Business Improvement Lessons. The Porsche Method.

How to improve performance in your business.

So, what can Porsche teach you about your business? Quite a lot, actually.

Let’s start on the track.

The Porsche 911 Turbo and the Porsche 911 GT2 RS are both masterpieces of German engineering, beloved by enthusiasts worldwide. On paper, they share a lot of common components. But when these two cars hit the Nürburgring Nordschleife, one of the toughest and most famous racing circuits in the world, the GT2 RS laps a breathtaking 30 seconds faster.

That’s an enormous gap in the world of motorsport. So, how does this happen?

The Technical Differences (Without Getting Too Technical)

The 911 Turbo and the GT2 RS both carry the same engine, but the GT2 RS is tuned for more performance. This is not a total engine swap, it’s tweaking and tuning to deliver about 20% more power in the GT2 RS.

The weight GT2 RS is about 11% lighter than the Turbo – that’s massive. This comes from stripping unnecessary weight, using lighter materials, and focusing on making the car as lean as possible.

The downforce produced by the GT2 RS is roughly 200% more than the Turbo. In simple terms, this means it grips to the road better, giving it superior drive and control, especially in the corners.

Looking at these combined three factors, the GT2 RS laps the Nürburgring a whopping 30 seconds faster than the Turbo.

What lesson can we take from this in the world of business?

Don’t just rip and replace the engine when you need things to go faster.

In my experience, when an organisation wants better performance, they leap to the most disruptive (and expensive) solution: replacing the technology. They throw money at their problem and focus on new systems, big software purchases, or total platform changes. But is that the smartest first move?

Let’s break this down using the Porsche comparison.

Tuning the Existing Engine - Your Technology

You don’t always need a new engine. Porsche didn’t replace the motor, they adjusted it, tuned it, optimised it.

In the context of business, this means reviewing if you are using your current systems to their full potential, configuring and integrating them, and most importantly, ensuring your teams are leveraging all the available features.

Often, a thoughtful review and a bit of fine-tuning can unlock better performance without the heavy costs and risks of replacing everything.

Reducing Weight - Unburdening Your Staff

The GT2 RS dropped some weight that was equivalent of two passengers! Less weight will always give you an advantage in business.

What if dropping the weight or unburdening your business through things like reducing manual tasks, admin, reporting, and low-value busywork that slow down your staff.

Imagine if you could automate repetitive processes, remove unnecessary manual tasks and ultimately give your people back time to focus on high-impact work. This weight removal will undoubtedly improve your customers’ experience too.

This isn’t just about cutting costs, it’s about freeing your team to drive the business forward...and that’s the win!

Increasing Downforce - Better Processes for Better Grip

The GT2 RS’s astonishing grip came from its aerodynamic design, every fin, and wing is there to make the car stick to the track.

In business terms, this is your processes and workflows. You need to review if they are they designed for smooth handoffs, support both internal users and external customers and if there are bottlenecks or friction that slow everything down.

Improved processes give you more control, more precision, and better outcomes, just like extra downforce gives a racing car the ability to stick through the corners at higher speeds.

The Real Game Changer

When you bring all of these elements together, a tuned engine, less weight, and more grip, you don’t just get a slightly better car. You get a category-defining performance machine.

That is what is possible in your organisation.

You can achieve the same outcomes as Porsche did without replacing your core systems – they have proven the art of what’s possible. By reviewing your existing setup, you can unlock more value, improve speed and delivery, ease the pressure on your teams, and create space for growth. With better-tuned processes, you’ll deliver stronger results and offer a smoother, more effective experience for both staff and customers.

This is difference between surviving and thriving.

Final thoughts

Motor racing has taught us that true performance comes from a combination of factors, not just one.

So before you rush to “change the engine” in your business, before you spend enormous amounts on new technology, ask yourself if you can get more value from what you already have, if you can reduce the burden on your teams by removing or automating low-value tasks, and how you can increase your grip and precision by refining your processes.

Start there, and you’ll find the gains come much faster, with less cost and disruption.