I won an Evo competition last week and the prize (last night) was a launch presentation event at the Porsche centre, Silverstone.

There were about 25 people there, all Evo winners I assume, who were split into smaller groups for each activity.

The order I did things in was

1) "experience" the Porsche test track as a passenger of one of Porsche's test drivers in a just-launched 911 Turbo. The track is similar to the mountain circtuit at Millbrook - all bends rather than flat out straights. Absolutely hilarious! Remember this was at night, so flying around a track you don't know, being thrown around (a little more than expected tbh) while the driver nonchalantly points out the various functions of the car including the headlights which follow the direction of the front wheels. All the better for seeing the suicidal rabbits which hop around the course. There's also a handling area to demostrate the 4wd and stability functions. A tray slides the back wheels of the car sideways as they pass over, a constantly wet track does the rest.
Then donuts. Lots of donuts. Then a demo of the launch control. I certainly don't doubt the claimed 0-62 time! And finally a few more laps of the track, back end duly sliding. We were about to come in when the driver noticed the window had misted slightly. "We better get that cleared before we go in then"....and a few laps later I stepped out, grinning from ear to ear.

2) A tour of the building. Statting at the top there's an open level capable of hosting 200 people for race days, overlooking the Hangar Straight. Bose speakers in the plant pots boost the sound if needed! A glimpse of the Spyder currently housed at the centre - two chassis no's after James Dean's ill-fated car and worth god knows how much. There's also a '73 RS an 80's Turbo and a Penske Porsche LM1 car....aswell as 3 brand new GT3RSs

3) A potted history of lightweight 911 presented by Chris Harris himself. No doubt he could have spend much longer than the 20 minutes per group but very interesting and I'm now armed with a couple of facts to astound so-called 911 experts. Chris came across as expert and enthusiastic without being nerdy. One of the characteristics of a good speaker in many subjects is making them interesting to non-officianados and Chris could certainly do that.

4) Finally a talk about the GT3RS by project manager, Andreas Preuninger. This man's business card has the Porsche badge on it and the text, "Manager: Performance Division". Now that's a job title
He's clearly a true enthusiast, despite being "half dead" apparently. He was also quite frank about the cars and brand, when comparing Ring times (the GT3RS is faster than the Carrera GT) he volunteered that with modern tyres the GT would no doubt be on a par. Other interesting fact, at 300km the GT3RS generates 170kg of downforce, the Carrera 4 generates 250kg of lift! So a net improvement of over 400kg!

Finally, dinner in the restaurant. The food there ain't half bad if you get the chance to sample it. If you buy a Porsche no doubt you will as there's a day with an instructor included in the price. There are also a selection of driver days. You can even take your own car along for a go if you stump up £165 (IIRC)

A fantastic evening out which for the moment has tipped my decision in favour of Evo over Car (I recently decided to cancel one of the subscriptions)

And the GT3RS? The question everyone asked was which colour. Personally I'd go for grey with (minimal) red trim, but frankly I wouldn't refuse any of them.

 

Did you get to either drive or be driven in a GT3 RS?

 

Sadly no.

And they've already taken more (UK) deposits than cars will be available so I couldn't even buy one.

 

Great write up

Thanks for posting

BTW - I hate you

 

Thanks for posting, sounds like a good evening, I’ve been to a few and always come away full of Champagne and canapés

Interesting view of the 911 Turbo, it's an epic machine in the right hands on the road, none of this "I'd have the GT3 instead" shite which seems to be the constant mantra of everybody who’s never driven either

 

Chris Harris has a superb ability at presenting things

 

I have passengered in both on hot laps around the ring. And driven a GT3 RS

If you want a porsche road car, then the turbo is the one to get. It is an awesome machine, in the way that my M3 is awesome on the road (but cranked up a bit obviously)

But if you're going on track, the GT3 (and RS) really is the one to have.

 

Nice event did you also do the ice slope? that is quite a lot of fun. They do have a nice facility a do quite a lot of driver experience days there.

I have done a drive earlier in the year in the Gen II Cayman(s) and on 1st February I get the new 911 Turbo for an hours drive around the facility and lunch cannot wait to give that machine a drive.

 

Yes

 

Its a fantastic facility they have. I was there last Friday for my freebie. I also paid extra to go around the Silverstone National circuit.
The handling circuit that you went on is great fun, its set out like a normal b road so you feel slight naughty for driving fast and on the other side of the road.
The ice hill that is mentioned above replicates...er...a ice hill. the surface is ultra low grip and there are two beds of fountains to 1) keep the surface slippy and 2) to create an obstacle to slide around semi out of control. I span about 3 times before I got it right.
They have a kick plate which again has ultra low grip surface and a moveable panel in the road that is activated when your rear wheels are over it sending the back end either left or right and giving you the chance to sample loosing control.
There is a small low grip track, this is not designed to be as low grip as the ice hill or kick plate but enables you to loose traction relatively easy with some semi agressive throttle input. There is a central circle that also gives you a chance to do dohnuts and drifting. My car being a 4wd car allowed me to get the back end (95% drive is to the rear) for around 270 degrees and then the 4wd kicked in and pulled the car straight.
All of the above are just really useful to let you experience things you probably would never do in your own car on the road and also gives you some idea of what would happen in a difficult situation.
The high speed laps just rounded off a perfect 3/4 day and the instructor pretty much allowed you after bedding in laps to knock your self out but giving useful tips on line etc. He politley pointed out that if I continue to take that line going onto the start finish straight that I would end up going off in a big way.
The whole event is really well organised and I have been on a couple of Red letter type things and this is just so much more enjoyable and useful.