CHASING HERR RÖHRL

We drive the fastest, most focused and fiercest 911 yet. Meet the mighty 911 GT2 RS

BLESSED, or cursed? On the one hand, tearing down the main straight of southern Portugal’s F1 accredited Algarve International Circuit (known colloquially as Portimão) in a Porsche 911 GT2 RS is exhilarating stuff. But, trying to keep pace with Walter Röhrl in an identical GT2 RS is rather harrowing. This is the man who was once voted by 100 motorsport experts worldwide as the best rally driver ever.

His track skills are equally impressive. Through the long, downhill right-hander leading onto Portimão’s main straight, Röhrl hugs the inside kerb at 150 km/h. Specially commissioned, ultra-high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber, displaying “265/35 ZR20” on shallow front sidewalls, cling on for dear life. It’s the polonyskinned 325/30 ZR21S at the rear that you have to take note of, though; they’re the widest tyres yet fitted to a standard 911.

Equally impressive are 515 kw and 750 N.m, more grunt than has ever been unleashed by Porsche’s most iconic car. A 06:47,30 blitz of the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife confirms that the new GT2 RS is, in fact, the quickest road-legal Porsche yet. And all of its muscle, thrust and traction are concentrated in two contact patches halfway between the driver and two rearapron outlet bazookas, the catalytic converters of which glow in a bright neon orange after dark.

So, accelerating onto Portimão’s main straight with enough speed to eventually hit 290 km/h demands respect and precision; gorilla grip can easily be overwhelmed by tail-happy King Kong clout.

The tools are there, though, to exercise the necessary diligence. For one thing, the steering is surprisingly light. It’s ever so slightly loose around the centre to accommodate the aggressively tuned rear-axle steering, yet off-centre, navigation is extremely sharp and precise.

Massive boost arrives instantly, either to turn the car or turn it into a tarmac-devouring