Old 911 vs new 911: Can an amateur driver beat ex-Stig Ben Collins?

Thanks to GoPro for making this video possible! Check out the HERO12 Black: www.GoPro.com/HERO12
Around a track, of course a brand new 911 992 Turbo S is going to beat a 997 Turbo. But what if you put an amateur driver in the 992, and the Stig in the 997? We pitched GoPro CEO Nick Woodman up against Ben Collins to see if it’s possible to take down the Stig with newer machinery.
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[@Drivetribe]

Thanks to GoPro for making this video possible! Check out the HERO12 Black: www.GoPro.com/HERO12

[@Evodocturine]

Some proper racing in my FAVORITE cars!? Thank you so much for this video!

[@Pluke_Skyporker]

Ego's aside the real question is just how much is over a decades worth of Porsche development actually worth in lap time. Great video.

[@2brokecarguys]

Be good to see Hammond against the stig 👀

[@gaycha6589]

Wish they could find a way to hold a shot fir more than 1 sec in this vid. Too many angle changes and too fast

[@tom.m]

​@@gaycha6589They probably had to keep restarting the GoPros. 😂 Just kidding... Mostly. I don't know if the 12 has the same problems.

[@StruggleBusStudios]

Y'all gotta get Rubens Barrichello or Vettel to go head-to-head against Ben for a rematch since they were the first to beat him as the Stig

[@lewis7211]

This would be awesome. Drivetribe should definitely push to try and get that sorted.

[@BenCollinsDrives]

GAME ON

[@StruggleBusStudios]

@@BenCollinsDrives holy cow - guy’s it’s really him, some say he’s wanted by the CIA, and sleeps upside down like a bat - drivetribe invite your boy out for the love of the sweet baby jeezus

[@MrBackflip500]

@@BenCollinsDrives Yes please 😈

[@technom3598]

​@@BenCollinsDrivesi would contribute money or somwthing to make this happen

[@360Pros]

Can't express how much joy it brings me to see Ben Collins, Mr. OG STIG himself, as a regular recurring co-host on these episodes!

[@clausseier]

Not really OG - there was a Stig before him - Black Stig. But he does feel like "The real Stig". 👌

[@user-wi2bf5fp9f]

Can see perry shrugging his shoulders somewhere....

[@user-wi2bf5fp9f]

but i agree ben deserves to own the title

[@360Pros]

@@clausseier True! But he lasted only a few episodes whereas Ben was on for many seasons so I still think of Ben as the OG! Maybe GOAT STIG is a better title?

[@clausseier]

@@360Pros agreed 👍

[@just.for.the.downshifts]

Huge respect to Stig for his humility.

[@protopigeon]

humility LOL he changed it so he could win against this guy who'd not seen the circuit before!

[@ferryportia9442]

Nice guy...and Turbo S is insane

[@superderv]

🤣 I read your comment before the video and thought Ben must have lost... I'm not sure you know what humility means!

[@protopigeon]

That's spot on lol @@superderv

[@chriskohtz5441]

These episodes are the true spiritual successor to the old Top Gear. Love it.

[@freddiejupiter442]

Drivier is comedy! @@sg-yq8pm

[@BFNH459]

Not really though

[@HJ-vs7lf]

This and AutoAlex! This is more serious and Autoalex is for watching some blokes fooling around.

[@Drivetribe]

Thanks!

[@IraqVet0608]

@@HJ-vs7lfauto Alex and cartrek. If you combined those, you have TG/ GT.

[@digitalmike330]

Ben Collins is genuinely one of the nicest, humblest, people on the internet.

[@0Synergy]

Also the arch nemesis to Jimmy Broadbent.

[@GoPro]

Giving The Stig a run for his money 😉

[@ticocastro5256]

Santa, Can I have the new HERO 12 black for Christmas!? I have the MAX now. I love the Max but I feel like I personally would have better use with a higher quality single direction camera. 😊

[@user-xz6cu5vf2u]

Yeah, that was an impressive time. “Amateur” my a** 😂

[@Poorschedriver]

Nick that was a truly mega drive. Obviously not your first time on a race track, but the first time on this track and the pressure of going up against the Stig himself. Well done sir.

[@nukedogger86]

The difference between the 997 and the 992 was mind blowing, nearly 10.5 seconds on a roughly minute and a half lap. I think we definitely need more of these comparos of 10-20 year old cars vs their modern counter parts. Heck, you could even run an NC vs ND Miata, would probably be interesting, or M5's, Boxters, WRX's, Audi S3/4. This was good stuff.

