ePerformance technology for e-racing cars in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4!

Thomas Wachsmuth 16 May 2022 -> Cars from AZ, News vehicles, Porsche, Videos

Reading time 5 Min.

Recently updated on July 12, 2022 at 06:37 am

With the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance, Porsche has started testing the technology components of the Mission R. At the IAA Mobility 2021 in Munich, the concept study presented the vision of a fully electric GT racing car for future customer motorsport. The Mission R's innovative electric drive concept is now proving its worth on national and international routes.

with ePerformance technology

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance serves as a test vehicle. Like the Mission R, the all-wheel drive racing car uses the chassis of the well-known 718 GT4 Clubsport model. The entire electric motor and battery technology also comes from the IAA concept study. This means maximum performance in qualification mode of 735 kW (1.000 hp) and more. In simulated racing, 450 kW (612 hp) are permanently available for 30 minutes – i.e. the length of a Carrera Cup race. In terms of lap time performance and top speed, the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance is based on the current 911 GT3 Cup of the 992 generation.

“With the Mission R, we have shown how Porsche can imagine sustainable customer motorsport of the future. The 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance now proves that this vision works on the race track and also inspires,” emphasizes Matthias Scholz, overall project manager for GT racing vehicles. "We are very excited about the response, because a one-make cup with electric racing cars could be an important addition to our existing customer sport program." In 2030, Porsche should have a CO₂-neutral balance sheet across the entire value chain and the life cycle of the newly sold vehicles. In the same year, the proportion of all new vehicles with a fully electric drive should be more than 80 percent.

up to 800 kW (1.088 hp) at peak

ePerformance technology for e-racing cars in the Porsche 718 Cayman GT4! — Matthias Scholz, overall project manager for GT racing vehicles

As with the Mission R, the purely electric drive train of the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance is based on a permanent magnet synchronous machine (PSM) on the front and rear axles. Both together transform the racing car into an all-wheel drive vehicle and can achieve a peak output of up to 800 kW (1.088 hp). The direct oil cooling of the e-machines and the battery pack developed by Porsche counteracts thermally induced derating. "The integration of the oil cooling has had a significant impact on the vehicle concept," explains Björn Förster, GT4 ePerformance project manager. “The entire development team created an architecture with aerodynamics and thermodynamics experts, high-voltage experts and bodywork specialists in which the full potential of the battery cells can be used for the first time, since there is no thermal derating. In this way, the power is available undiminished in racing mode for the desired period of half an hour.” Thanks to 900 volt technology, the storage level of the battery at full charging power jumps from five to 15 percent SoC (State of Charge/ state of charge).

The forms of the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance were designed by a team from Porsche Style led by designer Grant Larson. The racing car is 14 centimeters wider than a 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport. Around 6.000 parts were newly designed for him. The body consists, among other things, of natural fiber composite materials, the production of which is said to generate fewer emissions than the production of comparable synthetic materials. Recycled carbon fibers are also used on a test basis. The flared fenders compared to the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport make room for even wider 18-inch racing tires from Michelin. They have a particularly high proportion of renewable materials.

The GT4 ePerformance Tour #race2zero

The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance celebrates its world premiere at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, which takes place from June 23 to 26, 2022. At the renowned motorsport show in southern England, the electric concept vehicle will be at the starting line on the approximately 1,9-kilometer hill climb track. The second stop on August 20, 2022 is the Porsche plant in Leipzig, which is celebrating its 20th birthday this year. The site has a 3,7-kilometer circuit that quotes famous sections of world-renowned racetracks. The two 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance demo vehicles will then travel through various European countries before heading to North America in early 2023.

The end of the world tour is the Asia-Pacific region, where the purely electric racing car will be on the road until mid-2024. In line with the sustainability strategy of the entire "race2zero" project, the logistically optimized transport is carried out exclusively by ship, train and truck. "The 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance points the way to Porsche customer sport with electrically powered racing vehicles. As a first step, we will present this concept to our partners worldwide,” says Oliver Schwab, Project Manager Sales for the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance. "Together with drivers, teams, organizers, authorities and other interested parties, we are also collecting ideas for future Porsche racing formats."

GT4 ePerformance – the partners

The 718 Cayman GT4 ePerfomance goes on a world tour with the support of seven partners. All companies involved see the tour as a platform to further advance the topic of sustainability together with Porsche Motorsport. DB Schenker is new on board. The world's leading provider of global logistics services is contributing, among other things, with sustainable transport services. The long-standing cooperation partner ExxonMobil is involved through its Mobil brand through joint developments in the field of coolants and lubricants for the racing car.

TAG Heuer, the Swiss manufacturer of luxury watches, is supporting this and other Porsche Motorsport projects as a timing partner. As a long-standing technology partner of Porsche Motorsport, Michelin is developing particularly sustainable racing tires for the 718 Cayman GT4 ePerformance. That Fashion company Hugo Boss equips the team. The fireproof clothing for drivers and mechanics is provided by sports lifestyle brand Puma and the crew's tools come from official outfitter Hazet.

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