Test bench | Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS: on the track

(Willow Springs, California) With the 718 Cayman GT4 RS, Porsche revisits its past and proves that the passion for automobiles has not died.

eric lefrancois
special collaboration

Time Machine

The 911? Porsche and her followers only have eyes for her. That’s probably why he has never seriously cared for another sportswoman from the house of Stuttgart. Not this time. By adding the RS (RennSport) signature to the 718, the German manufacturer revives a name that, long before the 911, would establish its reputation in motorsport.

When we talk about transfers from the world of racing, it is mainly about work methodology and materials (that’s why these cars are so expensive).

Following in the footsteps of motorsport, the designers have adorned the GT4 RS with elegantly integrated aerodynamic appendages carefully considered to increase downforce (for grip) and drag (for top speed). As in a real racing car, both the front diffusers and the rear wing are fully adjustable to achieve the desired balance depending on the route. And the tuning options don’t stop there. You can also change the lean angle and toe-in of the suspensions. You’re a pilot and a good tuner, right?

Plagued with small and large openings, the body favors both the flow of air and the cooling of the mechanics. The latter on paper looks in all respects identical to the 911 GT3. This is not entirely true. The engine manufacturers had to make several modifications to accommodate it in the central part of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS. It was necessary to review the positioning of several accessories, including the piping and the pump of the dry sump system. Ultimately there is a slight power deficit compared to a 911 GT3 due to the exhaust scooping.

concert for two

From the very beginning, in fact, you can feel this two-seater alive in all its members. The engine rumbles. Add in the swirling air and tire rolling noise, and here you are at the heart of an orchestra that has no problem being heard! The manly-type chassis communicates its slightest reactions, which also helps make it exciting to master.

Impressions confirmed by the showdown on the track, where we were able to test it. Because it generates significant downforce, the GT4 RS is a “human-sized” racing car that feels strong yet controllable to drive and is within the reach of a well-trained hobbyist. For even more thrills, Porsche offers the Weissach package and expensive magnesium wheels to reduce unsprung weight. These have a definite impact on road holding, provide greater steering sensitivity and allow for more radical trajectory changes.

Agile, endowed with amazing traction and quick, precise steering, the GT4 RS reveals its formidable potential in just a few laps. With turns, trust is established and the pleasure it brings continues to intensify as we learn to harness the extraordinary gifts it communicates to us. She only asks that you let yourself treat yourself.

It’s no surprise… thankfully

Furthermore, his main quality is perhaps precisely the fact that he never surprises you. Impeccably balanced, without inertia, the chassis shows exemplary stability in all phases of driving, including the most critical. It is not necessary to invoke braking, very efficient, especially if it consists of carbon-ceramic brakes (an option).

To avoid big mistakes and warn the pilot that he runs the risk of crossing the limits of sanity, a battery of electronic equipment allows the shot to be corrected in the event of a small pilot error.

That said, you do need to be careful to calm your enthusiasm when driving on wet surfaces, especially with the Michelin Pilot Cup 2 Rs on them. They are real bars of soap in the rain. If, on the other hand, the road is clear, dry and very hot, the cavalry of this Porsche can mount an assault.

The seven reports are intertwined at a constant rhythm, we discover with disbelief that the needle of the revolution counter touches, without even failing, the 9000 revolutions. We calm down. Fortunately, you don’t have to become a public danger to appreciate the thrust of its mechanics, both majestic and creepy. In itself, its inimitable metallic acoustics are already a delight… at short distances.

But the 718 Cayman GT4 RS does not only have qualities. Its suspensions, mounted on stiff joints, allow very little travel, especially if the travel is reduced to shambles, like on the streets of Montreal. And what about its front fairing that, despite the presence of jacks to lift it, forces you to approach speed bumps diagonally with extreme caution, at the risk of ripping everything out. You just have to adapt your driving style.

Hosting costs related to this report were paid by Porsche Canada.

Data sheet

Engine

• H6 DOHC 4L Naturally Aspirated
• Power: 493 hp at 8400 rpm
• Torque: 331 pound-feet at 6,750 rpm

Performance

• Weight: 1464kg
• Acceleration (0-100km/h): 3.4s
• Top speed: 315km/h

Gearbox

• Standard: 7-speed dual-clutch automatic
• Optional: none
• Driving mode: powered

tires

• 245/35ZR20 – 295/30ZR20

Tank capacity and recommended fuel

Dimensions

• Wheelbase: 2484mm
• Length: 4455mm
• Height: 1267mm
• Width: 1,821mm (excluding exterior mirrors)

Back to F1

Win on Sunday, to sell better on Monday. This is the motivation that, since its inception, has driven the automobile industry to participate in car racing. At the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit next weekend, five manufacturers will seek to establish this correlation between Formula 1 and the production cars they want for us. And, without a doubt, Porsche will do the same in 2026, the year of its return to the premier discipline where, as a manufacturer, it made a lightning step during the 1962 season with the American driver Dan Gurney (our photo).

The hunting of pounds

“Weight is the enemy. This quote uttered by Émile Mathis in 1932, but mistakenly attributed to Colin Chapman, was probably written in its entirety at the top of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS specifications. To reduce its mass, the designers opted for carbon fiber bucket seats (-13 kg), but also a polycarbonate bezel instead of glass (-1.7 kg). Finally, this two-seater has been lightened by 32.6 kg, and we offer the possibility (optional) to make you lose an additional 26.9 kg.