Since I was introduced to the world of RAUH-Welt Begriff by Willem Bakajin And Tsubaki, With his RWB Porsche 993, I have been dreaming of personally witnessing one of Akira Nakai’s custom builds. Last month that dream finally became reality during the ‘RWB Experience’ in Indonesia.
In 2019, William and I discussed his next RWB project: a 997 Turbo. At the time, Nakai-san was just starting a new chapter in RWB history, and I was determined to capture William’s build as it unfolded. I got excited when I saw the 997 RWB prototype at the 2020 RWB New Year’s party, but then Covid struck. All our plans were put on hold. I kept revisiting Dino’s ‘Making the RWB 997’ series (part 1, part 2 and part 3 here) while staying in touch with William and getting updates on his new build.
Fast forward to August 2024 and a beautiful, clear day at Ivan’s Motor Pik 2, about 30 km from the Indonesian capital Jakarta. This is where William’s 997 RWB transformation would finally take place.
Nakai-san was in the country for a week, with four construction projects in a row, each taking about two days to complete. First up was Ivan’s 993 – RWB Indonesia #10 Susanoo. William’s 997.2 Turbo came third under the knife.
Inspired by Dino, I wanted to capture Nakai-san’s every move. I wanted to understand how he sees the world, from his delicate hand movements to the preparation: the taping, gluing wire frames to the bumpers and the trimming.
Then the fun began: the cutting. Viewer discretion is advised.
I quickly began to realize the intensity of the process. A close-up shot revealed the raw aftermath – there was now no turning back. It’s easy to see why purists shudder at the RWB wide-body transformation.
But don’t worry; this 997 is not new to modifications. Its life has been spent on the race track, and it has already been cut, stripped and tuned in the pursuit of speed. He is also fast and has a local lap record.
Here’s a return to the car’s previous look, heavily inspired by GT3 Cup modifications.
The 997’s body structure is particularly complex, with two metal layers instead of one. However, the previous changes have made Nakai-san’s job easier. He sealed the holes with a combination of caulk and aluminum tape.
It’s crazy how much wider the Turbo bodykit is compared to the standard 997. The reason for this comes down to the intake. As you can see, the kit does not come fully cut out; Nakai-san has to make cuts to keep the influx flowing.
Unfortunately he forgot his Turbo template, but RWB Kuala Lumpur came to the rescue.
Unlike older 911 models, the 997 fuel cap interferes with the RWB body kit. More cutting and a new cap hinge system solve the problem.
After the cutting was completed, Nakai-san tested the part, attaching the wheels to make sure everything was perfectly aligned and adjusting if necessary.
By the end of day 1 the heavy lifting was completed, leaving the finishing touches on day 2.
The next morning I felt new energy. I’ve always been curious about how Nakai-san handles the fender liners after installing the kit. It’s a detail that is rarely shown or discussed.
But before that, I must first mention a unique aspect of William’s build: the prototype wing that Nakai-san designed specifically for this car.
In this regard, the project was a learning experience for Nakai-san, and he said he discovered a lot during construction.
The wing is super large and super aggressive and requires crossbar support to prevent excessive bending.
As far as fender liners go, it’s pretty simple. Nakai-san uses the original linings, adapts them and adds custom pieces where necessary. It’s this kind of attention to detail that sets RWB builds apart.
Watching Nakai-san at work showed his pursuit of perfection. If a sealant line deviates by a few millimeters, he repeats it again. I watched as Nakai-san took the time to ensure that the trunk lid had even gaps and that it opened and closed properly – a process aided by loosening the release cable so he could concentrate on the task at hand .
Another thing that surprised me was the addition of double canards. They complement the large grand piano perfectly.
Once everything was done, it was time to install the wheels one last time and align the car. Nakai-san adjusts the wheel alignment based on the owner’s preferences.
After all the hard work, it was time to introduce Indonesia’s first 997 RWB – #12 翼 Tsubasa.
Tsubasa translates to wings, a name Nakai-san chose to honor William’s son and wish him wings big enough to fly high and protect his sisters.
This moment felt like a complete experience within the RWB family for me. While it brought a sense of closure, I know that Nakai-san’s journey will continue as this new era of the 997 is poised for growth. Congratulations, William, I look forward to future projects.
Rik Muda
Instagram: ardskellig
