Porsche made headlines at the Los Angeles Auto Show with their newly revealed road car, the 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS. The GT4 Clubsport line started off with the Porsche 981 series of cars in 2016. From there, the next generation of the Clubsport continued with the Porsche 718 in 2019, benefitting from low running costs and a series of improvements and race-ready parts that aided customer teams greatly.
This beauty is kitted out with a race-ready package, sporting a powerful 4.0-liter six-cylinder boxer engine that’s capable of 500 horsepower. This engine has been sourced from the current iteration of the 911 GT3 Cup racing car, having an improvement of about 18 percent compared to the 3.8-liter engine that preceded it.
Making use of a much more optimized air intake, the GT4 RS Clubsport can achieve max power at about 8,300 rpm. The engine can rev to 9,000 rpm and produces a torque level of 343 pounds-feet at 6,000 rpm, improving from the previous 313 pounds-feet at 6,600 rpm. This gives the new RS Clubsport a better power band for the new engine, making it much easier for casual and professional drivers to drive around the track.
It also comes standard with a seven-speed dual clutch transmission, adding one more gear from the GT4 Clubsport’s six-speed configuration. All the gears also sport shorter ratios overall, an improvement from the GT4 Clubsport. The suspension system has also been improved upon, with its damper being revised for maximum responsiveness and body control. It makes use of a set of two-way adjustable shock absorbers along with double-blade anti-roll bars at the front and rear of the vehicle. The driver may also customize various other aspects, such as the ride height and camber.
The interior of the 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport is also equipped for the races. It comes with a roll cage that’s welded-in, along with a longitudinally-adjustable racing seat courtesy of Recaro. A six-point harness is available, meeting with the 2023 FIA standards set. It also has a built-in air jack system with three usable jacks, as well as a fire extinguisher system should there be accidents. The foam on the driver’s side is also according to the requirements of the SRO racing series.
The fuel capacity of the RS Clubsport’s FT3 Fuel Cell can carry up to 115 liters or 30.4 gallons of fuel, making it great for endurance races. Another choice for buyers is between two different exhaust systems, allowing for a bit more control in areas with noise limits in place. Other options include quick refueling openings at the front lid or homologated headlights. These make it so that this Clubsport can go toe-to-toe in nighttime races as well.
No further modifications are needed for this racer to tear up the asphalt. Porsche plans to sell these models in the U.S through Porsche Motorsport North American at the starting price of $229,000, which still does not include taxes. It is expected to compete at the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the SRO GT4 and GT America series during the 2022 Season, so racing fans can look forward to that.