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This is the Porsche 997 RGT(picture below) which Richard Tuthill will drive at WRC Deutschland later this month. Stéphane Prevot will co-drive. Tuthill – best known for his classic Tuthill Porsches at events like the East African Safar Classic – believes his team is the first to make a proper rallying 997 to the FIA RGT regulations – and the sight and sound of a car like the Porsche on a WRC event later this month will be very different to the rest of the entries.
iRally has been speaking to him…. Q) What’s so special about this car? “It looks great, sounds lovely and is a joy to drive, and will only get better!” Q) How does this differ from a normal showroom Porsche…what’s the spec, and what do you do to the car to make it rally-worthy? “It’s essentially a 997 GT3 Cup car that we have modified to go rallying. We are at the very start of a proper development plan with the car that is being led by Graham Moore, Colin McRae’s engineer for years at Subaru.” “That said the project, to get the car this far, was much bigger than I anticipated. The FIA RGT regs are new to all and there are many areas that need further thought. We are, in my opinion, the first to do a proper car. There are many areas that we are working on. The car in Germany is a work in progress, and there is much more to come.” “People have seen many such cars on national rallies around Europe, as your report earlier this week mentioned. However these are a long way off the FIA RGT-spec. We are still struggling for a wide range of tyres, for example, given we run 11 inch rear wheels versus WRC cars run 9 inch. We also run a restrictor, which I think is unnecessary, but time will tell. For sure the car cannot challenge the WRC cars or even R5 just yet, but with time it will become more competitive.” Q) From the spectators’ view, are cars like this more exciting than WRC cars? “I am a huge fan of WRC cars, they are brutally efficient and for me still spectacular to watch. The issue is that without the stickers, they look the same, they also sound the same. So the idea that we will have some different looking and sounding cars on the stage is a great thing.” “The most important thing I want to get across is the pure enjoyment of driving such a car. This diversification for us is, at it’s very heart, to provide a car that looks and sounds amazing and is amazing to drive. A car that whenever anyone sees it, they want to drive it. Let’s go and have some proper fun.” Q) Just for asphalt? “No! The gravel kit is on its way and then we really will have something to get even more excited about – to hear one approaching through a Welsh forest on Wales Rally GB will be quite something.” Q) Tuthill Porsche is known for its classic Porsches – you sent 17 to the last East African Safari Classic. Does this signal a move away from historics to present, or is it a case of all things Porsche? “Absolutely not, it’s a natural extension to what we do. We live for Porsches and look after all types from road cars through to race and rally cars. The Safari rally is my favourite rally in the world, that will never change. I first went to it in 1980 when Dad was driving a locally-built Saab!!” “The 2015 entry has just opened. I have no plans to run 17 cars again, but if the opportunity arises I would jump at it. It was the most organised and efficient rally team I have ever ran – it had to be! To dedicate a year of one’s life to one rally is very special. We will be most grateful just to be involved however big or small – it’s become a tradition, part of our DNA.” “As for the RGT cars I am super excited and I would love to be running many of them on the WRC next year, but first we must get the car to the highest level and that’s the only reason I am driving. I want to understand this car as well as I understand the early ones. I believe it gives us a much better position to support future clients if I have an in-depth knowledge of the product from the drivers seat.” “That said I won’t lie – who wouldn’t want to drive a 997 RGT!!” |
