Richards takes GT4 to Targa

Motor racing stalwart Jim Richards has a new toy – and he's getting ready to fire it in anger.

In what is the rallying debut of Porsche's new Cayman GT4, the Kiwi-born Richards will front the starter of Targa High Country in his Shannons-sponsored example early next month. The event is a shakedown for the new Porsche tarmac rally car ahead of Richard's main aim – victory in the 25th Anniversary Targa Tasmania next April.

The fastest and most powerful Cayman ever, the GT4 was launched to local automotive media this week. Already sold out, the standard GT4 is priced at $189,900 – almost $30,000 more than the car that won motoring.com.au inaugural Australia's Best Drivers Car, the Cayman GTS.

Unlike the GTS, the GT4 is offered in six-speed manual form only.

Powered by a re-engineered version of the 911 Carreras S' 3.8-litre six-cylinder boxer, the GT4 is the handiwork of Porsche's famed Motorsport division. This is the same crew that builds the 911 GT3, GT3 RS and Carrera Cup and RSR racers.

The GT4 features a unique body-in-white and suspension, steering and braking systems derived from the GT3. Porsche claims it is the first Cayman or Boxster series car to have downforce at speed – in the order of 100kg at 250km/h. Despite this (and the oversize front splitter and read wind), the GT4 has a drag co-efficient only 0.01 worse than its GTS stablemate.

The GT4 gets 20-inch wheels front and rear (fr/rr 8.5/11.0) and rolls on Michelin's latest Pilot Sport Cup 2 semi-slick road-legal performance tyres.

A PDK-equipped Cayman GT4 Clubsport will debut at next month's Los Angeles auto show. The racetrack-only car will likely be built exclusively in left-hand drive. Indeed, PCA has already taken the decision not to import the car Down Under, although Aussie GT4 buyers can option up the (unrelated) $9890 Clubsport kit to make their cars a little more track ready.

Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) has been inundated with orders for the new GT4. According to spokesperson, Paul Ellis, more than 140 potential owners have placed deposits. The only issue PCA faces is actually supplying the cars – so far the Australian allocation is just 70 cars.

"We will be pushing as hard as we can to secure extra allocation of cars," Ellis told motoring.com.au.

PCA is facing a similar shortfall in terms of allocation for the upcoming RS version of the new-generation 911 GT3.

"We're going to struggle to get enough," Ellis admitted, adding that PCA has closed orders on the 4.0-litre, 368kW $387,300 RS.

Richards says early testing with the new GT4 shows it has the potential to take the eight-times Targa winner to the top of the podium again – perhaps even against the more expensive four-wheel drive equipment which will vie for outright honours.

"Our move to the Cayman GT4 will mean we'll be more competitive in our [two-wheel drive] class against more powerful competition. It's the perfect Targa rally car and it will be great to see how we fair against our more powerful rivals," Richards stated.