Discussion
I've deliberately posted here rather than be accused of pork baiting on another forum because I am curious to know what regular track day drivers REALLY think about the new GT3 RS. As you may know, it scored very highly in EVO's RaTCoTY and posted superb lap times at Cadwell. It is, in my view, a gorgeous and highly desirable piece of kit and oh how I wish I had the money to run one as a toy.
That being said, I have always been a tad suspicious of the way journos eulogise the track biased Porsches and in my real life experience I have never found them to be as dramatically quick as perhaps they are painted to be.
By way of example, if anyone was at Abingdon with Ed and Tash last Friday, they will have seen the drop dead sexy green one. Now I know he wasn't trying in the morning but by late afternoon, he was most definitely on one -that much was obvious from my close up view of his drain pipes. But was it actually that quick? Hmm.. well he was kind enough to eventually
concede to my tired old caterham and my car is nowhere near the quickest thing on track. I have had similar experiences with other incarnations of RS types at other circuits (incl Goodwood - where they really should be very quick).
So what is it? Are they just not as quick as we are led to believe (because a big part of me wants them to be) or does their value put their owners off trying too hard (in which case, whats the point?) or am I just completely off message?
Not trying to wind anyone up - just genuinely curious.
(and if Mr green Rs owner reads this.. respect)
That being said, I have always been a tad suspicious of the way journos eulogise the track biased Porsches and in my real life experience I have never found them to be as dramatically quick as perhaps they are painted to be.
By way of example, if anyone was at Abingdon with Ed and Tash last Friday, they will have seen the drop dead sexy green one. Now I know he wasn't trying in the morning but by late afternoon, he was most definitely on one -that much was obvious from my close up view of his drain pipes. But was it actually that quick? Hmm.. well he was kind enough to eventually
concede to my tired old caterham and my car is nowhere near the quickest thing on track. I have had similar experiences with other incarnations of RS types at other circuits (incl Goodwood - where they really should be very quick). So what is it? Are they just not as quick as we are led to believe (because a big part of me wants them to be) or does their value put their owners off trying too hard (in which case, whats the point?) or am I just completely off message?
Not trying to wind anyone up - just genuinely curious.
(and if Mr green Rs owner reads this.. respect)
I was at a day at Donington in either Nov Dec last year i think it was. There was a couple of 996 GT3 RS's and one of them really was quick. The only thing as quick was some kind of radical/Palmer JP1 type race car. But conversely there was a GT2 there, and I was quicker than the GT2 in my S2000. Nearly rear ended him coming out of corners, where he never put the power on out of corners on a dry track.
At the end of the day, it's all about the driver, and the faster the car, the better the driver needs to be and just because you have a lot of money, it's doesn't mean you have a lot of talent. The two are unrelated.
but back on your point, yes, they really are very quick indeed in the right hands.
At the end of the day, it's all about the driver, and the faster the car, the better the driver needs to be and just because you have a lot of money, it's doesn't mean you have a lot of talent. The two are unrelated.
but back on your point, yes, they really are very quick indeed in the right hands.
ok - point taken, its the driver as much as the car; but if the car is so demanding that it takes a driver of consummate skill to extract the best laptimes from it, does it justify its rep?
Maybe they should rename it Road-and-Track-Car-of-the-Year-but-only-if-you-are-a-sh*t-hot-driver.
M
Maybe they should rename it Road-and-Track-Car-of-the-Year-but-only-if-you-are-a-sh*t-hot-driver.
M
Having never driven one, I can't comment for certain, but I doubt it requires a driver of that much skill to get 95% out of it on track. A bit of tuition never goes amiss.
Often people think they are driving the car flat out when they're not. Being passengered in your own car can really open your eyes.
Often people think they are driving the car flat out when they're not. Being passengered in your own car can really open your eyes.
Are you sure it was green? I was at Abingdon last Friday and there was one there - albeit orange. (MSE day yeah?)
The chap in the 197 Sport seemed to keep a similar distance to his rear at the end of the day, it looked fairly stock the 197 which goes to show its all about the driver not the car.
Mind I only got overtaken by caterham type cars and a couple of Elise's all day long and it was my first track day, yes, yes it MUST be all about the driver!
Don't suppose you have any vid's or pic's of the day?
Cheers,
Rich.
The chap in the 197 Sport seemed to keep a similar distance to his rear at the end of the day, it looked fairly stock the 197 which goes to show its all about the driver not the car.
Mind I only got overtaken by caterham type cars and a couple of Elise's all day long and it was my first track day, yes, yes it MUST be all about the driver
! Don't suppose you have any vid's or pic's of the day?
