The 2022 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport Is A $229k Toy Reserved For The Track

After the premiere of the track-focused 718 Cayman GT4 RS at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Porsche unveiled the track-only 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport which is designed for competing in GT4 championships including the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and SRO racing series around the world.

The GT4 RS Clubsport is a successor to the GT4 Clubsport that has been around since 2016 with a major update in 2019, selling a total of 500 units to date. As with its predecessors, the new model is not street legal, but it borrows many components from the road-going GT4 RS.

Visually, the Clubsport is more aggressive than ever before thanks to the redesigned bodykit. This includes a more prominent splitter for increased downforce, integrated vents on the fenders, air curtains, and a gurney flap on the adjustable swan-neck rear wing.

Additionally, the car can be fitted with extra headlights and quick refueling openings in the front lid to be better suited for nighttime endurance racing, while two different exhaust systems are offered for tracks with strict noise limits.

Most of the bodywork (doors, rear wing, front lid, fenders, aero components) and the steering wheel are made of lightweight natural fiber composites (flax-based fiber) which is a sustainable alternative to carbon fiber. Porsche is currently using this material exclusively in motorsports, but hinted at its potential use in future production cars.

The mid-mounted naturally aspirated 4.0-liter flat-six is derived from the 911 GT3 Cup, produces 500 hp (373 kW / 507 PS) and 343 lb-ft (465 Nm) of torque and revs up to 9,000 rpm. This is 75 hp (56 kW / 76 PS) and 30 lb-ft (41 Nm) more than the outgoing model with the 3.8-liter unit. A seven-speed dual-clutch PDK transmission with shorter gearing ratios is replacing the old six-speed unit, sending power to the rear wheels with the help of a limited-slip differential.

The suspension has also been “extensively enhanced” for improved handling and is quite different from the road-going sibling. The Clubsport has new damper technology, two-way racing adjustable shock absorbers with improved valve characteristics, three different spring rates for both axles, adjustable double-blade anti-roll bars, and adjustable ride height, camber, and toe.

A set of vented and slotted 380 mm (14.96 inches) discs are taking care of braking with reprogrammed software for the ABS and the Porsche Stability Management System which comes with a traction control switch.

Watch Also: What Is It Like To Drive A 2021 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup On The Track?

Standard safety equipment includes a welded-in roll cage, an adjustable Recaro racing seat for the driver with six-point harnesses, a fire extinguisher system, a built-in air jack system and a 115-liter (30.4 gallons) FT3 fuel cell, all of which comply with FIA standards, plus extra foam on the driver’s side which is a requirement for the SRO racing series.

The 718 Cayman GT4 RS will be available through Porsche Motorsport North America with a starting price of $229,000 before tax.