Here’s a question for you, Which is faster, a Porsche or a plane? In a publicity stunt seemingly pulled from the scripts of SPEED TV’s “Pinks All Out”, The Changi GP Festival (the events leading up the the F1 Grand Prix in Singapore) will attempt to answer the question at Changi Airport.
The original story I read, in Singapore’s Straits Times , mentioned a a 2010 Porsche GT3 to be pitted against a jet engined cargo plane to promote the launch of the race-ready Porsche (not to mention some much needed entertainment at the otherwise extremely conservative airport). Trust me, I’ve flown in and out of Changi more times than I care to remember and the most excitement I ever saw there was some young girl trying to hide her gum as we passed through customs. Singapore’s a very conservative country where you can get cained for chewing gum and the entry visas remind you that the punishment for smuggling drugs (almost any kind of drug) is death.
But I digress. The publicity stunt promotion will actually consist of Porsche Carrera Cup car based on Porsche’s most powerful naturally aspirated production model (the GT3 with 435 hp) drag racing against a Jett8 747-200F cargo plane as it prepares to take off. While the event does coincide with the Asian Launch of the 2010 Porsche GT3, it is set-up as part of the larger and overall month long motorsport madness leading up to the Singapore F1.
Don’t think it’s a fair match? Not so fast. According to aviation literature, a fully loaded 747 reaches a ground speed of around 189mph in about 20 seconds or so, before it lifts off from the runway: The production GT3 has a top speed of 194 MPH. That gives the Porsche a thin margin to nose in front of the 747’s cockpit before it lifts off from the runway. The question is, how fast can it get there? The cargo plane will not be loaded in this exercise of speed.
The latest production GT3, packing 430Nm of torque that can be put to good use via a six-speed manual gearbox, reaches 60mph in 4.0 seconds flat and will see 125mph in 12.3 seconds. Its 3.8-liter engine hits the redline at 8,500rpm. While the GT3 is not Porsche’s fastest production street car, neither is the 747 the fastest plane around (in the air, it reaches a top speed of 594mph).
The outcome of the showdown rests largely on 27-year-old Yuey Tan, the newest and youngest driver at the Singapore leg of this year’s Porsche Carrera Cup. Here’s what I want to know? Are they racing for Pinks???
I spend a good amount of time reading through news alerts and other items of interest looking for things to pass along here on PorschePurist. For the most part, the information is generally main stream and covers new car introductions, motorsport, various lifestyle issues, Porsche related car shows, etc. etc. Occasionally, something pops up that is so out of the ordinary, so “left of center” that I can’t resist posting about it. This story, while leaning a bit toward garish, is no different.
According the the Herald Sun (an Australian Newspaper) the victim, Victor Pierce, was shot to death while sitting in his car. The accused, Andrew “Benji” Veniamin, apparently drove up next to Pierce’s parked car and fired multiple shots into the driver’s side window, killing Pierce almost instantly.
Prior to setting out on his dastardly deed, Veniamin made the decision not to drive his silver Porsche to the “hit”. Not only would the Porsche help to identify him, but more importantly his vanity plate “HOTSHOT” was too memorable and somehow morbidly apropos.
While this first video starts off a little slow, it does have it all; a compilation of all the other videos below. So, if you watch just one, this is it. However, I would highly recommend you take a look at each of them. Even though some of the footage repeats from video to video it is minimal and there are some amazing cars and shots included in each one.
Monterey Video Compilation
About 50 seconds in, make sure you have the volume turned up and then get ready; Included is footage of the historic races, some of Porsche’s most famous and important race cars, interviews with Michael Mauer (designer of the Panamera), thoughts from Klaus Bishoff (head of Porsche’s rolling museum) and Porsches at Pebble Beach.
My favorite quote from the video, “To drive an RS 60 Spyder is a very good feeling. If you drive a 550 Spyder you’ll feel a little bit like James Dean but with the RS 60 it was a real race car and it make you happy!”
