Tuesday 11th March 2014

911 GT2 rallying: Time For Tea?

Frenchman crashes GT3 in the forest, does the logical thing and gets a GT2 replacement

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Gilles Nantet is a French rally driver but not one we at PH were familiar with. Judging by this video, we really should have been.

What might be described as quite a big crash (see Axis of Oversteer) terminated Nantet's 2013 campaign early with a written-off car and some serious injuries. That car was a 997 GT3, a car that must be fairly tricky on narrow rally stages. It would be a courageous move to recommence rallying with a 911 so Gilles took the sensible route and got a GT2 replacement. Mad, mad man.

This video of Gilles in action is a masterpiece in rally driving. There's one handed oversteer, full commitment over some treacherous bumps and unfathomable speed on wet tarmac. All the time that turbocharged flat six is huffing and puffing away as Gilles deals with the boost.

The video then cuts to the interview where Monsieur Nantet is still wearing his neck brace from the earlier accident (!). Hopefully those of you with better French skills will be able to translate fully what he says but it sounds like the discussion is centred on dealing with turbos and 4WD.

He may not be as well known as Gilles Panizzi, Francois Delecour and the like but Gilles Nantet can most certainly drive. Watch and learn!

Enjoy

 

[Source: Axis of Oversteer]

[WTFWT]

Looks like he would be going faster in a GT3 on those types of roads...

[anonymous-user]

Actually a neat tidy driver! Not that much flailing around. Just get it straight and hoof it. Speaking of which, what diameter inlet restrictors is that running to be allowed to rally? I imagine it's probably making a LOT less power than the road version.......

[rob.e]

Gilles who?

Seriously though, nice car control. Looks like a lot of fun. Scary fun...!

[soad]

rob.e said:

Gilles who?

Nantet.

[Macd355]

Max_Torque said:

Actually a neat tidy driver! Not that much flailing around. Just get it straight and hoof it. Speaking of which, what diameter inlet restrictors is that running to be allowed to rally? I imagine it's probably making a LOT less power than the road version.......

Considerably less. Assuming it's running under the FIA RGT rules it's limited to 3.6kg/hp and the minimum weight for a 3.6 liter turbocharged car is 1370kg so power should be around 380bhp

[hondansx]

Excellent! More of this!

[OlberJ]

He looks like Steve McQueen in the interview!

[GravelBen]

I still remember the old video of him crashing his S/T or SCRS or whatever it was before moving to the GT3!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7ETEAUmYNk

Great driver to watch.

[JackP1]

PH said:

what he says but it sounds like the discussion is centred on dealing with turbos and 4WD.

4wd? Can't be a gt2 then...

[Oddball RS]

JackP1 said:

PH said:

what he says but it sounds like the discussion is centred on dealing with turbos and 4WD.

4wd? Can't be a gt2 then...

Dealing with, not driving with......?

[gonzales_turbo]

He is almost only talking about the air flow restriction, and how they need to reprogram the ECU to cope with this, but in the same time it makes the car more manageable even in wet/leaves conditions.

[OlberJ]

GravelBen said:

I still remember the old video of him crashing his S/T or SCRS or whatever it was before moving to the GT3!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7ETEAUmYNk

Great driver to watch.

That's where I knew the name from!

The video was titled Porsche Turbo Rally, which that is clearly not (a turbo). Loved his commitment, what a drive.

I've watched that video at least 20 times.

[marky911]

Is that Chubby Brown as his pit crew? (25 seconds in)

Good car, brave man!

[vrooom]

Perfect car choice for rally. lot of weight on rear wheels on loose surfaces.

[lee_erm]

vrooom said:

Perfect car choice for rally. lot of weight on rear wheels on loose surfaces.

And not much on the front. Far from the perfect car for rally!

[smilo996]

911 potting on its best face. huge arse, covered in multi layered spoilers. Engine that sounds like, well not a combustion engine, able to put the back out in a straight line and its party trick, crashing.

[monthefish]

That's a serious sinlge point impact


( at the face of the lady in the background )

[UltimaCH]

Nasty impact, but also a miracle because if it had been a bit more forward, I doubt he would be around to drive the GT2.

Oh, I also confirm that he talks about the leaves and wetness and the need to remap the engine to better accommodate the restrictors. No 4wd stuff at all.

Edited to add a video made in 2013 of his 997 GT3 or GT+ as called. Clean driving and shows respect for the mechanicals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zZ1EvyqKNI

Edited by UltimaCH on Wednesday 12th March 12:15

[Mannginger]

I've always been disappointed in the GT2 exhaust note, this does nothing to improve on it. Pretty insane idea though so fair play to the owner / driver!