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Porsche planning Cayman GT4 racer

To say that Porsche is big in racing is like saying that Warren Buffett dabbles in mergers and acquisitions. But while it fields the 919 Hybrid at Le Mans and in the FIA World Endurance Championship, the bulk of its racing activities are undertaken by private teams that buy customer racecars from the factory. Those in turn are largely based on the 911, but the latest intel from the motor racing world indicates that Zuffenhausen is planning a more accessible customer race car.
The new, more affordable competition car is to be based on the Cayman and built to GT4 specifications, slotting in below the 911-based GT3 Cup, GT3 R and RSR. Autosport reports that Porsche has already developed a prototype and will shortly commence testing. Details are scarce at the moment, but the Cayman GT4 would seem to compete against the likes of the Aston Martin Vantage N24, Nissan 370Z Nismo GT4 and Maserati GranTurismo MC. It will also likely help Porsche foster enthusiasm for a potential road version that's already been spotted undergoing testing. Previous GT4 racing conversions of the Cayman, like the one pictured above, were carried out by third-party racing constructors not recognized by the factory.
Porsche may not be the only one showing interest in the category, however. BMW is said to similarly be considering a GT4-spec version of its M235i Racing model to compete in the same class, taking the place of the defunct M3 GT4 as the Bavarian marque's entry-level customer racing car.

Where to watch and follow the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year

In less than 24 hours the flag will drop on Audi's title defense at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyota's best ever chance to win and Porsche's return to le grand defi. The Le Mans organizers have kept as au courant with broadcast options as they have with power unit technology, so you'll be able to find a place to watch or listen no matter what your preferred method. Friend-of-Autoblog Reilly Brennan has again put together an exhaustive "couch kit" of viewing options, which you can check out at his site. Here's the short list: Le Mans Site Le Mans TV Le Mans Facebook page Le Mans Twitter page FIA WEC Live timing Audi Sport stream Corvette Racing stream Nissan NISMO stream Entry list and grid Spotter's Guide You can watch or listen to the excellent Radio Le Mans, app, Autosport will have hourly updates and a live blog, the ACO has a Le Mans app. Fox will broadcast the event over a combination of Fox Sports 1, 2 and its Fox Sports Go App from 8:30 EST Saturday morning until 9:30 am EST Monday morning. Hit up Reilly Brennan's site for even more options and details like Eurosport and Daily Motion, and good watching – this should be a spectacular race. News Source: Reilly Brennan Motorsports Audi Porsche Toyota

Black Edition Porsche Cayman is cooler than your Amex

I was working in a restaurant when I saw my first American Express Centurion card. Colloquially known as the Black Card, the Centurion is a substantial thing, if you've never handled one. It's, as the nickname describes, black, and made from titanium. It's cold to the touch and because it's so much heavier than a normal card, it feels like a piece of precision engineering. At the time, I couldn't get through my head just how German it felt, despite the "American" on its face. In many ways, this Porsche Cayman Black Edition is like the Black Card. It's the same color, for one. Gloss-black paint comes standard, although you're free to spend $710 for the metallic Jet Black variant. Like the exterior, the interior can only be had with black leather. Other upgrades for this "exclusive" Cayman include a Sport Design steering wheel, 20-inch Carrera Classic wheels, bi-xenon headlamps with the Porsche Dynamic Lighting System, navigation, heated seats, and an upgraded stereo. While its color and exclusivity might be a lot like the Centurion Card, we're wagering this isn't the Cayman most Black Card holders would buy, and that's because Porsche based it on the 275-horsepower model, rather than they hairy chested, 325-horsepower Cayman S, 340-hp GTS, or 385-hp GT4. That means 60 miles per hour arrives in a leisurely 5.4 seconds for the manual, 5.3 seconds for the PDK automatic, and 5.1 seconds for the PDK in Sport Plus mode. And if time really is money, those numbers aren't going to mesh with Black Card carriers. Prices for the Cayman Black Edition start at $60,195, or $6,600 more than the standard Cayman. While that seems steep, according to our contacts at Porsche, you'd be spending $12,825 to add the Black Edition's standard equipment to a normal Cayman. Sales are slated to begin in January. Porsche has released a single image of the new Cayman, available up top. You can also scroll down for a brief press release. Related Video: IN ELEGANT BLACK: PORSCHE CAYMAN BLACK EDITION Exclusive edition of 2016 Porsche Cayman in classic color combination ATLANTA, Oct. 1, 2015 -- Porsche is expanding the Black Edition line-up to include a new special edition of the Cayman. A strong complement inside the special edition series, which also includes the Boxster and the 911 Carrera, the Cayman Black Edition is distinguished with a timeless Black on Black design and an extensive level of standard equipment.