Goodwood FoS 2017: embarrassing crashes and gaffes

THE widow-maker is back.

But, despite its rear-wheel drive layout and a reputation for loutish conduct, Porsche’s most powerful 911 yet hasn’t worked out how to fully let its hair down.

Making its global debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the new Porsche GT2 RS went for a tour up Lord March’s now iconic driveway, and it didn’t exactly go as planned.

Stopping on track for a baying crowd, what ensued were two thoroughly un-Australian attempts at vehicular showmanship in a weekend full of automotive titillation.

Watch and blush as the man behind the wheel of Porsche’s 515kW weapon tries to rip a donut, only to hop, skip, and be left sitting in distinctly smoke-free shame.

The second attempt doesn’t go any better.

Perhaps our pilot forgot to turn off the car’s electronic shackles? Regardless, it’s a chuckle-worthy sight to behold when something as loony as a GT2 RS embarrasses itself.

It’s not clear who was driving at the time, though Mark Webber and Walter Rohrl were both in attendance with Porsche.

Credit where it’s due, at least he had a go, and can head home knowing he didn’t put the $645,400 car into the hay bales like these lot, below.

First crash of the weekend goes to this Ford RS200 Evo 2, which ended up much worse for wear after its off-road excursion.

Then there was a Ferrari 458 GTE car which found itself in a spot of trouble. Perhaps the Italian stallion was simply in need of a feed?

This NASCAR driver did nothing to quell inaccurate stereotypes when he binned it at the very first corner, which just so happens to be a right-hander.

Not even renowned drifting champion Chris Forsberg, a man who lives for taking corners in an exuberant fashion, could nail the Goodwood hillclimb.

If anyone is looking for inspiration, or a lesson on how to do it properly, look no further than reigning (and retired) F1 champ Nico Rosberg, and the man who replaced him at Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas.