911 GT2 rallying: Time For Tea?

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

By Matt Bird / Tuesday, 11 March 2014 / Loading comments

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