Hot-Lapping in a Brand New Cayman GT4 Clubsport
A bright sunny day at the Silverstone Circuit is a great way to introduce yourself to a new toy like the GT4 Clubsport.
British driver Archie Hamilton took a sabbatical from racing recently, but will be hitting the circuits in the 2020 season with a new car. As you can tell by the title, that ride will be in a Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport. Unlike rally-cross Clubsport models of years past, this one is made purely for circuit racing. Hamilton’s first pre-season testing is held at the famous Silverstone race track.
His reason for going with a GT4 instead of a full 911 has sound reasoning. It’s inexpensive. “You can do a whole season’s worth of racing on one engine without having to re-build it,” Hamilton explains. Plus the GT4 allows him to warm up to the rigors of motorsport without jumping in a top-tier 911 Cup car right away. Even so, he’s in the same paddock with the top teams, and if his pace in the GT4 is solid, he’ll surely catch the attention of team owners.
How does a racer step back in the ring and prepare themselves? For Hamilton, familiarity with new equipment is critical. “I like to spend a little bit of time to myself in the car before I get going because I have not been in it for a while,” Hamilton says. For those who have driven a road-going Porsche GT4, there’s a lot of similarities. In fact, the Clubsport even uses a regular Porsche key for the ignition. However, the steering wheel and gauge cluster offer far more vital car information than you’ll ever see on a street car. Pressure and temperatures are available for every aspect of the car, from engine fluids to tires.
Hamilton was able to get some sighting laps in, and then really go for some hot laps around Silverstone. His teammate is more familiar with the car. Together they will use lap times from each driver to see how Hamilton was coming along. Questions Hamilton would ask himself include, “were are you on timing? Are you going to be at the front?” He’s humbled by his own pace though, saying, “Dino [my teammate] has driven this car. He’s a race winner in Porsche Carrera Cup, and we are 0.15 seconds apart.” Clearly, motorsport for Hamilton is like riding a bicycle. Once you’ve got it, you’ve got it.
Join the 6SpeedOnline forums now!
