Though footage of the latest GT2 RS driven hard is still quite scarce, there is one fortunate soul who’s been kind enough to soothe our frustrations and show us what the meanest production Porsche ever is capable of.
The owner, a man who goes by Powerslidelover, is a rare breed of auto junkie. Not only does he own a stable of hypercars including several flagship Ferraris, a Lamborghini Huracan Performante, and a 911 R, but he drives every one of them well beyond the limit of adhesion. The newest steed in his collection is a red and black GT2 RS, and he’s shown exactly how capable this 700-horsepower rocket is at two of Italy’s fastest tracks.
A long lift off the throttle coaxes the rear out of line.
The GT2 RS’ performance figures are well known, but putting them in context with a slew of contemporary sports cars is eye-opening nevertheless. Within the first few seconds of footage, the force-fed motor shows just how incredibly potent it is. Exiting Imola’s Rivazza at the same pace as the GT3 RS ahead of it, the GT2 RS takes only a couple of seconds before it streaks past effortlessly. The GT2 RS is relying exclusively on engine power to make that pass; the exit speeds were almost identical. That is a stunning sort of performance that makes its normally-aspirated sibling look more like a VW Golf than a track car built for use on the street.
That said, its straightline performance is only a third of the appeal. The GT2 RS appears playful and confidence-inspiring as it slides of over the curbs through the Traguardo section (0:25). Yet, it doesn’t look to cosset its driver and requires accurate and rapid countersteering—it sits right in the sweet spot between fearsome and friendly.
Additionally, this Porsche can be driven precisely, clinically, and efficiently: when the nose is nursed into some of the slower corners and straightened early, the engine deploys its power with unbelievable ease, as if it has four wheel-drive (0:54). Well-rounded would be a masterpiece of understatement.
The GT2 RS is strong in both slow and quick sections; relying on its innate traction and rear wheel-steering to help it in the former and the downforce to stabilize it in the latter. Yet, there’s still that weight distribution encouraging rotation (1:14) at speed, and while it appears far more civilized than its predecessor, the 991 GT2 RS is still barely leashed.
At Monza, the long straights serve to showcase the Porsche’s incredible, relentless acceleration. Nudging 200 MPH down the front straight is a simple as pulling a paddle, and the stability everywhere else is enviable. Still, a long lift off of the throttle is enough to coax the rear into a sphincter-puckering slide (2:08), and the power can easily overwhelm the rear tires in some of the slower corners. With precision, flair, and fun, he indulges in a bit of powersliding (2:22) and lives up to his name. He wasn’t going to drive straight the entire time, was he?