[@andresponce305]

The 997 was a regular turbo with stick. The 997.2 turbo s had pdk and more power. But yeah still absolutely mental the progress they made in 13 years.

[@blazesmooth5573]

the 997.2 with the pdk would be 2-3 seconds off at most

[@treevs]

The s has suspension upgrades

[@911S]

They shouid used fhe 997.2 turbo s and not the turbo. Compare an S with an S

[@Reinundzufall]

Yeah and both on the same or comparable tires …

[@jonesy-rh5fk]

What a fantastic video, would definitely love to see more of this variety. Think Ben vs Barrichello revenge lap would be the ultimate content.

[@Ztacken]

I can’t comprehend the difference in time😲 What a piece of machinery 👍

[@pietdevries9661]

Years ago my first Turbo experience was in a 997 Turbo. Was so impressed by power and ceramic brakes. It wasn’t a sportscar. It felt like a hypercar. It blew my mind. Especially the braking. Recently drove the 992 Turbo on German autobahn. So easy to drive. And so fast. Mindblowing. And the best thing: all German cars make room for you on the left lane! So decent. So nice. As if they have learned that at birth: when Turbo is coming. We make some room. German society should be proud of what they are capable to build!

[@corystansbury]

I'm kinda blown away by the difference, how fast Nick was, and Ben's lap in the new car. As others have mentioned, some discussion of tires would be interesting as well. They've improved as much as the cars.

[@davecech4741]

The results are pretty jaw dropping, I expected everything to be...closer.

[@superderv]

I doubt the 997 was on original N rated tyres, it would be on a later generation

[@Vito.H]

This was awesome, Nick is a quick driver. The content on Drivetribe lately has been epic.

[@bghoody5665]

Using Ben's two lap times it's almost a one second per year difference between the two models. Pretty amazing.

[@PhilShenton]

One of the best videos you’ve done in a while. Love the challenges of drivers vs machines. More Stig and guests please.

[@Drivetribe]

Thanks 👌

[@coffe3]

997 will forever be the best looking 911 for me. So sleek yet so tight. Gotta love those smaller nimble cars. The newer car performance is unmatchable but still the older one has that car "soul" thing flowing from it.

[@gavinmelia4133]

Ben is the STIG. He is a uk Hero to us all and I never doubt him for a sec. Well done Ben.. 👍👍👍

[@Alshen]

As an owner of a 997.1T (tip) and 991.2TS, there is no doubt a massive diff in performance in generations. However, I suspect a significant part of the lap time diff (2 sec?) is attributable to stick v PDK in this comparo.

[@ScottGroome]

I think you're completely right, however it is a pretty fast circuit so there's definitely not as much time lost to gear shifts as there would be for a tighter circuit.

[@lonners71]

I can’t see a pdk giving Ben more than a couple of sec in one lap. 13yrs of development on torque vectoring software I could see giving that result

[@gaycha6589]

Thruxton is a power circuit. 992 has 25% more power than 997. Modern tyres too

[@frasersutherland6837]

Not only is the difference, a manual gearbox against a PDK! Ben's 997.2 is a turbo as opposed to the 997.2 turbo s of the day!

[@cpariaug]

Boyz .. we need more Ben vs ???? In any car - totally worth watching!!! Do NOT Disappoint

[@edd95gti85]

Abit like the hoonigan series but a track time not a drag time. Would be interesting to see.

[@lukeagostini5487]

Fair play to Nick. Happy to see Ben perform so well. All is good. More of this format please ❤

[@bluedog2367]

To me, 997 is the best contemporary 911. The 991 and especially the 992 are just too big.

[@LapoftheWorld]

Nick is definitely on the upper end of amateur, but definitely made it more interesting. Any "regular joe" or "I've done a few track days" level driver would've been nowhere irrespective of equipment.

[@cutters74]

This is some of the best content you guys have put out. Very cool to have the founder of GoPro on, he can wheel a car 😎 you can’t beat watching good drivers lap a really good car around a fast circuit 💯🔥😎❤️❤️❤️❤️ more content like this please 🙏

[@chrishayes4785]

As much as you have to enjoy the comparison between two great cars a decade apart, its the personalities of the three of you in this video that was so enjoyable. Do more please. Maybe going even further back with a old classic and a modern day basic hatchback.

