autoevolution
 

Porsche 911 R Is Works Driver Patrick Long's Heel-and-Toe Instrument

Since the 911 R is more about driving than any Porsche you can currently buy in a showroom, Zuffenhausen is using the limited edition Neunelfer as both a marketing and a performance driving tuition tool.
Porsche 911 R on track 1 photo
Photo: YouTube screenshot
The story goes far beyond the usual way in which Porsche commercials keep you on your toes, simply thanks to the fact that we're dealing with more than a series of ads here. As the German automaker announced on its YouTube channel three weeks ago, the company will release a new 911 R driving lesson every Friday.

After having asked the public to submit applications, Porsche selected two lucky participants who are now receiving one-on-one tuition from works driver Patrick Long.

It all started with the obvious seating position lesson, and given the carbon fiber bucket seats of the R, the episode was nothing short of a delight. Next up, Porsche took the two participants to its Weissach testing facility, where Patrick tought them how to correct both understeer and oversteer.

For today's lesson, the Porsche factory driver brings the heel-and-toe shifting technique under the spotlight. Yes, the 911 R's Sport Mode does include an automatic throttle blip function for downshifts, but this only allowed the two pupils to observe the difference between their own stunts and the way in which the car itself handles the job.

Truth be told, an encounter with such a heel-and-toe robot generally makes one realize he or she needs to work on the rev-matching skills - since daily driving doesn't require such sharp moves, many drivers fall into a comfort zone that sees them being helpless when sporty A to B transportation is required.

You can check out the lesson below, grab your car keys and practice the technique yourself. However, do keep in mind not to attempt such stunts while in traffic.

If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Andrei Tutu
Andrei Tutu profile photo

In his quest to bring you the most impressive automotive creations, Andrei relies on learning as a superpower. There's quite a bit of room in the garage that is this aficionado's heart, so factory-condition classics and widebody contraptions with turbos poking through the hood can peacefully coexist.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories