The Garage Blog

The Garage: Your daily dose of automotive news, reviews and motorsports coverage

Top down in the 2017 Porsche 718 Boxster

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718-spyder

 

For 2017, Porsche went back to its roots by dropping the flat six in the Boxster/Cayman line-up in favour of a four cylinder layout, just like road and racing cars of old. They also resurrected the badge 718, which first referred to an iconic four pot racer from the late Fifties through to the early Sixties.

The decision hopefully will also reduce the number of comparisons between the “entry level” Porsche and the 911.

The good news is that the new car is in every way worthy of the Porsche name and drivers will be instantly aware of what type of car they are sitting in.

 

 

2017 Porsche 718 Boxster

Base price: $63,900

As tested: $81,460

Energuide Fuel consumption rating

City: 10.5 l/100 km

Highway: 8.0 l/100 km

Combined: 9.4 l/100 km

 

 

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The Garage Guy Drives: Porsche 991.2

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Scott Hargrove wins exciting first race in Toronto

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After a great qualifying run earlier this morning, Scott Hargrove drove the #69 Open Road Porsche to a victory in today’s action packed Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge race in Toronto. In fact, Hargrove had some challenges of his own along the way.

The green flag dropped under the threat of rain, and the track got gradually more slick as the race went on. Rival Chris Green led the first part of the race, before spinning, which allowed Hargrove to take over the lead. All was not smooth sailing, as the Open Road machine spun in turn 9 around the mid point of the race, allowing Spencer Pigot to take over the first spot.
[Read more…]

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Hargrove qualifies on front row of GT3 Cup at Toronto

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Honda Indy weekend has finally rolled in to Toronto this weekend and there has been all kinds of action so far. My weeekend started with the Canadian launch of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade on Thursday and has just been crazy busy since then. More about the Escalade in the coming days.

My main focus this weekend is the #69 Porsche of Scott Hargrove in the Porsche GT3 Cup. In this morning’s qualifying session for the first race, Hargrove turned in a 1:12.214 which puts him on the front row alongside pole sitter Chris Green.

Lots more to share, but I need to get out and and shoot the start of the Pirelli World Challenge. More to follow!

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Kyle Marcelli to partner with Pfaff in Porsche GT3 Cup

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The inaugural season of the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada was so successful, that Porsche Canada promised the series would be back in 2012. Not only would the series return, but they assured competitors and media that the competition would be even better as the field would swell. The series gets a big boost today with the news that Pfaff Automotive Partners would be fielding a car for Kyle Marcelli this year.

“My father built the company on a passion for motorsports and it gives me great pride to continue this racing legacy today,” said Christopher Pfaff, president and CEO, Pfaff Automotive Partners. “We are very excited about the upcoming race season and have great expectations for the team we have put together with Fiorano Racing and up-and-coming driver, Kyle Marcelli behind the wheel”.

Twenty one year old Marcelli is a popular driver in the American Le Mans Series and has been a friend of The Garage since he joined us as an instructor at our Winter Driving school for teens a couple of years ago.

“I’m really excited to be driving for Pfaff in this year’s Porsche GT3 Cup Canada. This marks a great opportunity for Pfaff Automotive to build on their already popular brand and successful auto-racing heritage,” said race driver, Kyle Marcelli. “For me, this serves as a wonderful platform to build a relationship with Porsche. Together our goals are quite simple, win races and sell cars.”

Fans will be able to see Marcelli and the Pfaff Porsche GT3 in action this year at the following events.

  1. May 17-20    Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport)
  2. June 8-10      Circuit Gilles Villeneuve
  3. July 5-8          Circuit Mont Tremblant
  4. July 19-22     Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
  5. August 9-12  Calabogie Motorsports Park

Head past the jump to read the full press release and watch a video of the series in action.
[Read more…]

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Camp4 returns to Canada in 2012

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A few years ago, Porsche Canada shocked the Canadian auto scene by declaring they would no longer be spending their advertising budget on car shows. Instead, they planned to host quality driving events that offered participants a real taste of the Porsche lifestyle. Some of these events are dealer invite type events, where others are purely driving events where anyone with the inclination and space on their credit card can attend. Camp4 is one of these events.

Originally held only in Finland, Camp4 is a traveling driver training event that puts the emphasis on Winter driving skills. 2012 will be the second time that Camp4 has come to ski country in rural Quebec, setting up at the wonderful Mecaglisse track.

To give you an idea of just how cool this is, check out my report from the 2011 edition of Camp4 Canada. Participants this Winter will have the added bonus of driving the newest Porsche 911. On ice!

I know this will sound like an advertorial, but I personally guarantee that Camp4 will be one of the most memorable driving experiences you will ever have!

Porsche Canada press release with all of the details after the break, along with some Porsche Winter driving video goodness.
[Read more…]

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Cirone Takes Second Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Race at Mosport

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Series press release

Bortolotti, McKaigue and Seitz secure series class championships

BOWMANVILLE, Ont (24 July, 2011) – Toronto’s Marco Cirone made it a weekend double at his home
track, taking the second of two Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada races to close out the series’
inaugural season at the Mobil 1 presents the Grand Prix of Mosport.
[Read more…]

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Toronto’s Cirone Wins Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada at His Home Track

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Series press release

Pickering’s Oswald finishes second in Platinum Cup; Levitas takes Gold Cup over McKaigue, Seitz
wins Silver

BOWMANVILLE, Ont (23 July, 2011) – Heat was the order of the day in more ways than just the
weather, as the battle for the first Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada victory at Mosport was a race-
long clash between two Torontonians, Marco Cirone and Randy Oswald, in extreme late afternoon heat.

Oswald started on the pole but couldn’t stop the charging Cirone who took the Platinum Cup victory,
with Michael Levitas keeping Shaun McKaigue at bay in Gold Cup and Bob Seitz taking Silver Cup over
Gabor Foti.

Cirone, driving the #88 6th Gear Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car was happy to put the morning’s race
in the US IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge behind him, as a terrific drive from fourth to second went for
naught when he went off course with only three turns left in the race. He started fourth again this
afternoon, teaming up with Melanie Snow (#56 Snow Racing) to get around Oswald’s teammate Carlos
Gomez (#75 TRG/Axis of Oversteer) early in the race. Cirone then went after Oswald, behind the
wheel the #14 TRG/Verax Porsche, making the pass on lap 10 of 32 caution-free laps. It was all
Cirone could do to finish the 45 minute race, as he could see temperatures of 128 degrees
Fahrenheit inside his Porsche.
[Read more…]

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Porsche GT3 Cup Canada on track for the future

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Spec Porsche racing was quite literally born in Canada with the Rothman’s Porsche Series of the Eighties and Nineties which has quite literally become a legendary series. It is somewhat ironic then that the current format, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge was being run in many countries, but not in Canada.
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Bortolotti, McKaigue Hope to Clinch Inaugural Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada Titles

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Series press release

BOWMANVILLE, ONT (July 17, 2011) – The Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada brings its three-event
inaugural season to a close this weekend at the Mobil 1 Presents the Grand Prix of Mosport. For the
two teammates leading the Platinum and Gold Cup standings – Gilford’s Shaun McKaigue and Kanata’s
Perry Bortolotti – this first season has been a memorable one.

With fellow Speed Merchants teammates James Hoddinott, Bruce Gregory and Robert Seitz, Bortolotti
and McKaigue have competed in all four Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada races to date and look
forward to this last challenge.
[Read more…]

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