(2022 – Present) Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport – Ultimate Guide
Where there’s a new Porsche GT road car, a new customer racer based on said road car usually isn’t far behind; the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS is no different. This is the new GT4 RS Clubsport and, as its name suggests, it takes the just-revealed GT4 RS and modifies it into a bona fide turnkey racing car.
Just like the roadgoing GT4 RS, the motor is taken from the 911 GT3—specifically, it’s the same 500-horsepower, naturally-aspirated, 4.0-liter flat-six found in the 911 GT3 Cup car. Revving to 9,000 rpm, this new mill marks a 75 hp bump over the GT4 Clubsport engine while torque sees an increase from 313 pound-feet to the GT4 RS’s 343 pound-feet. Also onboard is a seven-speed PDK transmission that, like the one in the street machine, has had all of its gears shortened.
The Clubsport basically takes all the RS goodies and turns them to 11, starting with the 4.0-liter naturally aspirated flat-six mounted behind the driver, connected to the seven-speed dual-clutch PDK gearbox. Like the RS, the engine has roots with the 911 GT3, though in the Clubsport, it produces 500 horsepower (373 kilowatts) on the dot. That’s an increase of 75 hp (56 kW) from the previous Clubsport, and Porsche also offers two exhaust systems depending on noise requirements at tracks. With the naturally-aspirated mill spinning to 9,000 rpm, it certainly makes a bit of noise.
The engine works with an upgraded suspension system that includes revised damper technology. You get two-way adjustable shocks, adjustable anti-roll bars, adjustable ride height, adjustable camber and toe… basically everything about the suspension is adjustable. Porsche gives the Clubsport three different spring rates, and to corral the power, racing brakes using 15-inch multi-piece rotors are installed. Special programming for Porsche’s Stability Management System focuses on track-attack while including switches for traction and anti-lock brake functions.
Porsche says the GT4 RS Clubsport is FIA-ready right from the factory, and cars are already slated for competition in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the SRO GT4 America and GT America series, starting in 2022.
Official Press Release
17/11/2021
The new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport
Porsche has revealed the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The mid-engined race car from Weissach is based on the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS road car which has also just been unveiled.
The most significant change is the 4.0 litre six-cylinder boxer engine. This high-revving powerplant has been taken directly from the 911 GT3 Cup race car and develops 500 PS in the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport – 75 PS more than the previous GT4 Clubsport model. In addition to many upgraded details, the focus in developing the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport was on further improving overall performance. The standard 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (PDK) fitted to the car now uses all seven forward gears, rather than six. All gears feature shorter ratios than in the previous model. Depending on the track and series-specific regulations, the new 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport can achieve lap times that are over two percent quicker than the previous model. The homologated vehicle is track-ready ex factory and can be used in SRO racing series around the world without further modifications.
Faster lap times and further improvement in driveability
We have incorporated our experience of the last three years of running the previous GT4 Clubsport as well as customer wishes into the development of the new car,“ said Michael Dreiser, Manager of Sales and Distribution at Porsche Motorsport. “Faster lap times combined with a further improvement in driveability offer our customers a competitive product for the upcoming racing seasons in GT4 class racing competitions around the world.“ Porsche began offering the Cayman GT4 Clubsport of the 981 generation in 2016, entering into this new customer racing format early with a competitive car. A total of 421 units were built prior to 2018. The next generation model, which was based on the 718 Cayman GT4, debuted in 2019. It was also an extremely success car, with around 500 units produced to date. One of the reasons for the strong demand for these vehicles is due to the low running costs. The use of well-proven series production technology combined with racing-specific components significantly reduces the costs for customer teams.
The 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport continues this tradition and offers a further improvement in terms of its competitiveness. The 500 PS 4.0 litre six-cylinder boxer engine taken directly from the current 911 GT3 Cup racing car is almost 18 per cent more powerful than the 3.8 litre engine that was used in the previous model. Thanks to an optimised air intake, maximum power is achieved at 8,300 rpm – 800 rpm higher than the previous engine. The new engine revs up to 9,000 rpm. It develops 465 newton metres (Nm) at 6,000 rpm instead of the previous 425 Nm at 6,600 rpm. The result is a much wider usable speed band, which makes driving the car much easier for pro-racers and amateur drivers alike.
Modifications to the chassis have also improved the handling of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport. The damper technology has been revised from the ground up in order to achieve an optimised vehicle responsiveness and a further improvement in body control. This has had a significant impact on the overall performance of the vehicle and handling. Upgrades include the use of two-way adjustable shock absorbers with improved characteristics, in addition to adjustable sword-type anti-roll bars front and rear.
Vehicle height, camber and toe are also adjustable. Furthermore, three different spring rates for front and rear axle are now available. Special NACA ducts in the bonnet are designed to direct the air flow more efficiently to the large racing braking system fitted with 380 millimetre steel brake discs. The Porsche Stability Management System (PSM) is designed specifically for motorsports and includes a switch for traction control (TC), ABS and an updated stability control system.
Excellent aerodynamics ensure precise handling
Excellent aerodynamics ensure that the precise and controllable handling of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport remains well-balanced even in fast curves. Front dive planes and an extended front spoiler lip increase downforce at the front axle. Wheel arch vents in the wings inspired by the 911 GT3 R and air curtains specifically designed to calm the air turbulence around the front wheels, while the fully enclosed underbody optimises air flow to the diffusor at the rear of the car. The swan neck rear wing has now been given a 20 millimetre long Gurney flap and an adjustment range extended by two additional stages.
The previous 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport was the first ever series production race car to use body parts made of renewable natural-fibre composite material. In the case of the new GT4 RS Clubsport, even more extensive use of this material is made in the vehicle as a whole. In addition to the doors and the rear wing, the bonnet, the wings, the aerodynamic components at the front end and the steering wheel are now made of this material. The use of this flax-based fibre as an alternative to carbon fibre composite material can now be tested in motorsports for its use in road cars. Porsche has been using motorsports as a test bed for technology, processes and materials potentially capable of being used in road cars for over 70 years now.
The 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is ready for racing
The 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is equipped to meet all the prerequisites allowing it to compete in racing events directly from the factory. This begins with the welded-in roll cage and the fore and aft adjustable Recaro racing seat, and extends from 2023 compliant six-point racing safety harnesses and safety nets to the fire extinguisher system and the built-in air jack system with three jacks. The new safety foam on the driver’s side meets the international requirements of the SRO racing series.
The FT3 safety fuel cell can take up to 115 litres of fuel, making it suitable for endurance racing. Additionally, Porsche offers two different exhaust systems, allowing the GT4 RS Clubsport to compete at tracks with stricter noise limits. The vehicle is also prepared for the later addition of homologated headlights or openings in the bonnet for fast refueling to enable the car to be converted quickly for nighttime endurance racing.
