Porsche Sportscar Together Day 2019：ポルシェスプリントチャレンジジャパン

Race at the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport

One of the things I was looking forward to at Porsche Sportscar Together Day 2019 is, yes, the Porsche Sprint Challenge with the addition of the new GT4 class to compete in the 718 Cayman GT4 club sports. Japan (Porsche Sprint Challenge Japan (PSCJ).

It is a race divided into 4 classes, where the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup and the 718 Cayman GT4 Club Sports Competition run.

There are four types of PSCJ classes:

According to the 2014-2016 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type991:GT3-I Class
According to the 2010-2013 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Type997:GT3- II Class
other than that:Open Class
According to the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport Competition:GT4 Class

Supporting Porsche Team EBI

Two cars entered this GT4 class in the 5th to 6th races of this race held at Fuji Speedway this time, and came to support one of them, "Porsche Team EBI". ^^

Yes, running the 718 Cayman GT4 club sport with this Porsche Team EBI has been in the pastI had you ride with me several timesthe law of nature,I supported you in other racesNaoya Yamano driver.

It will support you already! That's why I called.

I will go to the pit of Porsche Team EBI ↓

Inside, you can see the 718 Cayman GT4, which is really cool! !! !!

And there was also a driver, Mr. Yamano, so I talked a lot again and showed him the car, even though it must have been a difficult time before the race. Thank you very much.

What is 718 Cayman GT4 Club Sport?

What kind of car is the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport?

Midship engine racing car born at Weissach R & D Center
3.8 liter horizontally opposed 6-cylinder engine
Maximum output 313kW (425PS)
Transmission is 6-speed PDK
Vehicle weight is 1,320 kg
The capacity of the fuel tank is 115 liters
Lightweight MacPherson strut suspension on the front is adopted from the 911 GT3 cup
The racing brake system is equipped with a steel brake disc with a diameter of 380 mm.
The brake balance system allows infinite adjustment of the balance bias between the front and rear axles.
The driver's and passenger's doors and rear wing are made of a mixture of organic fibers, primarily sourced from agricultural by-products such as flax and hemp fibers, and have properties comparable to carbon fiber in terms of weight and rigidity.
Uses body parts made of natural fiber composite
Equipped with roll cage, racing bucket seat, 6-point seat belt, window net, driver's side door foam
There are two versions, a "competition" model that is premised on participating in Porsche Sprint Challenge Japan (PSCJ) and an "MR" for participating in the GT4 category of the Blancpain GT series.
The shock absorber of the competition model can be adjusted in 3 steps
The MR model uses SRO-compliant dampers and carbon fiber body panels.

It is said that this car can be sold normally as it is, so if you want to purchase it, please contact the Porsche Center ^ ^ However, you can not run on public roads.

But more than that, there are reasons why the hurdles to buying this car are high. Yes. That is ... what!

Purchasers of the 718 Cayman GT4 Club Sports Competition model in Japan are required to enter the Porsche Sprint Challenge Japan

... is! !!

Yeah! "Buy a little", if you buy it with a light feeling, you have to go to this Sprint Challenge Japan (laughs). No, I don't think there are many people who say "buy a little" ^^

Somehow, when I was allowed to tour the car, I feel that Mr. Yamano and Mr. Sales said "I can buy this!"

No no no, Abunai, Abunai (laughs). I knew I couldn't buy such a great racing car, but of course ^^

By the way, the price of 718 Cayman GT4 Club Sports (as of April 5, 2019):

718 Cayman GT4 Club Sport Competition (6-speed PDK left-hand drive): ¥ 23,619,600
718 Cayman GT4 Club Sport MR (6-speed PDK left-hand drive): ¥ 27,140,400

* This Recaro seat is not standard equipment, but Yamano driver specifications.

What surprised me was that when I opened and closed the door, "It's made mainly from a mixture of organic fibers supplied from agricultural by-products such as flax and hemp fibers," it was really light.

It was so touching and light that I couldn't help but say "What's this!"

When I asked a stupid question, "Is this all the body?", Mr. Yamano, who was kind, answered very kindly, "No ^^" (laughs). * The rear wing is made of the same material as the door.

And inside the car, which seems to be difficult to get in. It's amazing!

Two cars have entered the GT4 class this time. Another rival car is ... Yes, it's the Porsche Japan team.

The driver of the Porsche Japan team is Mizuki Ishizaka, who was selected as the Porsche Japan Junior Driver who will participate in the 2019 PSCJ series. 23 years old. young!

It is a one-on-one fight between the Porsche Japan team and the Porsche team EBI. Mr. Yamano is already under pressure even though it is just before the race! However, please give your support directly to the person.

