By Scott Morvay

I knew before arriving to the track that my date for the evening was going to give me a thrill, but I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It doesn't matter if you own a GT3, GT3RS, or even a GT2. Those cars are track beasts in their own right, but still have tameness to them, of course only when compared to a Porsche GT3 Cup Car.

I must warn you the experience is not for everyone, you have to have a passion for the driver involvement in cars, from everything from the feedback from the suspension, steering wheel, and enjoy shifting gears the old fashioned way. You have to be prepared for the physical output this car requires lap after lap. Also you have to be fit enough to get in and out!

SHIFTING

Once you leave the pits you quickly realize the GT3 Cup car needs to be driven with confidence and deliberate actions. The gearbox makes so much sense once you get the hang of it. Orbit's Vertu car is equipped with an auto blipper, which is a relief (when you already have so much going on inside your head). It automatically rev- matches for you on the down shifts ( you still operate the clutch on downshifts).

On Upshifts you can keep your foot planted on the throttle and grab the next gear without using the clutch once you're really driving at speed.  There is a significant amount of noise that comes from the gearbox. When shifting at first you think you broke something but then the sound just becomes normal and part of the excitement. I had so much fun going onto the front straight, shifting to 3-4-5 and then back down 4-3-2. When you shift into 5th the whining noise you hear sounds like a supercharger! The shift lights are on both sides of the dashboard display and are very prominent and when you shift at the higher RPMS you don't have to use the clutch you can quickly grab the next gear its seamless.

Tires & Suspension

I'm use to driving on R-compound tires in my GT3, but those begin to loose their grip after a few hard laps. The cup cars slicks keeps the car gripping consistently lap after lap and can pull more G's then I was use to, I didn't want to even explore those limits being that it was my first time. We are use to cars that isolate us inside the cabin where we don't hear every little noise from the track or street. Not in a cup car you hear everything and feel everything! I can't tell you how many posts in the Porsche forums where people complain about certain tires being louder then others. This reinforces the Cup is not for the faint at heart or the out of shape for that matter!

Conclusion

The experience changed me, I have gone even further to the dark side, as if 3 911's and 2 track memberships wasn't enough I want another ride in the cup. The Vertu is a great gal, but not the type you bring home to your mother.