The Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport: The First Race Car Made from Hemp Fibre.
I can’t believe I am saying this but the title of this article is 100% accurate, backed up by Porsche themselves. Now, the title may seem weird to you at first, but just trust me on this one. I will attempt to explain this new technology, its contributions to the car’s performance, and its implications for environmental sustainability.
The material is a low-cost alternative to carbon fibre that is a lot better for the environment. Porsche refers to the material as a “natural-fibre composite,” crafted from an organic fiber mix derived from agricultural byproducts like flax and hemp. These materials are advantageous because they can achieve nearly the same rigidity as carbon fiber while being more eco-friendly and cost-effective. Natural fiber composites offer sustainable solutions for producing lightweight parts, as demonstrated by the 718 Cayman GT4, which features these “hippie” body panels and weighs just 1,320 kg (2,910 lbs). Additionally, these materials are significantly cheaper to produce, making them a more accessible option for sustainable automotive design. In the development of the new 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, the emphasis was placed not only on enhancing driveability and achieving faster lap times but also on the sustainable use of raw materials. This model is the first production race car to incorporate body parts made from natural-fibre composite materials. The driver and co-driver doors, as well as the rear wing.
Track cars need to be lightweight to enhance performance by improving acceleration, handling, and braking. A lighter car accelerates faster, making it more competitive on the track, and offers better agility and responsiveness, allowing for sharper cornering and greater control at high speeds. Additionally, reduced weight shortens braking distances, which is crucial for maintaining speed and safety during races. Overall, a lightweight design maximises the car’s efficiency and effectiveness in a racing environment.
The physics behind why track cars need to be lightweight centres on key principles like Newton’s Second Law and inertia. According to Newton’s Second Law (F = ma), for a given engine power, reducing the car’s mass increases its acceleration, allowing it to reach faster speeds quickly. A lighter car also has less inertia, meaning it resists changes in motion less, which improves agility, allowing for sharper and more precise handling, especially in high-speed corners. Additionally, since kinetic energy (KE = 1/2 mv²) depends on mass, a lighter car has less kinetic energy at a given speed, making it easier to slow down, which enhances braking efficiency and reduces stopping distances.
Carbon fibre is widely used in track cars due to its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, offering high rigidity while being much lighter than traditional materials like steel or aluminum. This makes it ideal for improving acceleration, handling, and overall performance. However, carbon fibre is unsustainable for several reasons. Its production is energy-intensive, requiring high temperatures and significant amounts of fossil fuels, which contribute to carbon emissions. Additionally, carbon fibre is difficult to recycle due to its complex structure, leading to waste and environmental concerns. The raw materials used, such as polyacrylonitrile, are derived from non-renewable resources
Body Components
• Lightweight body in aluminium-steel composite construction
• Welded-in roll cage, certified according to FIA Art. 277
• Front bonnet with quick release fasteners
• Rear hood with quick release fasteners
• Fixed rear wing with “swan neck” mount made of natural-fibre composite materials, including the sideblades, black aluminium wing supports with integrated carbon fibre Gurney flap
• Driver and co-driver doors of natural-fibre composite materials
• Roof including escape hatch, certified according to FIA Art. 275a
• Recaro race bucket seat with longitudinal adjustment and padding system, adjustable to the individual needs of the drivers (in accordance with FIA Standard 8862/2009 – the latest FIA requirements)
• Three-piston air jack system (“Competition”)
• Pre-installed mounting points for three-piston air jack system (“Trackday”)
• Provision for safety net
• FIA-certified towing loops, front and rear
• Motorsport centre console with enhanced functionality and adapted usability
• Six-point safety harness
• 115-litre FT3 safety fuel cell with “Fuel Cut Off” safety valve complying with FIA regulations (“Competition”)
• 80-litre FT3 safety fuel cell with “Fuel Cut Off” safety valve complying with FIA regulations (“Trackday”)
Home hemp-based car parts offer a promising alternative to traditional materials, combining sustainability with practical benefits. Hemp’s natural fibers provide a lightweight, durable solution with comparable strength to carbon fibre, making it suitable for various applications. As production methods improve, these hemp-based components could become more affordable and widely available, potentially being added into everyday vehicles. Beyond their environmental advantages, such as reduced carbon footprint and recyclability, hemp-based parts align with the growing demand for eco-friendly solutions in transportation. As the technology is further researched, hemp-based car parts could revolutionise the industry, making sustainable practices more accessible and practical for daily use.
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