Best way to launch a 996tt manual off the line?

Hi chaps, I'm taking my 2003 996tt x50 plus remap to do a few 1/4 miles runs, just wondering the best way to launch it off the line....I have some mechanical sympathy and not too sure how harsh I can be? Any help would be good Cheers Yohan

Can not lend personal advice as I have always allowed it to roll first to take up any slack before hitting the loud pedal. However, from reading plenty of articles over the years i believe it's a case of dialling in some high rev's (5K I think it was) and side stepping the clutch (Used by Autocar testers back in 2001 with a 996 Turbo doing 0-100-0 runs). The above method does sound harsh and I suppose it wasn't there car that they were abusing. although they did state that it felt it would do it all day long, lol. I'm sure some one will be along shortly to lend some useful first hand advice. Good luck with your runs mate. Jim

What's meant by 'side stepping the clutch'? 5k does sound a little high, but then I've no idea how to perform a good launch. I currently just set off by gradually releasing the clutch, getting the car moving before hitting the 'go' pedal. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread to see what people recommend is a safe way of getting best start out of your car (i.e. what revs, and how fast the clutch should be let out). But of course I've 'just' got a C2, not a TT!

Interesting. I'm no expert but I would have though higher. As much as you can get away with really. I'm curious now.

When it comes to 'launching' cars, I've got about zero experience, so I'd really take my opinion here with a pinch of salt. To me it just 'feels' excessive to have the car revving at 5k rpm before dropping the clutch, but I've no facts or experience to back up whether the car can take it.

Like I said above mate, it's the road testers in mag's that have written about using this technique. As the Turbo is 4x4 and has a Turbo it needs high rev's to stop it bogging down upon launching off the line. There's so much grip that you almost have to over come it to get a fast time. I must stress i have never used this method as I'm sure it would appear to put a lot of stress on the drive train. I'll dig the mag out as it upstairs in a cupboard somewhere. They were using a yellow 996 Turbo. 2 sec's and i'll be back, lol. Jim

Back, it was near the top of the stack, lol. Page 58-59 of AutoCar 4th July 2001. They put a standard Turbo up against a Ferrari Maranello 550. The porker did a 0-60 in 4.08 sec's and 0-100 in 9.35 sec's. Approach to launch, they stated that the technique needed was brutal but simple. Switch off the traction control and engage first, full throttle (My memory was obviously wrong, lol), then side slip the clutch. The car then did the rest, giving the above time. They did state that it did this consistently, but I don't think I'd want to do it to my own beloved motor!! Jim Oh forgot to say Fezza did it in 4.76 0-60 and 10.82 0-100.

Yeah I dont think I will give it full beans yet and drop the clutch. Watch this space and I will get back to you either with a decent time or a broken clutch Yohan

LOL Broken clutch and/or half shaft, crown wheel/pinion, stripped gearbox shaft, broken engine carrier........ If you have any respect for your car give the Standing start test as described a miss. 30 to 50 times and 50 to 70 times give a lot more useful information as regards the performance of the car.

At a risk of stating the obvious - you will get appreciably better grip if you first get some heat into your tyres. Also - the surface that you will be on can make a big difference. A tarmac drag strip offers a much better launch than something like a concrete runway. I cannot say much more as I have never launched a turbo, though I have done so a few times with the GT3 over the years. Most of those (and admittedly that is still not many) involved a little clutch slip but once I did just dial up 5k and drop the clutch. It worked astonishingly well, but I fear for the life expectancy of the drivetrain and don't feel the need to try it again. Though to be honest - I haven't heard any stories of anyone facing consequences for making a habit of this, so there may not be nothing to fear at all...

Thanks for the heads up disco...think I will let it slip and then drop it. Only problem is that its an X50 and ***** all happens until 3500 rpm....so its not too good on the old drag strip. Yohan

Personally I don't think I could do this to my P&J but since you asked ... As Saucyboy says you need to make sure that you have enough revs on board and the traction control is off when you drop the clutch. The key is to a good time is to ensure that when you "grip up" the revs don't drop too low. Ironically, best times will occur with a measured amount of wheelspin.