Sot is back – and what a week it was!
There is something very special about driving a car you really know. A car you have had, missed – and got back. Like finding a pair of old favorite jeans forgotten in a box out at the summer cottage. For me, it's about my old Porsche 996 Carrera 2, a -98 with a manual transmission, rear-wheel drive and diff. A car that I have put my own stamp on over the years, with modifications that make it perfect for both everyday use and trackday. This week has really reminded me of why we love cars – and why I am so glad that Sot is back home.
Monday evening at Gröndal – with a new co-driver
Last Monday was the season finale at Gröndal (Eskilstuna Track Resort) with an evening drive. This time I had a very special passenger – my nine-year-old son. It was his first time as a passenger on the track. A little nervous at first, but soon the smile came. The best moment came afterwards – when he stood along the start and finish straight and heard some guys praising the pilot in the black Porsche. They talked about how cool it was to see someone who really used his German sports car as it should be used – sometimes a little wide, but always controlled. Of course, they didn’t know it was his father. When I entered the pit, he came running, proud as a rooster. For a father who doesn’t exactly shine on the football field, it’s hard to describe how great it feels to be a hero in another way.
Friday at Sviestad – the 996 shows what it's capable of
Today it was time again, this time at Sviestad/Linköping Motorstadion – a track that really suits my 996. It doesn’t have an abundance of power, but is fast enough and instead invites the driver to experiment with input speeds and grip levels to refine that divine 911-esque oversteer with a few degrees of countersteer at the exit of the corners. Those of you who know, you know...
With its 300 horsepower, Öhlins Coilovers, diff-axle rear axle, short shifter, light rims, good tires and a half-cage with five-point belts, it is a car that is still true to its original character – analog, honest and absolutely wonderful to drive on the limit.
"Sot" has found its next prey - A Renault Megane RS.
Function before form
My car is called Sot – sooty black, and often dirty. The build has been about function over form. The paint has its marks and would benefit from a polish, but mechanically it is exactly how I want it. It is a relatively simple recipe, but together the modifications make the car both efficient and confidence-inspiring – without feeling sharp or unreliable. From being the least loved 911 generation, the 996 in this version has become something completely different. I have wanted to create a tool for driving fast, long and often – while maintaining operational reliability and personal safety. Service is done regularly, the IMS has been replaced, and the cage is there for a reason.
It's not about the most effect – but the most feeling
What makes the 996 so special is that it offers everything you want on the track: balance, feel, control. It’s not a car that runs away from you, but a car that lets you drive. It rewards precision and timing, and that’s where it shines. My car isn’t as uncompromising as some others, but that’s exactly how I want it. The stereo and soundproofing are still there, and after 200 km one-way plus 25–30 laps on the track today I’m sitting here writing this – without bruises or tinnitus. The dual personality of this car – trackday weapon by day, commuter companion by night – is hard to beat.
A while later, a black 911 takes the lead.
A lot of car for the money
What fascinates me most is that a car like this can still be bought for 200–300,000 SEK. For that money you get not only a 911 (if you think that's important), but a really competent trackday package that can easily stress significantly more expensive cars. Today I even had a McLaren Artura in front of me that I had to turn on the indicators and let pass. I know it's a faster car, but the difference is simple: I could drive my car to the max. For him, a mistake would be expensive – for me it's just part of the game.
So now it's back. Sot. My old 996 – or the Californication Porsche, as it's known in the neighborhood. And I couldn't be happier. Next step? The winter season. Then it'll be fully loaded, ice packs and roof racks. Because that's what a 911 is all about – a worn-out cliché, but oh so true: they work for everything, everywhere.