2023 Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Faster Than a GT3 at Car and Driver Lightning Lap 2023

Days of Porsche being accused of holding back the Cayman are over as the GT4 RS turns in a faster Lightning Lap time than the GT3.

The Cayman is the poor mans Porsche. You only bought a Cayman because you can’t afford a 911. Porsche only makes one real sportscar and it is the 911. Porsche will never allow the Cayman to be faster than the 911. Poppycock. All of it. The first three statements were ridiculous from the day the Cayman was launched. It is a brilliant sportscar with wonderful mid-engine balance. However, the statement about Porsche holding back the Cayman a bit had some validity. Until the GT4 RS arrived on the scene. Porsche stuffed the engine from the GT3 behind the seats of the Cayman and said game on. The lighter weight, and sleeker shape of the GT4 RS gives the GT3 all it can handle. The folks at Car and Driver just concluded their Lightning Lap 2023 event. The GT4 RS lapped VIR quicker than the 992 GT3.

There has been a disturbance in the force. To be fair the GT4 RS lapped at 2:40.5 and the GT3 ran a 2:40.6. And the GT3 ran last year. So, with the cars being run on different days the conditions were not identical. However, we are arguing over tenths here. There is no denying the GT4 RS is damn quick around a racetrack. In the 16-year history of the Lightning Lap event Car and Driver has tested 34 different Porsche models. The GT4 RS trails only the 2018 911 GT2 RS. The GT4 RS was faster than every other Porsche. Ever. 991.2 GT3 RS? GT4 RS is faster. 992 911 Turbo S? GT4 RS is faster. 918 Spyder hypercar? GT4 RS is faster. My beloved 991.2 Turbo S? The GT4 RS stomps it by over 6 seconds! Time to respect the Cayman.

GT4 RS Details

The GT4 RS that ran at this event was equipped with the Weissach Package. Which includes a bunch of carbon fiber bits all throughout the car. That helped to keep the weight down to just 3,053 pounds. That is a healthy 176 pounds lighter than the 992 GT3. The GT3 has a slight horsepower advantage at 502 versus 493 for the GT4 RS. The GT3 also makes more downforce, has wider rear tires, and has rear-wheel steering. The GT4 RS was wearing Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. It carries an as-tested price of $186,975. Although your odds of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans on foot would be better than being able to buy one at that price.

Lightning Lap Details

The lap is run on the Grand Course configuration at VIR. It is a lovely 4.10-mile cicuit that includes a little bit of everything. Going into Turn 1 the GT4 RS generated 1.19 g’s of lateral grip. The GT3 managed 1.22 g’s. The driver felt more confidence in the GT3 on the off camber Turn 10 and that allowed the GT3 to hold a 6-mph advantage there. But after the Back Straight the GT4 RS really shined. Starting at Turn 13 the course becomes tighter and more technical. The GT4 RS was at home there and was able to reel in any time lost to the GT3 and eventually pip it at the end by a tenth of a second.

Where it Ranks

There have been 315 cars run at the Lightning Lap event over the years. The 2023 GT4 RS is the eighth fastest ever. It was the second fastest car this year. It was over 3 seconds faster than the Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica. The only car quicker this year was the impressive Corvette Z06 which packs an additional 177 horsepower. And even with that power advantage the gap was less than 2 seconds. The Cayman GT4 RS can run with the big dogs. There is no doubt about it. If you ever felt that the Cayman was a lesser car, you need to give the GT4 RS a try. Assuming you can find one.

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s: Car and Driver

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.