Showdown911 is already a YouTube legend in his own right. Videos of him driving his 993 without a shred of fear have garnered him a respectable following. Sandro Ziegler, as he’s better known, took a fairly plain-jane 993, added a few clever modifications, and made himself a rewarding track car that can outrun some fairly high-dollar machinery—provided he grabs his Porsche by the scruff of the neck.
Ziegler’s tail-out style occasionally has him countersteering all the way to the lock stops.
A man as handy as Ziegler understands the value of lightweight cars, and so he put his 993 on a mild diet without breaking the bank. While the removal or the air conditioning and carpet are predictable track-car modifications, the plexiglass windows and RS door cards prove he’s committed to trimming the heft. Additionally, OZ Racing Alleggerita wheels dot each corner, and in total, all these touches bring the Porsche’s weight down to an enviable 2,650 pounds, and that makes his 911 very nimble and very lively.
Details on the 993
Propelling the lightened 993 is a simple powerplant: a revalved engine with slightly bigger cams provide roughly 270 horsepower. With what sound like stock gear ratios, the 993 isn’t much of a dragster and it’s not going to outrun many cars in a straight line. However, it compensates for that lack of power with its agility and braking prowess. Ziegler needs (read: loves) to manhandle the edgy 993 to get the most out of it. It breaks traction on entry; yawing wildly with a flick of the wheel, and it puts the power down well, provided he avoids the curbs. If it’s not power-understeering slightly on exit, it’s completely on the lock stops after cresting a curb. This hot-blooded driving style, at the very least, put on a display for the man following closely in the 964 RS.
When a driver on-par with Ziegler arrives to the party in a mint 964 RS, there’s not going to be much of a fight; the lightweight RS simply streaks away. Though revised gear ratios would aid here, the way the RS accelerates suggests a little more punch than the standard 3.6 provides—as both the 993 and the 3.6-liter 964 have similar power-to-weight ratios. Therefore, it’s likely the car is a 3.8 RS with a power output closer to the 300-mark. With more stability, comparable braking, and a definitive straight-line advantage, the RS leaves Ziegler within the course of a lap. Try as he might, Ziegler’s acrobatic driving display can’t match the RS’ sheer grunt. Nonetheless, you can’t help but take your hat off for this exuberant, slightly nutty man behind the 993’s wheel.