PCGB Track Day Oulton Park September 20th.
This was the first event I had attended since giving up driving track driving last month. It was with a tinge of apprehension that I approached the paddock filled with the usual selection of Porsches old and new awaiting the green light to commence the open pit lane sessions. The weather was good, with warm sunshine and a light breeze. My feelings of apprehension were quickly dispelled by the warm welcome received from track day drivers well known to me from previous events. I had taken the decision to pack my safety helmet with the purpose of signing on as a passenger and cadging a lift for a few hot laps with trusted drivers. As it turned out, this was absolutely the right decision.
Upon approaching the pit lane I was greeted with the unexpected sight of a 982 Cayman GT4 Clubsport race car, brought here for a few shake down laps by Porsche GB Motorsport. The driver was none other than the current Carrera Cup GB championship leader Dan Harper. As I am an avid follower of the Carrera Cup races on ITV4, this was an ideal opportunity for me to chat to a professional driver at the sharp end of motorsport competition. Northern Ireland's Dan Harper is only 19 years old and graduated from the 100bhp Ginetta Junior class straight into the 485bhp Carrera Cup GT3 race cars. He is in his second and final year with the Porsche Motorsport Scholarship and is more than justifying his place by leading the overall championship by 44 points. I had a very interesting chat with Dan on his Carrera Cup experiences and also on his impressions of the Cayman GT4 Clubsport. According to Dan, the GT4 Clubsport is the better balanced car and can carry more speed into and through the corners than the GT3 Cup. The GT3 Cup car is of course the faster car overall, but on technical tracks such as Oulton Park and Knockhill, there is not a lot separating the two cars according to lap times. Dan is looking forward to competing in the new GT4 Clubsport championship next year, and the purpose of the shakedown test was to acclimatise himself with the car in preparation for the 2020 race season. It was a pleasure to speak to Dan. My following of the Carrera Cup championship made for easy conversation and he is a very grounded and unassuming guy to speak to. Dan is an amazingly skilled driver for his young years and will certainly be a man to watch in the GT4 Clubsport Championship.
I was lucky enough to gain access to passenger laps in three very different cars. Each of the drivers were already well known to me, Steve Brookes's stock GT4, Chris Whittle's much modified GT4, and last but not least, Kevin Asbridge's remarkable, pristine, 964 LHD Carrera Cup road legal race car from the early 1990's. As it turned out the latter machine proved to be the highlight of my day. Kevin has now retired his Cayman R from track days and only recently purchased the 964 Cup car. It is beautifully prepared, with a stripped out interior, full roll cage, 4-point harness, and lightweight carbon bucket seats. The engine is the ubiquitous air-cooled 3.6 mated to a G50 5 speed gearbox with an uprated ratio 1st and 2nd gears. Tyres are Toyo R888 road legal track day rubber, a brand already familiar to me from my erstwhile competitive motorsport events in my Cayman R. Once strapped into the passengers seat on the right hand side, Kevin fired up the glorious air-cooled flat-6, bursting into life with the accompanying mechanical cacophony only air-cooled Porsches can provide. Out on the track the car rides firmly but not jarringly so, and it became abundantly clear following the warm up laps, that the 964's handling was absolutely amazing for a car approaching 30 years old. The short wheelbase and wide track provided the car with astonishing agility through the two Oulton Park chicanes. It changed direction with a planted, pointy, front end that would shame many far younger 911 derivatives. Kevin's 964 Cup car reminded me of my racing Mason Stiletto Imp from the 1980's. The rear engine and transaxle layout is identical in both cars with a short wheelbase and wide, all-four-square track. My Mason Stiletto race ready and with me onboard, weighed the scales at 495 kilos, with the 998cc engine producing 130bhp on 140Ron Avgas. I would guess the power to weight ratio between the two cars would be very similar. The laps with Kevin were an absolute joy to behold. He is a very capable and experienced track driver and is clearly relishing getting to grips with his new steed. Through the faster corners the pendulum effect of the rear engine layout is clearly felt, but not in a scary way. The suspension is so well tuned that the oversteer attitude is gradual and deliciously progressive. In time and with further practice, Kevin will have this car lapping at a very respectable pace, with the delightful bonus of camera happy oversteer progress through the fast corners. It is quite simply a peach of a car. I am very envious, and hope to return to Oulton Park next year for a second helping of Kevin's 964 Cup racer.
Next up was Steve Brookes's yellow Cayman GT4. I have previously enjoyed passenger laps with Steve in his GT4 before, and on this occasion the track conditions at Oulton Park were the best either of us had ever experienced. Steve is also a very accomplished and experienced track day driver with a style very similar to my own. Fast, smooth progress, with good pace through the corners on this very demanding and technical track. Lapping at high speed in the GT4 immediately following my laps in the 964, illustrated in no uncertain terms the massive progress made in Porsche automotive development over a period of 30 years. The GT4 is an immensely capable track day car, with high levels of lateral grip combined with more than adequate power and torque. The long gearing of the 981 GT4 is not apparent at Oulton Park, with the intermediate gears seeming about right for the many varied corner combinations. Steve was clearly enjoying his drive in the GT4, and was really on it during the lap session. It was a pleasure as always to be piloted around Oulton by someone of Steve's abilities.
As it turned out, I had the very interesting opportunity to follow my laps in a stock GT4 with subsequent laps in Chris Whittle's modified GT4. Although I had previously been a passenger in Chris's GT4 at Knockhill recently, this is the first time I have been able to compare both a stock GT4 and a modified example back to back. Unlike at Knockhill, Chris had fitted the proper Cup 2 tyres for Oulton Park and the weather conditions were perfect for this comparison. The modifications on this GT4 are by any standards comprehensive. The suspension is modified by Manthey, with lowered springs and 3-way adjustable dampers. This provides a prodigious range of negative camber adjustments front and rear. The stock PCCB discs have been replaced by larger diameter after market examples which run much cooler than standard during heavy braking conditions. The 3.8 engine has been ECU re-mapped, with a replacement throttle body and plenum, combined with a revised exhaust system. The result is an increase in power to 430bhp with torque improvements to match. On the track the modifications become immediately apparent compared to the stock GT4. The extra power is clearly demonstrated on the uphill pull exiting Britten's Chicane. The car also rides lower, firmer, and displays astonishing front end grip. The engine note is quieter in the cabin, smoother at high revs, and is surprising refined at cruising speeds, as demonstrated on the slowing down laps. For a driver of Chris's experience and ability, this is the ideal car for his purpose. Until a PDK version of the new 982 GT4 is launched, this particular GT4 is the better track car. I thoroughly enjoyed my laps in this extraordinary machine, which brought my Oulton Park experience to a close for 2019.
Honestly, I never thought I would have such a fun time at a track day without driving myself. During my time at Oulton Park, I was very grateful to the many friends who made a point of meeting me for a chat on both general car and track day topics. The social scene is very much a part of PCGB track days, and I shall look forward to attending a few more track day events in 2020.
I shall post a few photos following my amazingly enjoyable day at Oulton Park.
Brian
Photo. Cayman GT4 Clubsport
