You know that time when you’re just minding your own business, doing 300 km/h at Monza and suddenly your rear left tire explodes? Let’s just say that not too many people know what that’s like, while those who do can only hope to maintain control.
This video, posted on the Sebastian Vittel YouTube channel shows just how fortunate the driver of this 911 (991) GT2 RS was not to slide into the wall and damage his car beyond repair, which is totally plausible at that speed.
To be precise, the exact speed at which the blowout occurred was 295 km/h (183 mph), along Monza’s pit straight, way before the braking point into Turn 1. This actually means that the driver’s right foot was still on the throttle when the rear end started to waver.
According to the driver, the incident might have happened because his Pirelli Trofeo R tires had already ran 60 laps on the Nurburgring Nordschleife, and the track temperature at Monza was a scorching 55°C (131°F). Also, the car had already been out on the track for some time, lapping the famous Italian circuit in 1:57.29.
The 991 GT2 RS was equipped with the Weissach Pack, had OEM mag wheels, the previously-mentioned Trofeo R tires, Brembo brakes and a custom camber setup performed by Manthey Racing, who tuned the car specifically for the Nordschleife.
As for the full extent of the damage, the exploded tire also ruptured the turbocharger hose, which according to the car’s owner was a cheap fix.