there and I would bet you'd lop off 5 seconds right there easy.
RWD is a more fun car to drive, no question. But AWD has more advantages. The 911 turbo is just as fast around a track as a GT3 RS... and it does so while weighing 4-500 lbs more and not using Cup tires. But, as any auto journalist who has driven both will tell you... The GT3 RS is the epitome of a driver's car... even with a PDK transmission. The turbo is capable, but not nearly as exciting.
The GT2 RS follows a similar philosophy, it's meant to be a racing car. The 911 turbo is meant to be a "best of both worlds" proposition.
As far as rear engine being an obsolete design... it doesn't matter. Weight distribution is about 40/60 front/rear, and that's about what mid engine supercars are. A Porsche flat 6 doesn't weigh much when compared to Ferrari and Lamborghini V8's and V12's. So having it in the back doesn't result in adverse performance when the overall weight distribution is comparable to the competition.
why do so many people obsess over performance of cars they will never drive?
Speak for yourself.
I may never own a GT2 RS, but I do have a 911 turbo, with most of the suspension and aero swapped out for GT2/GT3/Cup components.
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