ParadiseGT3

Kindly requesting current feedback from the Rennlist braintrust, humor a guy in his midlife crisis Porsche racecar need… Some background info:

Long-term HPDE'r, fortunate enough to have driven numerous street-based platforms worth driving on track, front-, mid-, and rear-engine. The zenith of those experiences unquestionably being 991.2 GT3 & RS over the past 4+ years.

But I have a blast in just about anything provided it's responsive to driver inputs, consistent & predictable. Stripped out E36 M3, hot hatch, GT3 RS, traction control on or off, whatever, I'm in. Love learning & then managing variable vehicle dynamics.

I have spent and continue to spend (far too many) hundreds of hours on a "professional grade" motion sim, driving just about everything available on iRacing, from MX5 Cup to LMP2. But I find myself gravitating most to 991.2/992 Cup, GT4 & GT3 classes. The idea of vehicle syncing real world and sim would be too cool…

In virtual much the same as real world, I'm most interested in performance driving & lap times as a personal challenge. On iRacing I do Time Attack far more often than racing. My ideal track day is just me and the track, no traffic, uninterrupted laps, challenging myself for times and/or consistency. (I have no idea if this will ever transition to racing, perhaps some club racing, probably alongside my son.)

What I have yet to experience in the real world is a Porsche factory racecar. I've also never run slicks, always dual-purpose tires.

So, ready to make the jump. Eyeing 981 or 718 Clubsport or 991.2 Cup. Flexible on acquisition budget across that range. Aware of running costs thanks to Rennlist. Aside from some history with 3 way damper adjustments, basic brake work, I'm mechanically useless but have awesome shop support.

Will be keeping 991.2 GT3 for street & occasional long distance track days.

What I want is something that's going to challenge me, wear me out, kick my a**, make me call it quits before the car or components do. I'd emulate full length GT4 & Cup races/stints, if I could. And with maximum safety. Assume all of the options fit that criteria.

Rational starter choice seems like it would be 981, but would it be possible to be underwhelmed by that platform given street GT3/RS history?

Would very much value feedback from guys who have run any or all of the options, maybe moved between them and have a favorite, coming from street-based GT cars. Intended primary venue to live out this midlife crisis will be Sebring, year-round. Thanks

Veloce Raptor

If it were me, my first leap would be to the Clubsport. 981 will be less expensive to buy, but many of those cars are quite tired. So I'd go 718. Getting everything out of that platform on full slicks (Pirelli/Michelin/Yoko) is harder than most think, even those coming from a more powerful GT3/RS street platform on track. Learning set up, brake bias, rotation, precision, etc is a great first step. Then, when you can get close to race-winning lap times, maybe make the transition to the Cup, which is both more capable and more brutal

I adore them both, but they are very different

Mike Roblin

Have you considered a 996 Cup? Extremely rewarding to drive and if driven well you can be sub 2:15 at Sebring.

Veloce Raptor

Also spot-on!

ParadiseGT3

I remember from your posts how fun & challenging the 996 looks. I hadn't gone back quite that far, but was just taking a look at a 997 @ Isringhausen the other day.

I think pre-991/981/718 my mechanical paranoia sets in. I'm hoping for something I can count on a couple of times/month, although I'd have my 991.2 street to fall back on...

Also thinking paddles, and then there is that sim to real world sync that is super nerdy and appealing. I'd have to be in a 991.2 Cup or 718 Clubsport to make that happen.

LuigiVampa

Why a 991.2 over a 991.1? I think a .1 is the best bang for the buck right now.

ParadiseGT3

Good question, thanks

ParadiseGT3

Definitely like all of this as a new knowledge & dynamics challenge to my street GT3.

RossP

If you want an intermediate step, I would suggest the 718 Clubsport Competition. It has factory race car performance/limits but with slightly less running costs due to the motor and PDK from the GT4. Driven well its as fast as a 996/997 cup but with more modern tech, interior, safety etc.

LuigiVampa

About four years ago when I was selling my GTB1 car I was deciding whether to buy a Clubsport or go to a GT3 Cup.

Here is my conclusion - A Clubsport is a really cool Cayman and a GT3 Cup is a proper race car.

OK, let me have it, but that's the way I feel.

RossP

Eh, I can kinda see your argument since the Clubsport runs a street car engine and trans. Lots of guys go directly to a cup at least in part because of this perspective. The flipside though is that the GT4 Clubsport is a factory race car from Porsche, no title, etc. You retub it just like a cup, you can only buy it through Porsche motorsports etc.

OP Ive had my CS for 2 years and plan to jump into a 992 Cup next year. All of the time in the clubsport has definitely helped my progression/pace in preparation of that next step.

sonorous

I have never driven a Cup car, so I can't give that perspective. I did move from a street 4.5L GT4 to a 981 Clubsport for track work and did not miss a thing. The Clubsport is way more raw feeling than any street car and has higher corner speeds thanks to the suspension and slicks. It also has less running costs than a Cup car. I would recommend to find a clean 981 (they do still exist but are harder to find) or 718 and start there. Worst case, you can upgrade to a Cup car later if you want that experience. But if the Clubsport give's you what you want, you will be all set!

P.S. I do always have to throw in a recommendation for a ND2 MX-5 Global Cup. The Sadev makes that car so fun to drive. It is my favorite car to drive and race. YMMV

ParadiseGT3

I don't doubt it, but that would be far too rational for a midlife crisis

Thanks all, great thoughts

ParadiseGT3

fwiw 991.2/992 Cups are my favorite on the sim. No abs, no traction control, a proper driver challenge and as much of a workout as you'll get in the virtual world

sonorous

Haha, I get it, believe me, however, there is nothing rational about the amount of entry speed you have to carry in a ND2 to be fast and competitive. I am still not there, but it is a fun journey!