Porsche has unveiled a track-special version of its new Cayman GT4 RS, the Clubsport, which has been specially honed for circuit racing.
The release follows the launch of the already hard-edged GT4 RS at the LA Auto Show, and the Clubsport comes ready-made for racing at casual track-days or more formalised GT4 events.
What makes it go?
Like the road-legal GT4 RS, the Clubsport uses the same 500hp 4.0-litre normally-aspirated flat-six engine as found in the current 911 GT3 car. Compared to the "standard" GT4 RS, the power delivery has been tweaked so that the torque figures are higher - 465Nm at 8,300rpm - which is higher than the maximum 450Nm of the road car and gives the Clubsport, according to Porsche, a much wider usable speed band for racing. Between the engine and the wheels sits a short-ratio seven-speed double-clutch PDK transmission.
The chassis and suspension have been fettled for racing, with adjustable dampers, adjustable anti-roll bars and a choice of spring rates. Dynamic features like ride height, camber and toe can also be set to the driver's preference.
Stopping power comes courtesy of 380mm steel brake discs cooled by air from the NACA ducts in the Clubsport's bonnet.
Body and soul
While the RS road car got a significant aerodynamic reworking over the standard GT4, the Clubsport takes it even further with the large rear wing still featuring the aerodynamically optimised swan-neck mounts, but now fitted with a Gurney flap and the ability to adjust the angle. The underbody is fully enclosed for less resistance and to draw air more smoothly to the rear diffuser. Extra front-end downforce can be created by adjusting the pitch of the lip spoiler.
As a racer, the Clubsport needs to be light which means that Porsche has used a natural flax-based composite material for the bonnet, wings, doors, the rear wing, the front aerodynamic features and even the steering wheel.
What makes a racer
The point of a factory-prepared GT4 racer is that the driver doesn't have to do much beyond set the car up to their own preferences meaning that it can be raced, basically, straight out of the box.
As such, the Cayman RS Clubsport gets a welded roll cage, an adjustable racing seat, six-point racing harnesses, a fire extinguisher system as well as interior materials such as safety foam made to FIA specifications. The safety fuel cell can hold up to 115 litres of fuel which, Porsche says, makes it suitable for endurance races. Two different exhaust systems allow the Clubsport to compete at tracks that may have stricter noise limits than others. The front-end is designed for the optional fitment of quick refuelling openings or different homologated lights suited for night-time racing.
How much?
Porsche says that the Cayman 718 GT4 RS Clubsport (which is quite the mouthful) will start from €196,000 which may seem eye-watering, but, then again, motorsport can be a very expensive business, particularly at higher levels. For those that can afford it though, given that the Clubsport is already race-prepped and approved, Porsche's plug-in-and-play racer may well represent reasonable value.