Porsche Cayman GT4 Rally Car Really Does Exist (Video)
Porsche Doesn’t Race a Cayman GT4 Rally Car, But French Driver Gilles Nantet Does
The Cayman GT4 seems like a fantastic base for a rally car. The Cayman is already one of the most balanced cars produced anywhere, and the GT4 kicks things up several notches. And with the 3.8 liter flat six out of a Carrera S producing sweet music behind your head, it’s also pretty darn fast. But sadly, Porsche doesn’t field a Cayman GT4 rally car. Or any rally car, for that matter.
This race car reality is, of course, a crying shame, especially considering Porsche’s rally history. The 911 cut its competitive teeth on the rally stage, after all. And factory efforts with the car proved quite successful over the years. But when Porsche decided to focus its efforts on LeMans prototype racing, rally Porsches now live on only thanks to private racing teams.
Nearly all of them race a 911 of some sort. That includes French driver Gilles Nantet, who has fielded several 997 GT3’s over the years. But now he’s sliding around in what might be the world’s only Cayman GT4 rally car. And considering the GT4’s rarity, that’s really saying something.
The car appears to be mostly stock, save for the necessary racing seats, steering wheel, and hydraulic handbrake. The Cayman’s mid engine layout already makes the car supremely easy to rotate around corners, so not much work is needed there either.
Unfortunately, unless you speak French, you won’t understand what the heck Nantet is talking about in this six minute video. But it’s well worth watching just to see the GT4 sliding around corners effortlessly. Not to mention the glorious noises coming from that flat six.
It’s enough to make us nostalgic for the days of Porsche factory rally racing. And though that doesn’t appear to be in the cards any time soon, we can thank guys like Nantet for keeping the dream alive.
