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march 15, 2018 - Porsche

Porsche Ice Experience 2018-On the attack

The 911 moves peacefully towards the opening of a bend in reverse gear; following a rapid tug on the steering wheel, it tears across the ice with the full force of the turbo engine in a perfect drift. One thing is clear: Everything except the all-wheel drive is a compromise. A guest article by Fabian Mechtel from the #porsche Ice Experience in Levi, Finland.

The plane has barely touched down on the snow-dusted runway and the engines just about turned off, when all becomes quiet once more. The snow, towering a metre high, seems to swallow every noise into complete silence. Combined with the bizarre ice sculptures, the sun, wind and not exactly balmy night-time temperatures on the barren landscape of northern Finland, this environment feels almost unreal.

This feeling is reinstated again the following morning when the #911carrera4gts in Miami Blue dances through an area known only as “Forest 7”. The circuit is a wonderfully fluid racetrack carved through a pine-fringed moor. Tight corners, large radii, wild chicanes and intense, steep undulations, all provided on a silver platter, ready to showcase the 911’s many talents.

At some point in a 45-degree drift angle, as you rattle the steering angle limiter energetically, it’s all over. To ensure that its vehicles not only corner better but, most importantly, do so at a much higher speed, #porsche has invested a lot of time and effort in the design of the PTM (Porsche Traction Management) all-wheel drive. Normally, the front axle does practically no work and is only coupled when necessary – for example when there is too much slippage at the rear axle – by means of an active multi-plate clutch to provide propulsion. However, it is not only slippage that plays a role. Longitudinal and lateral acceleration, and the steering angle in particular, are important factors for torque distribution.

Of course, some beautiful powerslides can be achieved even without this mechatronic magic – even on spikes, the 911 makes light work of the icy elements – and where necessary cuts powerfully across every curve. But all this is only ever a compromise if not all four of the wheels are working for the drift. After all, just putting your foot down is, and always will be, only a brute force method. Drifting is normally a lot easier in these conditions.

Further information in the press release to download

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