[@robbinconner9061]

One of the best videos I have seen on cars on you tube. Very interesting and it was great not to know the numbers until the end. The stig--what a gentlemen and of course what talent. He really showed what the car could do. And the amateur driver certainly can hold his head up. There is always an almost quantum leap to the pros but he really did well and was a very engaging person. Terrific content in every way!

[@Rubbafingaz1]

Is 2010 now considered to be "back in the day"? I'm 44 and I now feel really old! 😟

[@mking9446I]

I'm 40 and I got the "yeah that old guy there" the other day. Gettin ruff out there. I need bifocals

[@papa_pt]

yeah well around then was the death of hydraulic power steering. 997 was the last one to have it

[@bastee2727]

@@mking9446II am 40, with a 997 👴🏼

[@mking9446I]

@@bastee2727 lucky fucker....I'm rolling a 2017 xse camry

[@spicysnowman8886]

Im only 19 and a 2010 car is still modern to me.

[@krithikcs3234]

Mate this video was superb I really enjoyed it.

[@Drivetribe]

We're glad you enjoyed it!

[@Mapa356]

More of this please. Feels like the good old days ❤

[@Jason911_]

More Stig content please, it'll never ever get old!!!

[@doughynes7004]

Ben is an absolute gentleman, an amazing talent yet so humble, fair play to him.

[@benfranklin1533]

Clearly not an amateur driver.

[@samuelgarrod8327]

If it's not his job he's an amateur.

[@ukwan]

He's clearly a racing driver though. 😂

[@clumsygarage1578]

If they'd put some little old lady in it, then it would have either been too easy to beat or there would be a risk of wrecking the car. Also not knowing the track makes a difference.

[@benfranklin1533]

@@clumsygarage1578 pull someone trustworthy off the crew and have them put in a few laps.

[@benfranklin1533]

@@matthewkuhl79 amateur means they don’t have experience literally being a professional F3 racing driver lol.

[@johnhamill8687]

Great video - gets right to the driving and super entertaining. I have a 911 myself but these newer Turbo's are on another planet.

[@taurota1554]

awesome as always.thanks for sharing and taking us along

[@jedidiahsteele7847]

Drive Tribe is becoming more like The Grand Tour / Too Gear! I’m Loving It!!! Cheers🎉

[@DavidAlanStanley]

Great video and just goes to show how quickly cars are improving. It would be great to see what a truly amateur driver could do when there is such a disparity with the performance of the car.

[@pabloalonso4594]

Great video. Amazing 11 seconds… that is more than 10% faster overall. Super interesting to see. Thanks guys!

[@stevewhite9653]

Well done Ben and obviously the stunning 911.

[@raycarter6037]

Some driving from both guys! Wow,what a car! 👏

[@ConquerDriving]

On a race circuit tyres can make a big difference to lap times. Would be interesting to see the same car compared with different tyres but the same driver.

[@pault151]

Strongly agreed. So few of these comparos state what the rubber spec is, and it can make seconds per minute of difference.

[@walter.bellini]

What a great video you made watching real awesome people put their all into the race. Fantastic frankly, greats thanks and hats off your the racers for sure!

[@bilalmia3972]

Great content from Drivetribe,as always!😊

[@richmcveigh]

Really enjoyed this video but I’d like to wave the flag for the 997. To be precise it was a 992.2 Turbo S PDK vs 997.2 Turbo manual. The 997.2 Turbo S has over 30bhp more than the Turbo, and also has more torque. I couldn’t quite tell, but I suspect the 992 did a launch-controlled start whereas the manual Turbo doesn’t have this. I’m not saying that it would be neck-and-neck, but perhaps the gap between the two wouldn’t have been so dramatic if the 997 was similarly spec’d to the 992. Or perhaps I’m just defending my own 997.2 Turbo S PDK 🤣

[@bv122]

Absolutely agree. I own base 991.2 tt pdk and it beats 992 gts manual on straight also on track because of pdk shifting speed is mental :D

[@bbb12345]

The time difference is mental. I thought the 997 was a fast car.

[@thijskennis8757]

It is a fast car. Things just moved forward in the last decade

[@richardsholl5977]

It is. But the newer one is so much easier.

[@Inazuma68]

It is a fast car….

