Walter Rohrl, before nicking 'our' car...
"Whenever there's a new 911 Turbo, I always say it's got the smoothest power delivery yet. Here I am saying it again, but it's true," quipped rally and race legend Walter Rohrl at the press launch of the new model at Estoril last week.
Porsche chose the famous Portuguese circuit for the launch as it marks the spot 25 years ago where Austrian driver Niki Lauda clinched the F1 world title using the first Porsche (TAG) turbo racing engine in the McLaren MP4/2.
As the assorted media hacks tried out the new 911 Turbos on the circuit, Walter Rohrl wheeled out a trio of classic racers to get our nostalgia glands working overtime.
"The difference is the turbo power delivery from the old cars is incredible," he said, after a brief re-acquaintance with a gorgeous 935. "It is now so smooth, it really is almost impossible to distinguish the latest Turbo from a normally aspirated engine."
Amusingly, when PH was about to leave the circuit for Lisbon airport in our allocated 911 Cabrio, we were held up for a few minutes as Mr Rohrl had unexpectedly nicked our car to give a hot lap to a rather glamorous blonde lady from the German press office. On his return, he very generously made up for it by taking me for a spin round the Estoril circuit as well - the most amazing display of silky-smooth sideways skill I think I've ever seen. No wonder Niki Lauda once called Rohrl 'a genius on wheels', and the new 911 Turbo is quite a machine, too!
A full report on the new 911 Turbo is coming soon. Meanwhile, check out this terrific Porsche promo video and a picture gallery taken at the circuit.