Cheers,
Rich.
mikee said:
the GT3 RS is the only road car that's approach my speed at Donnington - so yes I'd say they're amazingly quick for a genuine road car
is a caterham not a genuine road car then?
ok, mine isn't because its a full on race car but yours looks pretty sane and lets face it a GT3 RS is not ideal for a trip to Sainsburys. Ok, I admit I am being deliberately awkward now. I think "that's approach my speed" says it all for me.
Beej
Jusus the AA must hate you looking at your previous pist of cars. Prior to the Porker, BMW and Merc they must have camped at the end of your road to save on petrol!
As for the Caterham I hate them but mainly becasue I cant drive them very well. On slower tracks they always do me for pace and control so I stay well clear unless the driver is a newby (like me not to long ago)
As for the 997 GT3 RS i think it is a real imporvement on the 996 GT3 and RS. Its looks are that mnuch more refined and also it seems to out pace its predecesor on track from what I have seen however no accounting for driver skill I am afraid. I would if I could, but wouldnt get a 996GT3RS above the CSL.
Jusus the AA must hate you looking at your previous pist of cars. Prior to the Porker, BMW and Merc they must have camped at the end of your road to save on petrol!
As for the Caterham I hate them but mainly becasue I cant drive them very well. On slower tracks they always do me for pace and control so I stay well clear unless the driver is a newby (like me not to long ago)
As for the 997 GT3 RS i think it is a real imporvement on the 996 GT3 and RS. Its looks are that mnuch more refined and also it seems to out pace its predecesor on track from what I have seen however no accounting for driver skill I am afraid. I would if I could, but wouldnt get a 996GT3RS above the CSL.
Edited by shim on Wednesday 2nd May 19:33
peterpeter said:
vixpy1 said:
Ah yes, that was the chap who told me the back of my car was on fire 
Lovely car, nice chap too, chatted with him briefly about the car, he had not had it that long and was taking it easy
made the most terrific sound though
Lovely car, nice chap too, chatted with him briefly about the car, he had not had it that long and was taking it easy
made the most terrific sound though
you coming to bedford this saturday ,charlie?
Friday was the last one till the new car is ready in a couple of months, and also.. I'm at Goodwood watching the GeeGee's
Just come back from a track evening at bedford and hand timed (as a spectator) several GT3 RS's with the fastest around 56 secs. My westy is several secs quicker but if you ask me which I'd rather have I'm afraid it's be no contest! GT3 RS every time 
BTW saw the new KTM track day car and it looks fab in the flesh - sadly it wasn't driving!
BTW saw the new KTM track day car and it looks fab in the flesh - sadly it wasn't driving!
i dream of owning a gt3 rs within the next few years.it does worry me when i hear people saying they would rather have a csl when i have a e36 m3 which i know is no contest for a csl(standardish anyway).
why do people seem to favour the csl over the gt3.on paper the gt3 seems to be miles ahead
why do people seem to favour the csl over the gt3.on paper the gt3 seems to be miles ahead
£25k to £45 difference at the moment for s/h 996 GT3 and GT3RS respectively and on circuits like the ring you have no advantage (GT3 anyway).
also CSL is a daily drive and you can park it in the multistorey without too much worry.
now i do not say its a better car but it is a comparable car in many respects.
I say at the monet i would not pay £25k or £45k extra for a 996 GT3 or RS but would like a 997 GT3RS if i had the cash. But then i would also like a F430 CS or f430 Challenge race prep ...................dreaming...................
also CSL is a daily drive and you can park it in the multistorey without too much worry.
now i do not say its a better car but it is a comparable car in many respects.
I say at the monet i would not pay £25k or £45k extra for a 996 GT3 or RS but would like a 997 GT3RS if i had the cash. But then i would also like a F430 CS or f430 Challenge race prep ...................dreaming...................
99.5% down to driver ability how well they go, I've kept up with a fair few RS's in a humble easy to drive shopping car worth less than an RS's wheels, 911s without ladyboy driver aids are tricky feckers to drive properly, yet get a proper hand in there & you dont see which way they went & can get lapped in a session.
If it was an older looking fella orange RS, done 3 of the same track days as him this yr, passed him many times at each event, nice fella chatted to him a few times, but there is a whole lot more to come from that car by any of the fast Porker track day fellas, of which ive been in with a few they are darn fast.
996RS & shopping car @ Silverstone-
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS9UfLznQK0
If it was an older looking fella orange RS, done 3 of the same track days as him this yr, passed him many times at each event, nice fella chatted to him a few times, but there is a whole lot more to come from that car by any of the fast Porker track day fellas, of which ive been in with a few they are darn fast.
996RS & shopping car @ Silverstone-
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS9UfLznQK0
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