By now, most of you are aware that the recently unveiled Porsche 2010 Turbo not only received a much anticipated facelift, but is also available with their optional double clutch gearbox (PDK). Porsche, however, has a habit of announcing new cars and products that focus on a certain subject while hiding sliding other important information into the body of the press release (as an example, they released pictures of the Panamera’s interior shots and in that release had the much awaited pricing information). The announcement about the 2010 Porsche Turbo with PDK was no different. Yes, it’s fantastic news that the Turbo will now have PDK as an option (and as a result Sports Chrono and Launch Control). What’s of even more interest to me is the following:
Models equipped with PDK are also available with a new, optional three-spoke steering wheel with gearshift paddles as an alternative to the standard steering wheel with its proven shift buttons. Fitted firmly on the steering wheel, the right paddle is for shifting up, the left paddle for shifting down.
That’s right, paddle shifters. It seems like Porsche has been listening to its customers and product reviewers. While I really enjoy the PDK and am amazed at how well it works, the standard PDK steering wheel buttons just aren’t intuitive and with my large hands I’m repeatedly making unintended shifts.
While I’m sure this new option will makes its way down the food chain to the rest of the 911 family, you never can tell. At this point, I can’t wait for the opportunity to try these new shifters both on and off the track. For now, I’ll have to be content with an edited version of Porsche’s promotional video.
I spent part of the day today looking through my library and realized that my Porsche section has grown quite nicely over the last couple of years. As a result, I have reviewed a number of Porsche related books here on PorschePurist.com. I thought I would use today’s post to provide you with a list of my more favorite reviews and links on how to purchase them. This way, if you’re interested in a book for your own library you can get an objective opinion before making your own purchase. After looking through my library I realized I have a number of books still left to review, so stay tuned for some upcoming reviews on both new and old Porsche related books.
If you’re not able to keep up with each Porsche Motorsport post here on PorschePurist.com and would prefer a brief synopsis of what’s happening in the world of Porsche Motorsport, there is no better way to stay in touch than by reviewing the monthly Porsche Motorsport Newsletter. Filled with interesting facts and figures about past and upcoming races, along with changes to team and crew, the Porsche Motorsport Newsletter is an easy way to keep up-to-date on this year’s racing activities.
BF Goodrich Long Distance Championship: Six hour hat-trick for Manthey
After 950 kilometres on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, Manthey Racing celebrated their third straight overall win at the 6-hour ADAC Ruhrpokal Race (18 July). Arno Klasen, Marc Lieb and Marcel Tiemann drove a 911 GT3 RSR to the eleventh Porsche win at this classic. Third place went to Oliver Kainz/Frank Schmickler in the 911 GT3 Cup of Mühlner Motorsport.
Japanese Super GT: Flawless balance for Hankook-Porsche
Two starts, two wins – that’s the balance of the Hankook Porsche team in the Japanese Super GT Series. After their first success in Suzuka (19 April), Mitsuhiro Kinoshita and Masami Kageyama managed another victory with a 911 GT3 RSR at the 300 kilometre race in Sportsland Sugo (26 July), after the Porsche had fallen back to fifth place in the field on intermediate tyres in the rain.
Italian GT Championship: Porsche drivers lead in all classes
At round seven of the Campionato Italiano GT in Misano (18 July), Sascha Maassen and Francisco Cruz-Martins, in Autorlando Sport’s 911 GT3 RSR, celebrated their fourth win of the season and came second in the eighth race, six-hundredths of a second shy of the winners. With this, they defended their lead in the top GT2 class. Gianluca De Lorenzi and Stefano Borghi lead the GT3 class, with Cédric Sbirrazzuoli and Alberto Brambati as points’ leaders in the GT Cup class.