[@gabethomas8123]

A very clever format! Well done, all around!

[@Buju7777]

This series is amazing. Having an old model compete with a newer model of the same car line. More of these please! Please do so with other big car brands like Ferrari. Just to see how technology have evolved in just 10 years. Thats amazing! Love it!

[@joeracer302]

Someone took a 992 Turbo S, put safety/timing/radio equipment in it, and then went and place 2nd OVERALL at Pikes Peak Hillclimb with an essentially “stock” car. The Turbo S is an absolutely mind-bending amount of performance that someone can just go write a check for.

[@SharkBlueMedia]

Please have Ben do a lap in the same track with a 992 GT3. It would be awesome to see the difference between the GT3 and Turbo S with Ben behind the wheel.

[@silvercat7328]

Yes, with the same tyres.

[@gaycha6589]

And flying laps not standing start.

[@ellenwood2167]

Great video -- keep them coming!!

[@nicholaswatson3896]

Great racing from two great guys. I really enjoyed the vid.

[@alwynmcmath]

I loved this video! Really fun. Just sadly lacking in the engine sound dept. Surely a remote mic would augment the footage nicely

[@R19Robbin]

The 992 is such a nice machine 👌

[@Ethan-wr2os]

I love the 992 shape, lots of the styling aspects pay homage to some of the older models

[@TrevorDennis100]

Thank goodness for that. I was starting to get worried, but we should never doubt Mr Ben Colins/The Stig. And my goodness, his time in the 992 was so much faster than I think any of us expected. Ben is still the man, and forever more will be.

[@albertofourie3294]

Brilliant! Seriously enjoyed it, well done! 👍

[@ELXABER]

I could never beat The Stig, some say he’s wanted by the CIA, and that he sleeps upside down like a Bat, but I sure as hell would love to try. It's great seeing Ben on DriveTribe. I've been following his channel as well. What would I like to see? More rally, especially since supercars are getting in the dirt now with things like the Sterrato. Would it beat an RS200?

[@john-danielmartin8753]

I remember when Richard drove the convertible version of this on Top gear fell in love with the turbo S ever since

[@VisionCityMayor]

sick to see how GoPro's founder is such a racer! i recently found an old Hero3+ black and started to record pov videos myself with it, guess it goes to show how versatile the cameras are (even if they do get a bit toasty lol) great race tbh, love to see the collab content

[@djrelentless2945]

Bro, you got a new sub! Love this. I gotta start following Nick & Ben as well! Cheers guys, Thx!

[@daliborzak2485]

Would be nice to show tires on these cars. Just switching to modern sport compound gives you like 4 seconds on a two minute lap, but I assume Ben has something appropriate on his machine.

[@lairdinho]

Yes. Some better tyres and maybe some upgraded dampers would probably cut the deficit in half. But the 992 would still be about 5 seconds quicker. Pretty incredible.

[@420CaptainSlow]

Curious what tires both cars were running

[@gaycha6589]

P7 Zeros on 992, PS4S on 997

[@user-dw9ps2mt6c]

Would be interesting to see the dynamics with Ben as Ben with the OG.

[@dylanjamesweggz3573]

That 992 spec is beautiful, from exterior colour to interior just beautiful.

[@neofox.]

Ben shouldn't be worried about losing his job. DT would drop Mike in a heartbeat if it came to Stig or Mike

[@darrenfox9769]

Agreed!

[@Puckerization]

Why even go there with that statement? Mike and the DT teams enthusiasm keep the channel going.

[@judemurphy3356]

Ben is the MAN!

[@Drivetribe]

He sure can drive💪

[@Solent_Ben]

Dream format - keep this coming - it's the star in a car + marque comparison, cracking!! If you can get Thruxton again we can have a leaderboard to compare too!

[@HiddenWen]

Fun episode, enjoy both the Stig and Nick! And both Turbo's are dream cars.

[@Indian_Ravioli]

we need more of Nick

[@johnwallace520]

Great video and nice to feel that bit of tension.

[@rickintexas1584]

That was awesome. I’d love to have a ride with Ben in either of those amazing machines.

[@thebarkingmouse]

So not an amateur driver at all.

[@harryspeakup8452]

He doesn't do it for money, so he's an amateur. You don't have to be useless to be an amateur.

[@thebarkingmouse]

@@harryspeakup8452 So you'd call Mike Tyson an amateur boxer. Okay, Willful stupidity at its finest.

