The number of doors plays no part in the Porsche definition of sportiness. The launch of the sports car manufacturer’s Cayenne model in 2002 is ample proof of this. The range of four-door sports cars has grown steadily since then – and each of these models offers the best performance in its respective segment while cutting a fine figure on the race track.
In recent years, the Porsche Taycan Turbo (2019), Porsche Panamera Turbo S (2020) and Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT (2021) have all set the best times in their respective segments on the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife. It is therefore only logical that Porsche should provide drivers of these model ranges with the same tools for optimising their own personal race track performance as 911 and 718 model owners. For this reason, the Porsche Track Precision App (PTPA) has also been made available for the Cayenne, Panamera and Taycan models with the introduction of the 2022 model year. The Sport Chrono package must be installed in the vehicle to use the app.
The Porsche Track Precision App is a digital driving coach. It helps Porsche drivers with an affinity for motorsport to improve their personal driving style on the race track by collecting and visualising the relevant data. It can be used to optimise braking points, fine-tune turn-in points and identify driver errors. The best lap driven by the driver – in other words, the driver’s own limit – serves as a reference value.
Porsche Track Precision App – a driving coach for smartphones and PCM
The Porsche Track Precision App accesses control unit information in the vehicle via a Wi-Fi connection with the Porsche Communication Management (PCM) system. The app reads out vehicle position, speed, rpm, braking force, steering angle, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, and other driving-relevant telemetry data. Compared to tracking purely via a smartphone, the PTPA collects more comprehensive and precise data thanks to its direct connection to the vehicle. This allows for optimum analysis.
The Porsche Track Precision App determines lap times while driving on the track and films the racing line driven if so desired. The range of functions can be shown on the PCM display via Apple CarPlay. After the drive, the app enables analysis of the driver’s performance by linking, comparing and displaying the collected data – in a similar way to a professional motorsport analysis application. More than 300 race tracks worldwide are already stored in the app. The user can add new ones manually at any time.
The functions of the Porsche Track Precision App at a glance
- Lap time measurement using GPS data: once the appropriate track has been selected, the app automatically detects when the vehicle crosses the start-finish line
- Live information during the lap: on the track, the app displays the time driven on the current lap and predicts the expected lap time. It also visualises deviations from the reference lap and performance data
- Linking data and videos: all the gathered information can be combined with recordings from a smartphone or action cam videos
- Visualising driving performance: after the drive, all sensor data read-out can be displayed and compared
- Connection with other devices: the app can be operated on the PCM via Apple CarPlay. After the drive, data can be easily transferred to an iPad via AirDrop for better analysis
- Sharing on social media: videos and data can be shared with friends and fans on social networks
From 2022: new functions of the Porsche Track Precision App
To accompany the roll-out to other Porsche model series, the Porsche Track Precision App’s range of functions will also be expanded soon. In the coming year, Porsche drivers can look forward to new functions for use away from the race track.
