Gt3 r

[JFG]

Has anyone seen the GT3 R, going to be used for FIA racing? Very nice, but, I was very suprised to read it has the matching revs technology (I think Nissan intoduced it). I understand they want to take the last imperfection out of the car, the driver, but when all the cars are so closly matched for performance shouldnt driver skill level count for something.
It is only a matter of time before this technology hits the road going Porsche. I could not purchase one. For me the best part of driving my car is trying to perfect my skill, I love shifting and double clutching.

[Ferraripete]

driver aids have killed the experience in my humble opinion. i love to drive and be connected to my cars and that was the allure of driving a porsche and having those moments when you make it all click!

i fear the death of the manual transmission...ferrari has already killed it!

pcb

[petevb]

Originally Posted by JFG

Has anyone seen the GT3 R, going to be used for FIA racing? Very nice, but, I was very suprised to read it has the matching revs technology (I think Nissan intoduced it). I understand they want to take the last imperfection out of the car, the driver, but when all the cars are so closly matched for performance shouldnt driver skill level count for something.
It is only a matter of time before this technology hits the road going Porsche. I could not purchase one. For me the best part of driving my car is trying to perfect my skill, I love shifting and double clutching.

Porsche is going for a modern race-car driving experience with the new cup cars; I think that's valid, though perhaps unfortunately by definition a modern race-car is relatively assisted. If you'd like an unassisted experience (as many of us do) that's available in spades with older cars.

The rev matching tech on the cup cars is different than the Nissan or PDK gearbox technology found in road cars. This is because the manual went the way of the dodo in cup cars with the introduction of the sequential gearbox with the 997 in '05. These cars allow full power upshifts, though downshifts still require a throttle-blip for rev matching (even though rev matching for sequentials was already around). The transmissions were clearly quicker and more race-car like compared to the older cups, though they still required significant skill to use correctly:
YouTube - Porsche Carrera Cup Sugo 2009 - Chasecam

Unfortunately a big weak point of these cars has been the high cost and frequency of transmission rebuilds, which have pushed running costs up to an unacceptable level for some.

Retrofit kits to rev-match downshifts are available and may reduce transmission rebuilds and running costs- IMHO porsche probably should have included this in the first place or found another way to reduce the the frequency of rebuilds. I'm OK with Porsche engineering the "feel" of the cups to be more modern; I'm not really OK with them deliberately engineering the cars to have high running costs when they would be easily avoided. I'm glad to see they finally put a rev-match system on the R as I suspect this will make its way into normal cups and reduce the running costs...

[Tinker]

Pete,

Nice video. Really shows the amount of 'work' involved in driving one at a competitive level.

I'm surprised to see a throttle cable. I thought most of these 'modern' cars were going the way of the electronic throttle? Part of the keep it simple philosophy?

Tinker

[petevb]

Originally Posted by Tinker

Pete,

Nice video. Really shows the amount of 'work' involved in driving one at a competitive level.

I'm surprised to see a throttle cable. I thought most of these 'modern' cars were going the way of the electronic throttle? Part of the keep it simple philosophy?

Tinker

Something like that. The 997 GT3 street cars are E-throttle, but the cups have been cable and loose the variocam. The cup motors are a bit lighter that the street cars and obviously cammier. Suitable for a race car, also easier to drop into an early chassis...

[JFG]

Yes, I agree with you that this probably does save a lot of money and nets better lap times. However, looking at it not only as a driving experience but as a spectator, I feel that human element is lost. That combination of car and driver is now mostly car and little driver.

[jwetering]

Originally Posted by JFG

Yes, I agree with you that this probably does save a lot of money and nets better lap times. However, looking at it not only as a driving experience but as a spectator, I feel that human element is lost. That combination of car and driver is now mostly car and little driver.

Well, you say that but there is still going to be those few guys that are faster than the rest every time. The ante is just raised that's all. I might even argue that the technology takes the car *out* of the equation and leaves it down to driver skill only. This isn't a new argument though.

Interestingly, my first 996 did not have PMS and I thought I preferred it that way, certainly I exercised my bragging rights occasionally. But you know, my second (current) 996 does have PMS and I'm enjoying the car at the limit more because you know what...I can do that without wiping the bastard out. It's upped my game and I like it.

Oops - just noticed I'm in hostile air cooled territory - gotta run!

[Flieger]

I think you mean PSM- Porsche Stability Management. PMS is a whole 'nuther matter, one which many air-cooled fanatics will say is properly applied to the water-cooled cars and their typical drivers. (Except for the GT3 series with the Mezger motor)

(All in good-natured ribbing, of course)