Even so, there are many people around the pit, supported by many team members and supported by many people. The place is very warm, with a feeling of hot cheering, and it seems like a gentle time.

Even so, when you go out to the race, you can run the course that you can see in the future by yourself, and once you go out on the course, you can run by yourself without any help (in the pit). (Apart from returning).

Is it pressure, loneliness, or maybe excitement at that time? How you feel will differ depending on the driver and the situation at that time, and I think that only the driver can understand.

However, I really felt the awesomeness of the drivers who run in this race.

Looking at the 718 Cayman GT4 running with everyone's cheers, I just wanted safety first, and I really really want you to win ^ ^

… And because it was the GT4 class that I was supporting, there are only pictures of 718 Cayman, but in reality there are more 911 GT3 cup cars, so there were also many cup cars ↓

Round 5, the first final of the day.

The yellow Cayman is the Porsche Japan team.

In the first race, Mr. Yamano was in 1st place while watching over him.

It was a bit disappointing (tears) because I couldn't see the GT4 battle because many GT3 cup cars were transferred on the TV broadcast.

It would be great if we could change the camera to follow for each class and see the monitor for each class. … That's probably too hard for the people who run it ^^

Well, I was waiting to see Cayman of Team EBI who won and came back ... Cayman who came back had someone behind (laugh). Someone is sticking! (At the rear wing).

This isn't something that shouldn't be in the picture, but a real human being is sticking to it ^^ ↓

In the podium, the award was given in 1st place in the GT4 class. Only Mr. Yamano will be on the podium.

I don't know the details, but if the number of cars participating in the race is small (3 or less), can only the winner be in the podium? I'm sure it is, right?

No, I'm happy anyway. amazing! Congratulations ^^

Next, Round 6, the second race. Before this started, I participated in the grid walk.

Really good feeling.

Porsche Japan Team 718 Cayman GT4 Club Sports Competition ↓

It is a car with a black and yellow design, such as the so-called GT4 club sports design mug that has been released recently.

This this ↓

And here is the "Excellence Bright" of Porsche Team EBI. Oh, I don't think it's the official name. However, I am calling it that way ^^

After finishing the grid walk, I thought I would go back to the crystal room and watch the game again on the screen.

As with the first episode, even if you watch it on TV, the GT3 cup car battle is overwhelmingly more common, so "I don't know what's going on with GT4!" I went to the pit.

In this case, I hope that there may be a live broadcast of EBI Marketing President's sister. Because, when I was Blancpain, he gave me a live race, which was very easy for me to understand, and I really appreciate it, and I liked it.

So, I expected this time as well, but unfortunately it wasn't this time (tears).

But instead? When I watched the race from the pit, the sound was powerful, and it felt more liberating than I saw from the crystal room, which was really good. It's hard to see in the photo, but there is a car in the yellow circle. Looking in front of me, it's fun even at this distance ^^

It's fun to be able to feel the power of the cars running in front of me up close, but I have no choice but to rely on the TV broadcast because I have no idea about the conflicts other than straight.

"Team feeling" is the best in the race

That's why I watched the game on the TV in the pit.

And ... well, you know, right? ?? Yes, this "team staring at the monitor together" makes me "impressed" when I see it from behind. No, it's cool, it feels like this team! !! !!

It's really moving to see the team and everyone involved cheering while watching the TV monitor.

Looking at everyone's backs, I thought "Mr. Yamano, I'm very supportive !! Good luck !!!"

In conclusion ... the result was 2nd place in less than 0.1 seconds. It was very disappointing, but I would like to say thank you to Mr. Yamano and the team members for their inspiration.

After the 6th round, Mr. Yamano talked to me, but I left the crying pit because it was time for the next program, the parade run briefing.

After that, I was told that I would be able to see the video from the in-vehicle camera, so I definitely wanted to see it, but due to time constraints, I couldn't help it. Well.

On this day, I was able to meet all the wonderful people of Team EBI, I was able to support them even a little, I was able to meet the really cool 718 Cayman GT4 Club Sports Competition, 718 Cayman GT4 and many more I was able to see a lot of cool Porsche runs ... Everything made a very nice time.

Thank you to all of Team EBI, Naoya Yamano, for visiting the pits and watching the race. it was very fun. Thank you for a wonderful time ^ ^

I will continue to support you ~.

Rika (911supercars.com)

I'm Rika, the author of this article. Ever since Porsche 911 became my favorite car, I've become totally addicted to Porsche, and I can't stop loving Porsche, so I started this blog. My favorite cars are 911 Carrera (991.2), 911 Carrera Cabriolet (992.1), and 911 Carrera T (992.1).