• Road and Track compares the 997.2 GT3 street car to the 997 GT3 RSR race car

                    
      		   
      Published on 05-02-2012 04:22 AM
      2 Comments Comments
      This is a cool comparison done a little while ago by Road and Track although the video was just recently uploaded. As far as GT Class race cars are concerned the company that offers the closest experience to its race car is arguably Porsche. The GT3 uses a similar motor to the race car and does not give up too much power or weight. The GT3 is about 300 pounds more than the race car and has 25 less horses with its 3.8 liter. If the GT3 RS 4.0 was used the advantage in power would actually be in the street cars favor by about 50 horses.

      The RSR is obviously much faster around the track than the GT3 as it is lighter, has more power, and is running race rubber versus street rubber. Yes, the Pilot Sport Cups on the GT3 are a soft compound but as much as a dedicated racing slick. We wish they used the GT3 RS 4.0 as it actually does use the RSR crank and it is slightly lighter as well. It would have made things much more interesting but even the standard 997.2 GT3 goes to show how close it is to the real deal.

      Don't take our word for it, see what Porsche driver Patrick Long had to say: “Usually, when I go from race car to road car on any given racetrack, I’m used to having to adjust quite a bit. In the GT3, it’s very easy to just jump in and go flat-out. As soon as I hit the racetrack, I’m not really changing my braking zones, I’m really taking the same gears through the corners…it’s a pretty seamless transition.”

      Awesome car that offers a race car experience for the street? You bet.
      This article was originally published in forum thread: Road and Track compares the 997.2 GT3 street car to the 997 GT3 RSR race car started by Sticky View original post
      Comments 20 Comments
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 05-02-2012, 04:42 AM
        Ridiculous to compare a full racecar on wide slicks with a roadlegal car on roadlegal semi-slicks on track performance.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 05-02-2012, 04:44 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DavidV Click here to enlarge
        Ridiculous to compare a full racecar on wide slicks with a roadlegal car on roadlegal semi-slicks on track performance.
        Somewhat perhaps but the GT3 goes to show how close of an experience it gives. Remember, it is a street car but it's specs aren't too far off. The GT3 RS 4.0 bridges the gap even more. Porsche really does give you a race car for the street.
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 05-02-2012, 04:53 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Porsche really does give you a race car for the street
        O jes it can.
        But more manufacturers in that price region can do this.

        As you will find out once you drive your car on a proper racetrack, every car setup for road use will lose to a proper track car with slicks, even if the track car is 100 hp down in power. You just do not make up the time you lose in corners with your straight line gains. At all.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 05-02-2012, 04:54 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DavidV Click here to enlarge
        O jes it can.
        But more manufacturers in that price region can do this.

        As you will find out once you drive your car on a proper racetrack, every car setup for road use will lose to a proper track car with slicks, even if the track car is 100 hp down in power. You just do not make up the time you lose in corners with your straight line gains. At all.
        The $#@! you talking about man?

        The point is Porsche gives you a car that mimics its actual race car closer than any other manufacturer does. There is a reason they call it the GT3.
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 05-02-2012, 05:00 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        The $#@! you talking about man?
        They make the GT2 for that purpose.
        The GT3 is a luxury car.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 05-02-2012, 05:01 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DavidV Click here to enlarge
        The GT3 is a luxury car.
        Are you out of your mind?
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 05-02-2012, 05:05 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Are you out of your mind?
        Click here to enlarge Sometimes, Yes
      1. Autobahn335i's Avatar
        Autobahn335i - 05-02-2012, 05:23 AM
        The GT3RS would have been a better comparison. But I agree with David, it's pointless to compare a car with street tires to a car with slicks.

        As for the hp numbers, the GR3RSR has a "restrictor"-based engine, which means engine power is limited by how much air a restrictor lets in. The limit is not the engine itself which could probably put out 600hp if it was unrestricted. It's a whole different concept compared to a production engine which is normally limited by how much fuel it gets by the DME.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 05-02-2012, 05:28 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Autobahn335i Click here to enlarge
        The GT3RS would have been a better comparison. But I agree with David, it's pointless to compare a car with street tires to a car with slicks.

