NEW PORSCHE GT4 ON SHOW AT THE BEND

New Porsche GT4 on display at The Bend – Photo: Supplied

Porsche Cars Australia has taken the covers off the new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport at The Bend Motorsport Park.

The latest GT4 specification car for Porsche has made its debut in Australia following its world premiere back in January 2019 at the Daytona 24 Hours.

For the first time, the mid-engined race car comes in two versions from the Porsche Motorsport factory. The “Trackday” model for enthusiast amateur racing drivers who enjoy Australian track days and would like to campaign the car in several state-based racing series.

The second is the “Competition” variant designed for national and international competition, allowing local drivers to contest the Australian GT Championship GT4 Class and Bathurst 12 Hour (GT4 class).

In developing the new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, the focus was not only on improving the driveability and performance of its predecessor but also on the sustainable use of raw materials in its development. The 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport is the first-ever production race car to feature body parts made of natural-fibre composite material.

As a result, the driver and co-driver doors and the rear wing are made of an organic fibre mix, sourced primarily from agricultural by-products such as flax or hemp fibres and feature similar properties to carbon fibre in terms of weight and stiffness.

Powering the 718 GT4 Clubsport is a 3.8-litre flat-six engine producing 313kW (425hp). Compared to its predecessor, this represents a 30kW (40hp) increase in performance. Power is transferred to the rear wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch transmission with a mechanical rear-axle differential lock.

The lightweight spring-strut front suspension is taken from its big 911 GT3 Cup brother. The impressive racing brake system features steel brake discs all round measuring 380mm in diameter. The lightweight 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport tips the scales at a mere 1,320kgs and is delivered from factory with a welded-in safety cage, a racing bucket seat as well as a six-point harness.

The “Track day” version is aimed at amateur drivers who want to take part in private track and clubsport events features a fixed shock absorber setup, ABS brakes, ESC and traction control assistance systems ensure forgiving handling at the limit. The traction assistance can be deactivated if desired. Further factory fitted features include: an air-conditioning system, a rescue hatch in the roof, a handheld fire-extinguisher and an 80-litre FT3 safety fuel cell.

While each vehicle is built to order based on the customer’s requirements, the “Competition” model features a raft of details relevant for competition racing. The shock absorbers can be adjusted in three stages, while the safety fuel tank has a capacity of 115 litres and was developed for long-distance events. Thanks to a brake balance system, the balance bias can be infinitely adjusted between the front and rear axle.

An integrated air jack system guarantees fast pit stops, while the quick-release racing steering wheel adopted from the 911 GT3 R ensures a range of adjustment options for the individual needs of the drivers. An automatic fire extinguishing system adds another safety feature for the racetrack.

“The new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport possesses significantly more racing genes than its successful predecessor,” said Fritz Enzinger, Porsche’s head of motorsport.

“The power of the engine has increased considerably. At the same time, we were able to increase the downforce and the cockpit is now even better suited to drivers’ needs.”

The 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport becomes the third racing car Porsche Cars Australia have imported into the country following the 996, 997, 991 and 992 generations of the 911 GT3 Cup Car as well as the Porsche 911 GT3 R.

“While our Porsche PAYCE Carrera Cup Australia and Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge Championships remain our focus in Australia, we see a place in the market for the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport as a track day car and GT4 race car.” said Troy Bundy at the unveiling of the car at The Bend Motorsport Park, Porsche Cars Australia’s Head of Motorsport.

“The 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport is an ideal track day car for graduates of Level 5 of our Porsche Track Experience, who may be keen to do more track days and state-based racing before moving up the Porsche Motorsport pyramid into Porsche Michelin GT3 Cup Challenge.”

All 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport customers will enjoy full parts support and each vehicle can be serviced at Porsche Centres across Australia.

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