1DarkChaos

Hey guys
I am coming from a 987.2 Cayman S platform which is mid engine and less aero. The Cayman is honest a hell of a car for what it's worth and can just bang on it all day everyday with zero issues. Also very easy to drive. I just got a 991. 2 3rs and will be tracking it this year. Is there any advice for me? I have heard the characteristic of a rear and mid engine varies little differently on track. Also, with the aero you need to be confident and just go faster so the aero can do it's job in order to go faster. The sounds quite scary for me.

Also what do you use to take videos and acquire data to get better? I have a cage already. Is the Porsche app any good?

​​​​​​Any pointers would be awesome!
Thank you and I absolutely love this community. Super helpful and resourceful, and active!

GrantG

Probably worth getting a coach (preferably a 911 specialist) to ride along with you at the beginning.

SmokinGTS

Get a coach or instructor and forget about going fast. As you improve so will your speed, always error on the safe side and remember there are no podiums or trophies at your level. Drive home what you came in.

kkabba

- Porsche track app is not reliable. I use an AIM but there are other systems out there as well that work well

- is your home track a fast one? I found that the front end will lift and become loose at high speeds (>140 MPH) and car understeers if the rear wing is on aggressive setting - I went back to normal setting and car feels much better in at very fast speeds and turn in

- I find that with my 991.2 3RS that trail braking as much as in my mid engine cars can become very hairy in a fast turns. I'd suggest for fast turns at first you do your breaking in a straight line as you approach a turn, lift and turn/set steering wheel, and back on maintenance throttle until you are approaching the apex and see the track out / exit line at which point you can throttle back on the gas. Modulate your throttle input as it's a 500HP car and it gets loose easily if you stab the throttle

- yes car has plenty of aero/downforce but safer at first to start with a comfortable entry speed and braking zone and work up from there gradually. It's incredible how planted the car is in the fast turns when you get back on throttle

- and absolutely get a coach to ride with you at first as car can become a handful quite quickly. I honestly had to unlearn a couple of bad habits I had picked up from driving mid engine cars and higher HP cars and had a coach spend a couple of days with me to better drive a rear engine car that made all the difference

- if you are gonna add some power mods for fun, look at Dundon Motorsports. I added the race power package and the 911.2 3RS sounds intimidating, is lighter and noticeably faster at high speeds.

C4SGRPDK

The rear engine layout has disadvantages and advantages, you just have to learn to minimize the former and emphasize the latter.

It usually wants to understeer at corner entry which you can manage by having good trail braking (coaching and practice helps) but then it provides monster grip on corner exit so you can be early on the gas. It will plant the rear tire to the circuit and sling shot you out!

M3the01

In my opinion, the porsche track precision app is now extremely reliable.

Take it easy, race schools highly recommend.

shahrukh_bakar

PTAP was a PITA to setup initially but the wealth of information is fantastic. For example, did you know that you can record gearbox temperatures in addition to other temperatures? Also you can download data in a CSV file to Excel which is handy. I really like PTAP now.

Palting

I have driven the Boxster, the topless version of your Cayman, and now drive the GT3. As you said, the mid-engine platform is easy to drive fast, very intuitive. The rear engined 911's are more of a challenge to drive fast, but they will be faster. With an instructor on the passenger seat, you will learn the nuances and differences between the 2 in no time.

There are several data acquisition systems out there. I've heard good things and bad things about the Porsche Track App, but still have to set mine up. It's big advantage is it's already installed, unlike after market systems, and should be easy to set up. For me, however, I just like to drive and go with the seat of my pants. I find it's more fun to relate my performance to other cars and drivers on the track, and that paying too much attention to data acquisition takes some of that fun away.

996AE

Learn the track before you get there

You should be able to close your eyes and drive the track, shift, brake, accelerate all with your eyes closed

Then, learn on track. Smooth is fast. Hit your lines, straight line brake, smooth exit

Then, just when you think you are fast, smooth and killing it, let an instructor take you for a hot lap

Generally, while not always, you will understand you have a long way to go to be smooth and fast

Stealth 993

What I have found out is that everything happens much faster in the GT3, so all your reactions need to be faster.

The brake zones will be much shorter, your general lines will be much different.
I try to early apex everything, and get on gas ASAP. With the rear engine, you can get into the throttle much earlier and deeper then with a mid engine.

I tried the Porsche App on a track day, it let me down and was a huge distraction to my driving. I use "Harry's Lap Timer" it works off your phone, then purchased a ODBII module and a 10htz GPS module and it works great. But of course is not as good at the real ones, but this whole thing cost me under $200 and there is nothing to install, and you can put it in any car you want in 5min.

Go about half way through the video and you can see all the data onscreen. Was having GPS issues that day, as I was setting up the 10htz GPS, so it took a couple times out.

usrodeo4

Driving at racing speed on a track is not rocket science...just start doing laps at a modest speed and very slowly increase your speed and decrease your braking points to carry more and more speed into corners...pay special attention to the corners before a straight by insuring your car is positioned from the prior corner to go into said corners where you can get on the throttle sooner to reach a higher MPH on the straights, that is how you go quicker, by reaching higher MPH on the part of the circuit that allows it. The rest of the corners aren't as important except for passing opportunities, which really have nothing to do with faster lap times. After that it always just comes down to reaction time and feel to drive as close into the envelope of loss of traction as possible...which is where the greats live, Have fun.

DHI

Join PCA UCR.
Instructor will tell you everything you need to know about driving and understanding the dynamics of your new car.
Come in with an open mind. Pretend you know nothing about driving on track.
Check your ego at the gate. No one is judging.
Just get out there and soak it all in.
Having FUN, while learning and improving in a safe environment is what it's all about.
The rest will come.
No need for rollbar.
No need for data.
That will come.

kkabba

I am a PCA UCR instructor and I would always recommend safety upgrades such as a roll bar, especially in a HP car like a 3RS.

Also the harness belts will keep you better in your seat in corners.

jorligan

I also transitioned from a Cayman 987 to a 991.2 GT3. The GT3 has tremendous braking and you can easily overbrake and because it has more power and great traction coming out of turns, you can easily "drive on 2 wheels" per my instructor who is also a pro driver / racer. He means that you can come in so fast and then hard brake putting the car on the front end and then turning in and nailing the gas which then immediately transfers weight to the rear. The best is to modulate the brake to keep the car flat allowing all 4 wheels to contribute traction.

kkabba

Very true - that's why after hard braking in straight line, I lift for a moment to move weight back to all 4 wheels and then turn and then maintenance throttle in the start of corner in the 3RS. Trail braking limited to smaller and slower turns that I'm looking to rotate car.