The autocross course wasn't particularly technical, at least when it came down to learning its few chicanes and fewer turns, being
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| The corners in the autocross course were tight yet allowed for generous speed, taxing the suspension and tires if pushed to the limit. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
that it generally looped around in a figure-8 formation, but the corners were tight yet allowed for generous speed, taxing the suspension and tires if pushed to the limit. It was almost as much fun watching others wind the Guards Red Cayman between the cones as it was to do so myself, with the former providing the rush of an engine hitting redline, its exhaust growling with every blip of the Tiptronic shifter (yes, as previously mentioned the Cayman S comes in six-speed manual and five-speed automatic guises), its rear wheels breaking out slightly during the really sharp apexes, with little tufts of dirt, dust and or tire smoke emitted when the
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| The Cayman easily responds to minor input with dramatic results, the drama being, "How did I just get around that corner without breaking traction?" (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
rubber started to scream. Of course, when the Porsche-supplied professional driver took to the course, needing much less time to cover it than most of the journalists, except a noteworthy few, there was little in the way of tire squealing, but rather we witnessed the execution of an agile sports car effortlessly negotiating obstacles with an uncanny grace of composure.
After a few rounds of the course the Cayman felt that way to me, even when behind the wheel. It easily responds to minor input with dramatic results, the drama being, "How did I just get around that corner without breaking traction?" Yes, it defies logic, and until experienced under such conditions can't be imagined.
