by John Glynn | Dec 18, 2012 | Porsche News, Project Cars
I spent today in a Porsche technical workshop, gathering feature ideas and furthering my technical knowledge. Porsche mechanics, Andy, Chris, Danny, Mike and Ricky have plenty of experience to share, and there was lots going on.
One project caught my eye. A customer had brought his 996 GT3 RS in to check pulling to the left after the all-important suspension geometry had been set elsewhere. The problem was enough to have the owner on the verge of selling the car, as he found it almost undriveable.
First job was to road test the car. The steering wheel was off centre, tyres were rubbing on the front arches when pressing on and the front ride heights were too low. One normally innocuous bump on the test route was enough to bottom out the dampers and send the car way off track.
Getting the car up on the Hunter alignment ramp, Ricky checked fuel level, front weight and tyre pressures. Then the Hunter wheel clamps were attached, which carry 3D targets to set the geometry up to the wheel centres. Without knowing that the target is centred, all measurements will be off.
I’ve had my E36 M3 measured on this ramp so I know how good it is. It was fascinating to watch the readings being calculated and to see what had been done to the car to get it so far wrong, with camber & castor different side to side up front, and the rear wheels toeing out unevenly. No idea why anyone would set a 911 to toe out but we’ll cover this issue of geometry in a future issue of Ferdinand, as it’s super fascinating if you’re into fast road or track driving.
Underneath a 996 GT3 RS learning about what’s adjustable and why you would adjust it is a pretty cool place to be. No doubt they’ve got their issues, but I remain convinced that standard 996s will assume classic status one day. For the GT3 RS, those days are already here. They just look better and better!
by John Glynn | Dec 12, 2012 | Porsche News, Porsche People
Porsche has acquired a 9,000 metre site for a new training centre at its Zuffenhausen factory in Stuttgart.
Expected to host 500 of what Porsche calls ‘career entrants’, the new centre will encompass “all technical and commercial professions and courses of studies of the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University”. Alongside a training workshop to focus on the latest technologies, the facility provides training rooms and office space. The centre will also host further training for employees working outside production.
This facility will replace Porsche’s current training centre, which the company has now outgrown. The huge sales growth and associated production rises planned for the next few years will mean upping the apprentice count by 50%, not to mention keeping its existing and additional workforce up to speed.
“[Porsche] can meet the impending shortage of skilled workers only by offering more and better training,” saus Uwe Hück, Chairman of the Group Works Council. “We have now achieved an increase in the number of apprentices from 100 to 150 per year, which will all be taken on for an indefinite period. The new training centre permits Porsche to meet its social responsibilities. I can only say this is an excellent decision for the youth – and for Porsche.”
A secondary aim of the project is to improve Porsche’s urban landscape. The centre is part of a larger development to better arrange the Porsche plant structure. Porsche says the current arrangement was shaped by the difficult conditions of the past decades: the aerial picture up top shows the full layout. I find it charming with everything gathered around the original Werks, but charming is not the Porsche way.
by John Glynn | Dec 8, 2012 | Porsche News, Race and Rally
Porsche has just given a brand new 991 Carrera S to the man it calles ‘the best private Porsche driver in the world’. And he’s from Great Britain.
Following his first full season in international GT racing, twenty eight year-old Nick Tandy can celebrate winning the Porsche Cup as the best private driver in the world. On the occasion of the Night of Champions on 8 December in the R&D Centre at Weissach, Nick Tandy received the Porsche Cup from Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, the Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Porsche AG.
The Porsche Cup carries a total value of €253,000. Drivers earn points in eighteen Grand Touring and prototype race series worldwide, as well as selected long distance races. Entering the season as reigning Carrera Cup Deutschland champion – no mean feat in itself – Nick raced International GT Open with Marco Holzer in the Manthey GT3 RSR, in a 911 GT3 R in ADAC GT Masters, in ALMS for Flying Lizard and TRG, and in a GT3 R in the British GT Championship.
Part of the prize was a new Porsche 911 Carrera S, after the Briton scored the grand total of 7,510 points across his season. Second-place Raymond Narac received €30,000, while third man Paolo Ruberti went home with €25,000.
Tandy’s story is an emotional one – more of that later – so a big well done on this marvellous achievement. When the flag drops, the bullshit stops: a few racing critics out there might do well to remember that.
by John Glynn | Dec 7, 2012 | Porsche News, New Models, Race and Rally
Porsche Motorsport has just sent over this teaser pic of a new 991 race car with its nose sticking out of a garage. It’s a very small view of next year’s big deal, but still creates some excitement.
This new 991 racecar is showing GT3 R-style/Cup Car bodywork: quite a bit narrower than the Porsche 991 RSR spy shots we revealed a few days ago. The rear shot attracted the most likes ever on the burgeoning Ferdinand Porsche Mag Facebook page, with almost 600 thumbs to its credit so far. Here’s some video of the new 991 in action:
Stuttgart is starving us of technical details for the 2013 Cup car and RSR programmes, but we’ll share what we learn as it comes along.
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![Works Porsche 991 RSR at Le Mans & World Endurance]()
by John Glynn | Nov 30, 2012 | Porsche News, Race and Rally
Porsche has just announced it will race its 991 GT3 RSR (sexy spy shots) at Le Mans and in the 2013 World Endurance Championship.
For the 2013 racing season, Porsche AG will field two new GT racecars based on the newest generation of the Porsche 911 at the Le Mans 24 hour race and in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
The two new Porsche 911 RSR(s), which race in the GTE category, will be run by Porsche AG Team Manthey. The role of team manager goes to the experienced endurance specialist Olaf Manthey, who has celebrated five overall wins with Porsche at the Nürburgring 24 hour race, and recently fielded a 911 GT3 RSR in the International GT Open.
“The new 911 RSR is currently being developed by our engineers and tested by our works drivers,” says Porsche Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen. “What better time could there be to introduce the new car than the Porsche 911’s 50th anniversary?”
This is a very exciting development for fans of Porsche Motorsport. World Endurance saw some great 911 wins in the wet last year, but we were usually caned by a faster Ferrari in the dry – Bahrain WEC was one exception. Bring it on now, Maranello!
A few dry wins won’t do sales of the standard 991, or upcoming 991 GT3 and Turbo road cars any harm, either. Good stuff!
by John Glynn | Nov 17, 2012 | New Models, Porsche News
The new Porsche Cayman has been scooped ahead of its LA Show launch later this month. An Instagrammer in an Atlanta warehouse caught it hiding out. Lights are disguised but you get the picture. Follow Ferdinand Magazine on Instagram as @CultofPorsche.