        As for the hp numbers, the GR3RSR has a "restrictor"-based engine, which means engine power is limited by how much air a restrictor lets in. The limit is not the engine itself which could probably put out 600hp if it was unrestricted. It's a whole different concept compared to a production engine which is normally limited by how much fuel it gets by the DME.
        You guys are missing the damn point. It isn't about comparing the laptimes it is about the driving experience. Read Patrick Long's quote.
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 05-02-2012, 05:39 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        You guys are missing the damn point. It isn't about comparing the laptimes it is about the driving experience. Read Patrick Long's quote.
        I read it, and it's utterly bull$#@!.
        I just have to look at the sideways G-forcechart to know that.
        The racecar holds over 2G lateral, and the GT3 only 1G+.
        I used to Go-kart a lot, and my 125cc on Maxxis HG3 made over 2G lateral, so I really know the feeling.
        A streetcar that makes 1G+ is no joke, it has good grip. But it has nothing to do with a racecar feeling.
        I was at the TT circuit in Assen last year during the BMW Netherlands track training, and could drive along with a 130i cup racer.
        That just felt like my go-kart steering wise and gripwise. But it was no comparisen to my 135i, and I set the fastest time of the day for any roadlegal BMW there.
        It's just apples and oranges.
      1. Autobahn335i's Avatar
        Autobahn335i - 05-02-2012, 05:43 AM
        Teh Sticky needs to attend a real racetrack. There's more to racing than just 1/4 miles...
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 05-02-2012, 05:45 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Autobahn335i Click here to enlarge
        Teh Sticky needs to attend a real racetrack. There's more to racing than just 1/4 miles...
        Repped for truth!
        Although he has not even done the 1/4 for a long time...
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 05-02-2012, 03:27 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DavidV Click here to enlarge
        I read it, and it's utterly bull$#@!.
        I just have to look at the sideways G-forcechart to know that.
        The racecar holds over 2G lateral, and the GT3 only 1G+.
        I used to Go-kart a lot, and my 125cc on Maxxis HG3 made over 2G lateral, so I really know the feeling.
        A streetcar that makes 1G+ is no joke, it has good grip. But it has nothing to do with a racecar feeling.
        I was at the TT circuit in Assen last year during the BMW Netherlands track training, and could drive along with a 130i cup racer.
        That just felt like my go-kart steering wise and gripwise. But it was no comparisen to my 135i, and I set the fastest time of the day for any roadlegal BMW there.
        It's just apples and oranges.
        It isn't bull$#@! at all. The suspension geometry and balance of the cars is very similar.

        What, he's just making things up for no reason? He is a professional driver.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 05-02-2012, 03:28 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Autobahn335i Click here to enlarge
        Teh Sticky needs to attend a real racetrack. There's more to racing than just 1/4 miles...
        You guys are still missing the point. It isn't about laptimes or drag times here. Nobody is surprised the race car laps faster.

        I can't believe you guys aren't getting it.
      1. inlineS54B32's Avatar
        inlineS54B32 - 05-02-2012, 03:42 PM
        One thing that impresses me is the amount of distance/speed lost on each shift of the road car. Look at the dip in the acceleration curve each time the road car shifts, as opposed to the almost near perfect "curve" of the sequential on the race car. On the last shift (at about 2500 feet) - he almost lost 500 feet until he was at the speed at which he shifted into the next gear!

        I think what this article is showing is that the dynamics of the road car are extremely close (in other words they "act" very similar. Although the race car blows the road car out of the water, most other cars will not behave the same way as their race car sibling. The anti-dive/roll/etc. out of the road car is very good - and behaves very close to the race car. I think that's the point of the article.

        Losing 20 seconds a lap is a LOT - and yes, that is because one is a fully dressed race car and the other is not. Pulling 2g laterally while pulling .5g accelerating is amazing - what I also find amazing is that the road car is doing 1g lateral while also accelerating at the same rate.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 05-02-2012, 03:58 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by inlineS54B32 Click here to enlarge
        I think what this article is showing is that the dynamics of the road car are extremely close (in other words they "act" very similar. Although the race car blows the road car out of the water, most other cars will not behave the same way as their race car sibling. The anti-dive/roll/etc. out of the road car is very good - and behaves very close to the race car. I think that's the point of the article.
        Exactly. Amazed others aren't comprehending.
      1. Sorena's Avatar
        Sorena - 05-02-2012, 04:34 PM
        Pointless video.
      1. Sorena's Avatar
        Sorena - 05-02-2012, 04:38 PM
        I agree with Sticky. GT3, well GT3 RS, gives you the closest feeling to a racecar as a stock car. However, my 2002 is going to give much more race car feel.
      1. DavidV's Avatar
        DavidV - 05-03-2012, 04:03 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Exactly. Amazed others aren't comprehending.
        Road car has the same brakes as the racecar, probably close to the same gear ratios, same wheel geometry and with semi slicks the feeling as he says under braking and gear into corners will feel the same, yes. But the overall speed sensation and feel in corners and what not with a 20!!! second difference on a 2 minute track is uncomparable to say the least.
        In the end it is a commercial video, so what do you expect the Porsche sponsored driver to say? That the road car is crap?
        Whell, that's not gonna happen.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 05-03-2012, 04:07 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by DavidV Click here to enlarge
        Road car has the same brakes as the racecar, probably close to the same gear ratios, same wheel geometry and with semi slicks the feeling as he says under braking and gear into corners will feel the same, yes. But the overall speed sensation and feel in corners and what not with a 20!!! second difference on a 2 minute track is uncomparable to say the least.
        In the end it is a commercial video, so what do you expect the Porsche sponsored driver to say? That the road car is crap?
        Whell, that's not gonna happen.
        What do you expect? One is a race car. The GT3 is incredibly impressive in how close it is to it and in replicating that experience for the street. Also, once again. the GT3 RS 4.0 is also the closer match.