ThePorsche Cayman GT4 RS is almost ready to be revealed and as part of its development, it was sent around theNürburgring-Nordschleife and posted a mind-blowing time.

We at Cars.co.za were smitten with the Cayman GT4. It did so much right, with a gorgeously precise manual gearbox, howling flat-6 engine and the way it drove made you feel like a superstar. It was wonderfully analogue and a reminder that driving is a privilege and an artform. We all thought the GT4 would be the pinnacle of the Cayman range, but rumours have been swirling that Porsche would give it the RS treatment.

> Read more: Porsche Cayman GT4 Review

We’ve had some experience with Porsche’s fearsome RS range. The Porsche 911 GT3 is one of the ultimate supercars and while it’s not the fastest supercar around, its precision and engagement make it a firm favourite amongst enthusiasts and collectors alike. Then there’s the GT2 RS, which takes the naturally-aspirated flat-6 engine and adds two turbochargers. It’s easily one of the fastest and most intimidating vehicles on the planet and deserves its nickname ‘The Widowmaker.’

> Read more: Porsche 911GT3 RS Review

Soon these two RS models will be joined by the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS, the new flagship of the Cayman range. Officially, the vehicle has not been revealed, with the content you see here forming part of the pre-production and development process. Of course, for a performance vehicle to be developed properly, it’ll need to spend some time on that famous piece of tarmac called the Nurburgring.

Going flat out around the technical twists and turns over many, many lapswill highlight a car’s deficiencies and engineers can adjust to make things faster and/or more comfortable. Of course, once the testing phase of a vehicle’s development is done, there’s nothing stopping the carmaker from attempting a timed lap, which is exactly what Porsche did.

The Stuttgart-based carmaker has a long list of very talented drivers on its books, so it was up to development driver and brand ambassador Jorg Bergmeister who sent the new Porsche Cayman GT4 RS around the20.832 km Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit in just 7:09:300. Now for some context as the length of the circuit needs to be clarified.

The 718 Cayman GT4 RS completed the shorter 20.6 km lap, which had previously served as the benchmark, in 7:04.511 minutes – 23.6 seconds faster than its little brother, the 718 Cayman GT4. A991.2-era Porsche 911 GT3 RSdid a 7:05 back in 2018, while the latest Porsche 911 Turbo S could only muster a7:17.3 in 2021. The new Porsche Cayman GT4 RS is one very quick machine…

Porsche says its new model was fitted with a racing seat and rode on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R tyres, which the car maker confirmed will be available as optional extras.“During development, we gave the 718 Cayman GT4 RS everything that characterises a genuine RS: lightweight construction, more downforce, more power and, of course, an even higher level of responsiveness and feedback to driver inputs. The fantastic lap time of the Nordschleife is impressive proof of how clearly noticeable these improvements in driving dynamics are,” says Directors GT Model Line, Andreas Preuninger.

We reckon the Porsche Cayman GT4 RS will be officially revealed before the end of 2021.

Further Reading

How can a traditional car company like Porsche survive the future?

Porsche Cayman GT4 Video Review