Everybody knows that Porsche 911 GT2 RS is a seriously fast car – 211 mph fast. But in the new age of 4-figure horsepower engines, people have gotten used to judging based on paper facts only. And Porsche can’t take that.
So, for the last six months, the company has been sending its latest flag car to various tracks, setting records one after the other.
After all, if you have to measure the real-world performance of a sports car with just one metric, lap times are much more definitive than anything else. The track requires performance in all aspects of sports driving – acceleration, braking, handling, downforce, traction – everything comes in play.
The latest track Porsche conquered is Road America at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. The 4-mile, 14-turn track has hosted races for some of the most prestigious series for more than 60 years.
Endurance driver David Donohue needed just two laps in the 911 GT2 RS to break the production car record with a time of 2:15.17 minutes.
Porsche also brought in a GT3 RS to prove their cars are only second best to themselves. The GT3 RS achieved a best lap in 2:18:57.
Earlier in March, the two cars made a visit to Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in Georgia, making the first and second quickest production car laps.
The 2.5-mile, 12-turn track is a true test of driving skill and automotive engineering. Road Atlanta was the first to host the American Le Mans Series becoming the demise of numerous unfortunate GT1 cars.
This time it was Porsche driver Randy Pobst making the fastest lap of 1:24.88 minutes with the 911 GT2 RS.
Following closely, a GT3 RS clocked 1:26.24 minutes, taking second place.
The Porsches ran stock at both Road America and Road Atlanta. The only modification was a set of semi-slick Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tires which Michelin developed specifically for the GT2 RS and GT3 RS. With stiffer sidewalls and 10% larger shoulder footprint, the tires are that much stickier on dry pavement and that much scarier in the wet, compared to a standard Cup 2 set.
Finally, we feel obliged to remind you of Porsche’s production car record at Nurburgring. Last October, a GT 2 RS, with upgrades and tuning by Manthey Racing, became the fastest street-legal car around Nordschleife with a time of 6:40.3 minutes.