991RS Review thread
05-26-2015, 03:26 PM
#153
Rennlist Member
Not a very fast track, actually, but it is an extremely tricky one. A lot of elevation changes that video flattens, several blind rises, the Mouse Trap, two sketchball off-camber bends, and a 500-hp 911 you've never driven to learn the course in. My initial take? I couldn't think of a track so fun as a newcomer, but I was told it was no place to experience the RS's additional downforce—and that's correct. This course would've been great for the GT4, and Portimao for the RS, but good luck reserving Portimao for a week in May.
I'm still working through my thoughts and observations on the 991 RS, but as to the lack of significant criticism so far: There are many new Porsches in which—even on the press launch—you can see areas of the performance envelope that are less successful. This isn't one of them. It reminds me of a handful of new models over the last 15+ years that were truly, truly well resolved out of the box. The team had done its homework, and put in the overtime—and it showed in a car more brilliant than most.
Surprisingly (too?) civilized on the road, shockingly capable on track is becoming a tired refrain, but it's true here—and the track performance gap is bigger with this RS than in the past. There's still very much an edge, though—if I lost concentration for even a moment or hesitated over one of the blind rises, I fell way back in the hardly slow lead-follow laps, and Bilster Berg becomes monumentally trickier when you lose the lead car. Any temptation to start over-driving resulted in two things: Over-driving, and a recollection of words spoken earlier..."this place has consequences." Still, what a cool, cool track. Even so, I would love to try the RS at Laguna, Sears, or Thunderhill....
My take? Those of you with RSs on the way will not be disappointed.
pete
I'm still working through my thoughts and observations on the 991 RS, but as to the lack of significant criticism so far: There are many new Porsches in which—even on the press launch—you can see areas of the performance envelope that are less successful. This isn't one of them. It reminds me of a handful of new models over the last 15+ years that were truly, truly well resolved out of the box. The team had done its homework, and put in the overtime—and it showed in a car more brilliant than most.
Surprisingly (too?) civilized on the road, shockingly capable on track is becoming a tired refrain, but it's true here—and the track performance gap is bigger with this RS than in the past. There's still very much an edge, though—if I lost concentration for even a moment or hesitated over one of the blind rises, I fell way back in the hardly slow lead-follow laps, and Bilster Berg becomes monumentally trickier when you lose the lead car. Any temptation to start over-driving resulted in two things: Over-driving, and a recollection of words spoken earlier..."this place has consequences." Still, what a cool, cool track. Even so, I would love to try the RS at Laguna, Sears, or Thunderhill....
My take? Those of you with RSs on the way will not be disappointed.
pete
05-26-2015, 03:39 PM
#154
Rennlist Member
Thanks Pete 
It reads like they built if for Sebring :-)
Bilsterberg is on my list after the big tracks.
Is it still worth going you think, or just keep piling on Spa days?
It reads like they built if for Sebring :-)
Bilsterberg is on my list after the big tracks.
Is it still worth going you think, or just keep piling on Spa days?
05-26-2015, 04:15 PM
#155
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I'm still working through my thoughts and observations on the 991 RS, but as to the lack of significant criticism so far: There are many new Porsches in which—even on the press launch—you can see areas of the performance envelope that are less successful. This isn't one of them. It reminds me of a handful of new models over the last 15+ years that were truly, truly well resolved out of the box. The team had done its homework, and put in the overtime—and it showed in a car more brilliant than most.
You're ride along with Jorge is by far the best video out at the moment. You should post it up on YouTube if you haven't already so those without a FB account can view.
BTW, did they have base GT3 there for comparison? Assume no as I haven't seen it mentioned.
05-26-2015, 05:10 PM
#156
Rennlist Member
Bilster Berg is a hoot—like the lovechild of an endless autocross, Sears Point, and a great back road. Wait, was that three parents? Others call it a mini-Nordschliefe. Whatever, I dug it. I'd want to know a car before really attacking it. Listening to Jörg lift in his video is extremely telling when it comes to the crests.
pete
05-26-2015, 05:12 PM
#157
Rennlist Member
Personally not expecting much in the way of criticisms; looking forward to the critical analysis.
You're ride along with Jorge is by far the best video out at the moment. You should post it up on YouTube if you haven't already so those without a FB account can view.
BTW, did they have base GT3 there for comparison? Assume no as I haven't seen it mentioned.
You're ride along with Jorge is by far the best video out at the moment. You should post it up on YouTube if you haven't already so those without a FB account can view.
BTW, did they have base GT3 there for comparison? Assume no as I haven't seen it mentioned.
No plain 991 GT3s there, but I arranged one to spend time in shortly before I left as a refresher course.
pete
05-26-2015, 07:11 PM
#158
Rennlist Member
Pete. Good to hear your first hand impressions.
I just watched Jorgs video with you and it looks like a fast track compared to what we have down under and long too. Our average track is 3.4km and in a 991 GT3 you will break 200kmph once (but get close to touching it a few times) with a Vmax around 240kmph. Looks wonderfully technical. We have a similar rack in the South Island - its new and called Highlands.
I just watched Jorgs video with you and it looks like a fast track compared to what we have down under and long too. Our average track is 3.4km and in a 991 GT3 you will break 200kmph once (but get close to touching it a few times) with a Vmax around 240kmph. Looks wonderfully technical. We have a similar rack in the South Island - its new and called Highlands.
05-26-2015, 07:28 PM
#160
Rennlist Member
Highlands is about as big as it gets in NZ although the owner Tony Quinn just bought our local track Hampton Downs which is fairly new and will complete the extension bring it to a similar length as Highlands in a few years time. We do pretty well given a population of 4.5million we have 9 tracks spread throughout the country I guess. In the 991 GT3 there is only one track you exceed 200kmph more than once although you get close at Hamptons you only get 200+ on the front straight. The tracks in Europe and USA can be much faster.
