CARRERA KILLER; Porsche won't build it-no problem.(News)

Byline: MAC MORRISON

Suggest to Porsche officials that perhaps a more powerful Cayman would be at least mildly interesting to drive. Go ahead, try it. Don't know any Porsche officials? That's okay, we've already put forth the idea. "No,'' they say, "vee vill not put a 911 engine in zee Cayman. No, 911 buyers are not Cayman buyers. Yes, you should stop asking about zis.''

Or ask someone else-at, say, Farnbacher Loles Motorsports. Danbury, Connecticut-based FLM specializes in Porsche racing and road-car performance, with loads of professional sports-car experience. The team won the 2005 24 Hours of Daytona and the 2006 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge and has recorded strong finishes in American Le Mans Series competition. With the Cayman S as a starting point for its Cayman GTR, FLM swaps the stock 3.4-liter, 295-hp flat-six for the 911 Carrera S 3.8-liter engine with factory "X-51'' power upgrade. FLM will either modify your car or provide a brand-new turnkey example. Either way, it says it will build just 20 GTRs in order to peg the exclusivity meter. Custom headers, cold-air intake, exhaust and engine-management systems yield 390 hp on premium pump gasoline, 410 hp on 100-octane racing fuel. Torque jumps from 251 lb-ft to 338.

Kip Harris, Farnbacher's managing director and the mind behind the GTR, says he wanted to engineer a Cayman suitable as a daily driver and track terror, hence the engine software's allowance for racing gas. He also added a Cross 15-way adjustable suspension, limited-slip differential (not a factory option), Sachs heavy-duty pressure plate and clutch and beefier front and rear antiroll bars. The 19-inch tires are larger than the optional factory rubber, with 245/35s in front, 285/30s in back. A 911 GT3 enthusiast will envy the Euro-spec GT3 bucket seats with five-point racing harnesses in addition to the standard belts. ...