Porsche 911 @ Fuji Speedway

The other day, a circuit driving event hosted by the magazine “911DAYS” was held at Fuji Speedway, and my husband participated in his 911 Cabriolet (992 model). When he signed up for the event, he said,

Which car should I take to the next event…? I’ve never driven a GT3 at Fuji Speedway, so maybe I’ll go with the GT3…

However, since I, the “Rainstorm, Typhoon, Fog, and Snow Woman”, was going along,

…that means it’s almost certain to rain (lol), so I can’t run the GT3 with cup tires… I’ll take the 911 Cabriolet instead.

He decided he would run with the 992 this time, well before the weekly weather forecast was even out.

And on the day of the event, just as he predicted, it poured rain… (-_-)

Previously, we’ve experienced various bad weather at Fuji Speedway, such as the WEC (FIA World Endurance Championship) being red-flagged and ended due to heavy rain and dense fog, Porsche driving schools being canceled due to heavy rain, attending Porsche driving school Warm Up+ sessions in heavy rain, and snow covering the circuit from the previous day.

Although I’ve only been to Fuji Speedway a few times (how many times have I actually been? lol), this was by far the heaviest rain, almost like a typhoon.

The track was, of course, heavily wet.

There were participants in GT3s and GT3RSs that day, but I heard some canceled at the last minute due to the bad weather.

Understandable… I really feel sorry about that.

However, my husband said,

Just 30 seconds after leaving the hotel this morning, a recommendation to use WET mode popped up. That warning only appears in really heavy rain. It’s rare to have the chance to drive on a circuit in such a downpour, so it’s a great opportunity to try wet mode for the first time. So, maybe it’s a good experience.

He actually drove the entire event in wet mode.

Due to the heavy rain, he was only able to complete about 4 to 5 laps during the two 30-minute sessions (there were multiple red flag interruptions), but he was able to experience the performance of wet mode firsthand. Today, I’d like to share that experience.

Porsche 911 (992) Wet Mode

The 992 generation 911 is the first in the world to feature wet mode. It’s an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) designed to enhance safety on wet roads, and it comes standard on the 992.

When the system detects a wet surface and wet mode is selected, systems like “PSM” (Porsche Stability Management), “PTM” (Porsche Traction Management), adaptive aerodynamics, and “PTV” (Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus) are all adjusted to maximize driving stability.

Additionally, the variable rear spoiler extends to the position that stabilizes the vehicle most, air flaps open, and the accelerator pedal response becomes smoother. Incidentally, PSM off and sport mode are disabled.
*Source: Response “Porsche 911 New Model Features ‘Wet Mode’ That Automatically Detects Wet Roads and Integrates System Control”

Amazing… it’s incredibly smart.

Regarding wet mode, my husband said,

When driving in wet mode, despite the circuit being like a river in such heavy rain, the car felt very stable just letting the PDK handle it. I was surprised. There was no sign of slipping at all.
Of course, since it was pouring, I didn’t push the speed much, and if I’d hit hydroplaning on a straight, that would have been game over, so I drove cautiously. But the level of stability was impressive.
When no one was around, I tried pushing the Lexus Corner at quite a reckless speed, but I couldn’t get the car to slide at all. Aside from hydroplaning, it’s probably quite hard to make it slide.
If it can handle this well on a circuit, it should be very confident on public roads.
At first, there were a few cars ahead of me, but since wet mode was so stable, I was able to overtake them aggressively and before I knew it, I was leading the pack. I even started to wonder, “Did the event get canceled and I’m the only one still driving without realizing it…?” which made me a bit nervous (laughs).

However, he did encounter a scary moment:

Approaching the gentle right turn at Coca-Cola Corner, I was accelerating nicely when I probably hit hydroplaning. The rear suddenly slid sideways, the car swayed right and left, and I nearly crashed into the right fence.
At that moment, I was really glad I’d taken Porsche’s driving school.
In the school, they repeatedly teach that “when the car becomes uncontrollable, don’t try to fix it with steering alone; instead, firmly press the brake first.”
Modern Porsches have amazing ABS control, so trusting the car and braking hard, then steering once the speed has dropped, can help avoid danger.

So this time, when the car started sliding, I slammed on the brakes hard and managed to regain control.
I really think emergency full braking training is absolutely essential. Without it, I probably would have tried to correct with steering alone and gone off the track.

Makes perfect sense…!

This time, we were able to test the 992’s wet mode and also reaffirm the importance of safe driving, so it was a meaningful event in that respect.

That said, last year’s event, which I didn’t attend, was held in clear weather, so I’m wondering if I should skip going even if invited again next year…

My husband said,

Why not decide at the last minute? If the forecast looks clear, then go.

But I have a feeling the moment I decide to go, the forecast will turn to rain… that’s how it usually goes these days (lol).