Project 992 Carrera T - Breaking In

We recently ordered and took delivery of a 992 Carrera T to continue our testing and development of the 992 platform. Flat 6 Motorsports has tuned and built hundreds of 992 Carreras over the past few years. Our last development car was a humble 2020 Carrera, base model that we took up to 770HP with our Stage 4+ kit. Being a PDK car, we really wanted to get our hands on a manual transmission car to spend more time with testing various products and higher-powered numbers with power.

When Porsche announced the 992 Carrera T it was a no-brainer. For us, it provided all the sport and performance bits, and we already know the key hack to these cars is changing the turbochargers. We plan to take this vehicle to a Stage 4 set-up shortly but are focusing a lot of effort on testing and validating information from exhaust systems to inlets to new tuning options on the market. Our goal is to continue to develop our knowledge on the 992 and continue to share insights to other 992 owners to help build solutions for their preferences.

We acquire a variety of data, primarily via our in-house hub dyno which allows us to capture horsepower and torque figures, power curves and even log key data like boost pressure, IATs, timing adjustments, etc. This helps us get an objective view of how different hardware and software components impact the power delivery of the vehicle. We also prefer to gather data on track from simple lap timing to several parameters like coolant and engine oil temperature to verify the durability of parts tested under more extreme conditions. This helps us not only stress test products but gives us a more comprehensive perspective on various parts and set-ups.

Before we begin to set-up the Carrera T with a Stage 4 Power Kit, we wanted to capture key data to understand how the vehicle performs stock on track. We chose to take it to Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park (FIRM) about 2 hours from our facility in Florida. This is a fairly simple track that we’ve tested at many times so it’s good to control for variables. The one change we did make was putting a set of Michelin Cup 2 tires on because those will be the tires we end up running when we add more power to the vehicle. So it was only sensible to compare things like lap timing and G force measurements on a common tire.

What the Carrera T Does Well on Track:

• The overall balance is very nice on the Carrera T. It is a point and shoot type of driving experience. While the steering feedback from the wheel is more suited for touring, it gives you a very precise tool to maneuver the car from corner to corner.
• The brakes are sufficient. With a simple fluid and pad change, you won’t need to dump money into a brake kit unless you really amp up the power or have very long braking zones. On stock power, we only get to 118mph on the straight away before scrubbing down to ~48mph to set up turn 10 at the FIRM. While there are a lot of braking zones, that is the most extreme. The car will dance a little under heavy braking as the rear gets light but it still maintains a high degree of stability and provided confidence.
• The dynamics are pure Porsche. Whether it’s braking, corner entry, putting the power down on corner exit, the Carrera T really shines in doing all things well. The mechanical grip of the 992, particularly equipped with Cup 2 tires, is very elite. We saw lateral force of 1.55G from the onboard computer. The manual gearbox works fantastic and the auto-blip is flawless for those who like the driver assistance. Compared to the base without LSD, the car is more eager to accelerate on corner exit under high lateral load.
• The power is solid out of the box. The torque delivery is instant, and Porsche did a really good job with making the car feel as close to natural aspiration power.

What the Carrera T Needs on Track:

• While the power is solid out of the box, the 992 provides so much opportunity for more power with simple downloadable horsepower via a software tune to swapping the turbos for larger units from the S/GTS or Pure. There are certain sections of track where we thought, “It would be nice to have more power.” Not out of necessity but because the car is so well balanced, a little bit of drama and fun should be the goal of an enthusiast.
• The sound out of the stock PSE is muted. You don’t get to hear a lot of noise coming from the engine which takes away from the connection with the engine. It feels bland and muted. An aftermarket system really helps to improve not only the tone of the exhaust note but gives a little more in volume as well that provides a more engaging experience.
• Suspension tuning would be a big area for improvement with the Carrera T. Although it has the Sport PASM and sits a little lower than the standard model, it still feels pretty soft and floaty at times. This provides a nice ride quality for the street but leaves some to be desired on track. A proper set of coilovers from Ohlins or Bilstein paired with a proper track alignment would really refine the set-up for the track. We’d prefer a lower center of gravity with ride height and a little quicker reaction to steering inputs through the chassis.
• AWE Wind Foilers help kill of wind buffeting, these are a no brainer for the track!