The other day, I participated in the 911days driving event and took the 718 Cayman T around Fuji Speedway.
I’ve driven Fuji Speedway many times before, but this time it was with the Cayman T.
Previously, I’ve driven there in a 981 Boxster GTS, a 991 GT3, an early 991 Carrera 4 GTS, and a 992 Cabriolet.

Heading to Fuji Speedway with my wife’s Taycan Cross Turismo 4S

Pushing the Circuit with the 2-Liter Base Engine

I’ve mentioned on the blog before that the base 718 Cayman might be really fun on the track, and this time I put that theory to the test with the Cayman T.
The engine is the same 2-liter unit as the base model.

To sum up my experience: it’s absolutely fantastic!

It’s incredibly easy to drive. There’s no fear at all on the circuit.
You can floor the accelerator, and even when lightly sliding through corners, the stability is outstanding.

Some cars feel scary when sliding through corners, but the Cayman T doesn’t have that.
It’s truly controllable and responds exactly as you want. For example, with a 911, thanks to the rear-engine layout, the limit is high.
It corners with minimal slip, but sometimes the rear steps out sharply, which can be nerve-wracking. However, the Cayman doesn’t do that.

If pushed further, it might spin around, but that limit is quite high.
So for a novice like me, it’s really easy to control.
Even when applying continuous lateral G-forces, it rarely feels like it’s about to lose grip.

With a 911, the rear slides and stability control quickly steps in to correct it, causing a few tense moments here and there.
That almost never happens with the Cayman T.
You can really glide through each corner as if you’re dancing.
The phrase “gliding like a dance” fits perfectly.

Ample Power and the Excellence of the PDK

Of course, compared to the 991 or 992, the acceleration and engine output are lower.
It might not be a fair fight against a 992.
The acceleration doesn’t quite match up to a 911.

But it never feels slow. The power is just right.
You can confidently floor it. Even when fully pressing the accelerator out of corners, it’s never scary.
You don’t get into situations where the speed feels overwhelming.
That’s one of the great things about the Cayman T.

Also, the PDK is excellent.
The 718’s PDK feels a bit subdued in everyday driving, with a smoother impression compared to the 981 era.
However, on the circuit in Sport Plus mode, revving hard into the high RPM range and shifting near the redline, the response is sharp and the sound is fantastic.
The engine note is surprisingly sporty and very satisfying.
I’ve uploaded a video on Twitter, so please check it out if you’re interested.

https://twitter.com/boxster_gts/status/1769329664961765735?s=20

At Fuji Speedway, speeds reach around 230 to 240 km/h.
Thanks to the turbo engine, acceleration is strong, but I feel the 981 Boxster GTS might have a bit more top-end pull.

By the way, this Cayman T came with the Sport Chrono Package, which includes a “Sport Response Button” that boosts turbo pressure for 20 seconds, but I completely forgot to use it while driving.
A bit of a missed opportunity.
I think I could have driven even faster if I had used it.

The 718 Cayman Truly Shines on the Circuit

Overall, the 718 Cayman is incredibly easy to drive on the circuit.
It’s fast, controllable, and wonderful.
There were about 50 cars running that day, but since it wasn’t a competition, I didn’t focus on lap times.
Still, my time was around 7th overall, which is pretty good for a less powerful Porsche.

Those ahead were mostly skilled drivers in GT3s, GT4s, or heavily tuned air-cooled machines.
Being able to post times close to those cars speaks to the high capability of the 718 Cayman T.

I’ve also driven a GT3 on the circuit, and it’s truly fast.
It corners incredibly well but is so quick that you can’t fully push it.
Honestly, I don’t think a novice can unlock even half of its potential.

On the other hand, with the 718 Cayman, you can unlock that potential.
At least half of it. Even a novice can bring it out.
Of course, more skilled drivers can extract even more.

My best lap was in the 2:03 range, so a skilled driver could probably shave off about 3 seconds and break the 2-minute barrier.
That’s how much potential this Porsche holds.

So, if you want to drive on the circuit or attack mountain roads, I highly recommend the base 718 Cayman.
It’s truly a great car for learning and is the pinnacle for a novice to master.

If you’re thinking about making your circuit debut, why not consider the 718 Cayman?