[@LeftLaneLooney]

That's not an old 911 😂 That's just the previous 911.

[@pbe6965]

Exactly what I was thinking, I was expecting one of the first models. No way a real amateur would beat the Stig, there's not that huge of a performance gap with only a few generations gap

[@DonLee1980]

previous was 991.2, then 991.1, then 997.2,then the 997.1.

[@SimonBauer7]

​@@pbe6965a first model 911 would be unfair. these cars arent very fast (for todays standards), remember only ~150hp vs 500+. yes the new one is heavier but the hp advantage is insane

[@papa_pt]

two gens ago

[@harryspeakup8452]

@@SimonBauer7 only 130 hp on the very first 911

[@02Guffy]

That's an UNREAL difference. I never would have guessed even half of that. Unbelievable progress

[@ziggyfreud5357]

Nice vid - the increased stiffness of the 992 was very obvious - ballistic machines - love it

[@KillaV91]

Pointless then. When his not an amateur

[@juanmartincamussi9465]

Amateur = non-professional

[@harryspeakup8452]

He is literally an amateur

[@garethherring7261]

Great vid! Always entertaining but especially when The Stig is involved too 👍👍👍

[@cwheels1026]

vintage Porsche 911 RUF vs vintage porsche 911 ev swap : 1969 Mustang Mach 1 vs 2023 Mustang Mach 1 : Jaguar XKR manual vs Jaguar XKR auto I've been waiting for someone to do these types of vintage vs modern/auto vs manual comparisons. You've made my day! Thank you and well done!

[@PFBzzz]

Staggering difference in lap times with the same driver! I'd love to see Ben's lap times in a 996 Turbo and 991.1 Turbo S just to see the progression.

[@stevetheodore_specialtycars]

That was a genuinely entertaining video and comparison...well done! I'll admit it would be pretty incredible to see Ben go up against other top pros, and the thought of someone like Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso, or of course Max Verstappen giving him a run would be seriously entertaining to watch.

[@Pkari]

Of all the sponsors you’ve had this was the most natural of matches

[@unclebob4964]

Simply outstanding video !! OUTSTANDING !!!

[@alexmoran6333]

Ben Vs Nick is a great combination! Really enjoyed that!

[@keithflynn5651]

That's an outrageous jump in lap times (of Ben's) between the two cars!

[@footdownracing]

It would be awesome to see a few old school rally cars matched up against each other around that track...maybe even an old school group b VS a modern car. Love Ben Collins! Down to earth and humble gentleman. Awesome video!

[@calumclark1719]

Holy crap that is quick, great to see Ben on drivetribe

[@GnR98]

Watching Ben drive on a track like this brings back memories of every Sunday at 8pm. I think even if i didn't see, it was a DriveTribe video and just saw Ben driving the 992 without knowing who it was driving... I think i'd guess it was him from the driving style and presence he gives on track

[@jamesbudd2576]

A race around track for ALL SERIES of the Mx5!! Happy to be your amateur for the RF and stck Ben in the Mk1

[@alfatbear]

Very cool! And yes…more match ups please! All of the above. 🙏😁

[@joereyes9478]

Great video! Thank you! I would like to see a basic 911 vs M3

[@WilliamTan-xe9el]

Oh please more this kind of series❤

[@ArvindSingh-hf2zd]

Everyone needs to watch this once - outstanding lesson in advancement 💪🏽👍🏽

[@ChimpChumpable]

Great video! Crazy to see the difference in lap times between the 997 and 992. For the next one 430 Scuderia vs. 488 Pista!

[@eprokhor]

Perfect comparison with two amazing picks!

[@PETERFRITZPHOTO]

This was awesome. Both those guys are just the coolest.

[@amanite5845]

My first time on the channel but this was really a great video! :)

[@macfanguy]

Awesome video, and a testament to technology!

[@jannothnagel2957]

A really interesting matchup would be some Group B rally cars from the 80ties. Or any modern car vs the Group B Audi Quatro.

[@tyson2964]

Well!!! Did Ben beat the track record? Legend of a man.

[@mark82421]

Really enjoyed it! great human touch as well, nice guys !!

[@Plebeb123]

70's / 80's all cast Rally race! Bring it on!

[@user-su2df2ub2t]

It would be a pleasure to see a pov comparison of the drives.

[@somguy5035]

Nice to see how they match up