We saw it testing a few months ago, but now it’s here to race. Meet the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport, Porsche’s newest entry-level race car. Porsche will offer two versions of the 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport—a Competition version for professional racing and a Trackday version for, as the name suggests, track days.

When the Cayman became the 718 Cayman a few years ago, its naturally aspirated flat-six was controversially dropped in favor of a turbocharged flat-four. For both versions of the GT4 Clubsport, the flat-six makes a return, though it’s not the new 4.0-liter used in Porsche’s 911 race cars. Instead, it’s the same 3.8-liter six as the previous GT4, but it benefits from a new intake manifold that bumps power from 380 hp to 425 hp. That power is sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox.

Lisa Linke/Porsche

The McPherson strut front suspension comes off the 911 GT3 Cup and features three-way adjustable sway bars. Rear suspension also consists of McPherson struts, though a blade-type adjustable anti-roll bar is used instead. Of course, ride height, track width and camber are all configureable, while the Competition version also gets adjustable shocks.

Brakes consist of big steel rotors front and back, which are clamped down by six-piston calipers up front and four-pistons in the rear. Trackday GT4s also get a brake booster. The wheels are forged alloys with five-bolt hubs, while Michelin tires are supplied with delivery.

Most of the bodywork is made from aluminum and steel as on the 718 Cayman street car, but the doors and wing are made from a natural fiber mix consisting primarily of flax. Seriously. The material is more sustainable to make than carbon-fiber and it only nets a small weight increase. That wing, along with a new diffuser and front splitter also helps raise downforce compared with the previous GT4.

The flax wing. Lisa Linke/Porsche

All cars get an FIA-spec welded-in roll cage, an escape hatch in the roof, and a six-point harness for the driver. Competition cars get a plumbed in fire extinguishing system, while the Trackday version gets a conventional handheld extinguisher. Weight is just 2910 lbs.

Both versions of the car come with driver-adjustable traction control, stability control and ABS, but they’re tailored for a bit more safety in the Trackday GT4. Inside, there’s a Cosworth gauge cluster and all the other accoutrements you’d expect in a pro-level race car.

Lisa Linke/Porsche

The 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport makes its debut today at Daytona, where testing is underway for this month’s 24-Hour race. You won’t see one in the 24, though, as the car races in the Michelin Pilot Challenge series. If you want, you can order a 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport from Porsche Motorsport North America right now, but pricing has yet to be set. Deliveries for US customers begin today in preparation for the racing at Daytona later this month, while European customers get theirs next month. If you're in the market, the race car will cost $209,000 in the U.S. No price for the Trackday model has been announced.

And yes, I’m sure you’re wondering about the 718 Cayman GT4 street car. That’s coming, but not for a little while longer—Porsche wants to use the road car to help develop the street car more.

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