Belgian GT Championship: Oil patch, rain showers and two podium results
Bert Longin and Francois Verbist demonstrated their driving skills in the 911 GT3 Cup S of First Motorsport at the eighth round of the Belgian GT Championship in Spa (12 July). Running with the front pack, Verbist hit a patch of oil, the Porsche successfully slalomed around spinning rivals, but he lost 20 seconds. After the driver change, Bert Longin showed what he had learned as a motocross pilot, bringing the 911 in rain from the backfield to claim second, repeating the result of round seven from the previous day.
Eifel and Wartburg Rally: 911 GT3 beats 4WD opponents
On partly wet special stages, Olaf Dobberkau and his co-driver Alexandra König beat even the 4WD opponents with a 911 GT3 at the Eifel Rally (17/18 July) and secured their second win in the German Rally Championship. On the first August weekend at the ADAC Rally Wartburg (German Rally Series) the pair pocketed their third straight win.
Race notes:
For Porsche racers and friends worldwide Porsche France organises the “Festival Porsche 2009” on 19 and 20 September on the Circuit Paul Ricard near Toulon. More information: www.festivalporsche.fr
Interesting for Porsche and Design fans: On 19 August as part of the RM Sports & Classics in Monterey, California, the Troy Lee custom-designed 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR “Art Car” raced by Flying Lizard Motorsports in Le Mans will be auctioned.
Second place for Patrick Pilet and Raymond Narac at the third Le Mans Series round in Portugal’s Portimao (2 August) in an IMSA Performance Matmut 911 GT3 RSR. Bad luck for Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz (Felbermayr-Proton team): They were caught up in an accident at the start which saw them finish in eighth place and cost the winners of the first two races their points’ lead.
After ranking fifth at the eighth round of the Grand-Am Sportscar Series in Birmingham, Alabama (19 July) and second in Watkins Glen (8 August), Dirk Werner and Leh Keen remain on the title course with a 911 GT3 Cup of Farnbacher Loles.
Wins number four and five as well as the clear championship lead for Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long in a 911 GT3 RSR of Flying Lizard Motorsports at races five and six in the American Le Mans Series in Lime Rock (18 July) and Mid-Ohio (8 August). Impressive debut by Greg Pickett and Klaus Graf (Cytosport team): With their Porsche RS Spyder they netted second place in the LMP2 category and fourth in the overall classification.
Porsche One Make Race Series:
The seventh round of the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup on the Nürburgring (12 July) went to René Rast, who went on the claim his third straight win two weeks later in Budapest. Two new races to conclude the season at the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi enhance the calendar.
Local heroes prove unbeatable: On his home track in the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben at the fifth round of the Carrera Cup Deutschland (2 August), 23-year-old Jan Seyffarth (tolimit/Seyffarth-Motorsport) left his rivals no chance. Two weeks before, Jeroen Bleekemolen had won the fourth round on the Dutch Zandvoort circuit, just a stone’s throw from his parents’ house.
The package for the 2010 Carrera Cup Great Britain is tied up with 20 races as support to the British Touring Car Championship on the calendar. On 2 August specialist Tim Harvey won at races eleven and twelve in Snetterton and snatched the lead in the championship back from Tim Bridgman.
Prior to the seven week summer break, Alessandro Balzan (Ebimotors Centro Porsche) confirmed his role as leader at the first night race in the history of the Carrera Cup Italia in Misano (18 July) with the second win of the season. Luca Rangoni (Centro Porsche Brescia by RM), as his toughest rival, responded with his third win of the season at heat two of the weekend (19 July).
The Sportsland Sugo in the subtropical north of the island Honshu was the stage for arguably the hottest Porsche race in the world on the last weekend of July (25/26). With a track temperature of over 50 degrees Celsius, Y. Nakamura won races six and seven of the Carrera Cup Japan, putting an end to the success streak of the five-time winner Y. Shimizu, and promptly took over the points’ lead.
Half time in the Carrera Cup Scandinavia and it’s a three-way fight. Cralle Lindholm ranks first four points ahead of Tony Rickardsson, who lies three points ahead of the reigning champion Jocke Mangs.
The crash involving four race cars at the second of three races of the GT3 Cup Challenge Australia on the Eastern Creek Raceway (18/19 July) was “… a chain reaction from a massive pack of 19 GT3 cars all trying to get through turn two at the same time whilst fighting for the same piece of real estate,” said the press office of the race series. No one was hurt. Matt Kingsley secured maximum points from races one and three and further extended his points’ lead with two more wins in Morgan Park (8/9 August).
Stefan Wendt (tolimit Motorsport) claimed victory in Oschersleben and on the Eurospeedway in the GT3 Cup Challenge Deutschland.
Front-runner Bob Faieta won race five of the Patrón GT3 Challenge in Autobahn Country Club (Chicago, 25 July). Martin Snow, who lies two points behind Faieta, dominated at round six (26 July). Melanie Snow leads the Gold Cup Class.
What’s the difference between a Porsche 911 GT3 and a GT3 RS? The Porsche GT3 is designed for occasional use on the race track while the Porsche GT 3 RS is designed for occasional use on the road. With 3.8 liters, 450 horse power, an 8500 RPM redline, carbon fiber rear wing, titanium exhaust and an optional lithium ion battery, that shaves almost 22 lbs of weight, it’s easy to see why that statement continues to hold true.
Setting the foundation for homologating the race version of the 911 GT3, the 2010 GT3 RS will be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show September 17-27, 2009 and go on sale in the US sometime in the spring of 2010. Want one of these for your favorite stomping grounds? Be prepared to part with at least $132,800 (and that’s before the optional lithium ion battery). The full release from Porsche is below for your reading enjoyment.
Delivering even more engine power, lower weight and shorter transmission ratios, as well as upgraded body and suspension components than all previous GT3s, the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS sets the foundation for homologating the race version of the 911 GT3 and will be introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show September 17-27, 2009.
The heart of the new, uncompromising GT3 RS is the power unit. Like the engine featured in the 911 GT3, the naturally-aspirated RS power unit now displaces 3.8 liters and delivers even more power, while revving up even faster to its 8500 rpm redline. It now delivers 450 horsepower, 15 more horsepower than its 911 GT3 counterpart. Even with a specific output of more than 118 hp per liter from the six-cylinder boxer engine, the power unit in the new GT3 RS remains fully suitable for everyday use.
The new 911 GT3 RS comes exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox optimized for short gearshift travel, low weight and high efficiency. To enhance the level of performance throughout the entire range of engine and road speed, the transmission comes with shorter ratios than found in the 911 GT3, deliberately conceding an even higher potential top track speed.
Dynamic engine mounts are standard and serve to improve the car’s handling to an even higher level. Depending on driving conditions, the mounts change in their stiffness and damping effect, improving the connection between the engine and the body when driving under very lively conditions, yet allow for more comfortable conditions during everyday street use.
Porsche is also introducing another new option in 2010 for the GT3 RS, a lithium-ion battery. Delivered with the car and, when replacing the conventional lead-acid battery, it reduces the weight by more than 10 kg or 22 lb and is mainly intended for the track.
To further improve its sporting behavior, the new 911 GT3 RS comes with a purpose-built and specially set up PASM suspension, a wider front and rear track and corresponding bodywork.
The front axle comes with nine-inch-wide wheels running on 245/35 ZR 19 sports tires while the rear axle features twelve-inch-wide wheels incorporating 325/30 ZR 19 sports tires.
The new 911 GT3 RS shows its close connection to motorsport through its dynamic looks, in particular by its low ride height, the new, extra large carbon-fiber rear wing and titanium exhaust system.
The 2010 911 GT3 RS goes on sale in the U.S. in early spring of 2010 and will be priced at $132,800.
[Source: PCNA]‘, ‘Introducing the 2010 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
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