Smoke 'em if you got 'em: Hankook Porsche 993 GT2 drifter struts its stuff
click image above to view video of the drifting Porsche in action
While the mere mention of drifting usually brings about a chorus of ridicule from many directions around here, I have to admit that I enjoy watching the pro guys do their thing. I say this because I know that if asked to go out and do the exact same thing in an identically-prepared car, I would promptly put it into the wall. So I appreciate the skill involved, and honestly, how can you not be at least a little jealous of people whose job...JOB...is to light 'em up and hang the tail out in as flashy a manner as possible. Seriously. God bless America. To that extent, follow the jump for video of Tyler McQuarrie's Hankook Porsche 993 GT2 doing its drift thing. If it looks more fun than your job, it's probably because it is.
[Source: YouTube via DriftLive.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
AZ 4:43PM (8/07/2007)
Is the rear wing REALLY necessary?
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someguy 5:32PM (8/07/2007)
Are you serious?
marlow 5:17PM (8/07/2007)
yes it is when you are going sideways at up to 100 mph
helps with high speed entry too
Schlomo 5:34PM (8/07/2007)
From what I understand, yes it is.
I am no expert, but what I've been told is that the large wings used in drifting are necessary to keep the rear tyres on the ground while they are spinning. This way the racers can keep the cars as light as possible for speed (e.g. the rear of the car is lighter than the front due to the FR config), but the downforce from the wing will keep the back end/tyres from "skipping" or "popping" up and gaining traction during the faster drifts.
AZ 6:36PM (8/07/2007)
@someguy, yes, I am serious, I remember seeing some drifting cars without the rear wing, at least not THAT tall. Thank you for your sarcastic comment.
@marlow and Schlomo, Thank you.
luke_the_duke 4:45PM (8/07/2007)
God bless America? You realize this sport started in Japan years ago, right?
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dan 5:12PM (10/23/2007)
haha pwned!
bathtub gin 1:20AM (8/09/2007)
'You realize this sport started in Japan years ago, right?'
Ever see sprint cars race on a dirt track?
The Man 6:27PM (8/07/2007)
Wow that car look stunning(besides the wing which is just a bit to tall). Does anyone know of some other pictures or web sites that feature this car?
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d3p0 5:49PM (8/07/2007)
Tyler McQuarrie will be driving the Porsche at this weekends Formula D competition. The results/video/photos/etc of which will be available on http://www.driftlive.com
vectorbug 7:20PM (8/07/2007)
What a waste. Take one of the greatest handling cars made by Porsche (993) and it can't even drive straight.
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Mehool 12:39AM (8/08/2007)
I think ddrhero's comment below is the perfect response to your concerns
ddrhero 8:55PM (8/07/2007)
I LOVE IT! they tok a porsche and turned it into a tool to piss off 40-60 year-old balding men going through a mid life crisis, rather using it for it's more popular purpose; a chick magnet for those same 40-60 year old men.
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Sean Morris 11:42PM (8/07/2007)
Since no one commenting here is probably an aerodynamist, neither am I , but I have talked and gotten some advice from one about rear wings. Basically the higher it is , its in cleaner air , and will generate more downforce.
They do need downforce in drifting. The high speed courses , the guys are coming in hot , 70 , 80 , 90, 100 mph sideways.
And before too many people talk about skill or what kind of people drift , Tanner Foust , who won the X-Games rally racing this year, drifts in the Formula D and D1 series , Rhys Millen , who won the Time Attack class at Pikes Peak this year , drifts in Formula D and D1.
Drifting is all about car control , the good guys, are really good.
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spdracerut 3:14AM (8/08/2007)
That wing is pretty standard for Porsches in SCCA racing... Ugly, but effective. Basically, it needs to be that high to get clean airflow to create maximum downforce.
Maximizing downforce is also the reason for the rear wing-thingy on the roof of the STI and the 'vortex generators' on Evos; instead of putting the wing higher than it already is, those devices try to direct more airflow down to the wing.
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Logik 6:08AM (8/08/2007)
Very nice, but one time around was good enough.
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chad 9:02AM (8/08/2007)
I think I need to buy stock in rubber. I think there is going to be a need.
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Richard 9:30AM (8/08/2007)
I am all for doing things differently, but I fear that this Drifting Porsche will not last long for several reasons.
1. One of the reasons that the 240SX and other older FR cars are used is because of price. When even the most high end FR car currently used in drifting hits the wall with it's rear end (as they usually do) it is easy and relatively cheap to repair. With the engine and other components being right where these cars take the brunt of the damage is going to make it very expensive WHEN (not if) it hits the wall.
2. While seeing high end cars do this is exciting, it grows old quickly with the drifting fan. Dodge moved from the Viper to a Charger for a reason. Teams have moved from Skylines to the 350Z, and further down the ladder. The typical drifting fan wants to see something extraordinary done with something ordinary and obtainable.
3. It won't win. The way the car is built will not allow it to get the angle necessary to defeat the FR cars. This Porsche even at it's greatest moment will not be able to equal the amount of angle that an FR car can achieve. Some of the greatest drifters right now are becoming perpendicular to the track while drifting, this Porsche isn't reaching half of that.
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johdaxx 3:31PM (8/08/2007)
The thing about wings like that is typically air needs to be going straight over them, front to back for them to really work. It would be no where near as efficient going sideways.
The other thing is I'd think you'd want a somewhat forward bias of weight to make the car stable sideways - the 911 is about as far away from that as they come. Note how difficult it seems to transition from drifting to the right to drifting to the left - it's a long time to re-settle the rear, get on the gas and start making smoke again. Once that big fat 911 butt gets swingin' it's really hard to get it under control again.
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