Restored Porsche 911 Does Laps Around Laguna Seca (Video)
Carfection showcases incredible re-imagined Porsche 911. However, the Porsche does the talking this time.
Unlike most of Carfection‘s content, in their new video there is no appearances made by Henry Catchpole — though he did narrate. Instead, for this five-minute video, he let the Porsche 911’s boxer engine do all the talking. After introducing the car, the driver (Marino Franchitti), and the track that was lucky enough to have this Porsche grace the tarmac (WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca), the rest of the video is pure, unadulterated engine noise. Singer Vehicle Design, the company that worked their magic on this lucky 911, is famous for taking older, neglected Porsche’s and restoring them to their former glory and then some. This Porsche is no exception to that rule.
Captured by Carfection‘s YouTube channel is this beautiful Porsche taking hot laps around Laguna Seca. As depicted in the video, it is a typical foggy day at the track. Also known as, “The Home of the Corkscrew,” many important races are held here, such as IMSA and thus the Monterey GP, INDY races, as well as both the Pre-Reunion and Reunion races. Because of these races, the track is no stranger to retro Porsche 911‘s humming through the Corkscrew.
Though, this 911 wasn’t part of a historics race. Instead, its legs are being stretched by Franchitti for the sake of Carfection‘s video. Franchitti as a driver is an excellent choice to have drive this Porsche 911, as he’s not unfamiliar with Porsches. In 2001, he raced a Porsche 996 GT3-RS, and then in 2008 Franchitti raced a Porsche RS Spyder Evo. Of which, he earned second place in the 12 Hours of Sebring race.
After some research, we learn that this drive isn’t his first around Laguna Seca, either. So, a car re-imagined by Singer, driven by a man who is more than qualified to drive it, as Catchpole phrases it: an “acoustically agreeable” experience. And that it is. It is a different kind of peaceful, seeing Franchitti’s reactions to his surroundings, and how he has to occasionally remind the wiry 911 who is driving who. The boxer engine isn’t a shy one either, with the engine screaming as Franchitti keeps the revs high.
At first, it seems like Franchitti is alone with this blue Porsche — but after a few minutes, we are able to catch a glimpse of other retro Porsche’s going for the win, as well. Franchitti wastes no time in overtaking them.
The only time we ever hear Catchpole’s voice in this video is toward the end, when he promises that they will release a full road test review on the car. They just can’t keep the majesty of this Porsche and its equally magnificent noises to themselves. Absolutely no one could blame them. Sweet, sweet music to the ears.
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