Since I was introduced to the world of RAUH-Welt Begriff by RAUH-Welt Begriff Willem Bakajin And Tsubaki, his RWB Porsche 993I’ve been dreaming of seeing one of Akira Nakai’s custom builds in real life. Last month that dream finally came true at the ‘RWB Experience’ in Indonesia.
In 2019, William and I were discussing his next RWB project: a 997 Turbo. Nakai-san was just beginning a new chapter in RWB history at the time, and I was determined to document William’s build as it happened. I was excited when I saw the 997 RWB prototype at the 2020 RWB New Year Party, but then Covid hit. All our plans were put on hold. I continued to Dino’s ‘The making of the RWB 997’ series (Part 1, Part 2And Part 3 (here) while I kept in touch with William and got updates on his new building project.
Fast forward to August 2024 and a beautiful, clear day at Ivan’s Motor Pik 2, approximately 30km from the Indonesian capital Jakarta. Here, Williams’ 997 RWB transformation would finally take place.
Nakai-san was in the country for a week, with four builds planned, each taking about two days. First up was Ivan’s 993 – RWB Indonesia #10 SusanooWilliam’s 997.2 Turbo finished 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 perfected hand movements to the preparation: taping, gluing wireframes to the bumpers and trimming.
Then the fun began: cutting. Viewers must be careful.
I soon began to realize the intensity of the process. A close-up showed the raw aftermath – there was no going 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 track and it has been honed, stripped and tuned for speed. It is also fast and holds a local lap record.
Here’s a look back at the car’s previous look, which was largely inspired by GT3 Cup modifications.
The 997’s body structure is particularly complex, with two metal layers instead of one. However, the earlier modifications made Nakai-san’s job easier. He filled the gaps with a combination of putty and aluminum tape.
It’s insane how much wider the Turbo bodykit is compared to the standard 997. The reason for this lies in the intake. As you can see, the kit isn’t completely cut; Nakai-san has to make cuts to allow the intake to flow.
Unfortunately he forgot his Turbo template, but RWB Kuala Lumpur came to his rescue.
Unlike older 911 models, the 997 fuel cap interferes with the RWB body kit. More cutting and a new hinge system for the cap solves the problem.
After the cutting was complete, Nakai-san tested the fit. He attached the wheels to make sure everything lined up perfectly, and trimmed as needed.
At the end of day 1 the hard work was done and day 2 was reserved for the finishing touches.
The next morning was greeted with fresh energy. I have always been curious to see how Nakai-san tackles the fender liners after installing the kit. It is a detail that is rarely shown or discussed.
But before I do that, I must mention one more unique aspect of Williams’ build: the prototype wing that Nakai-san designed especially for this car.
In this respect, the project was a learning experience for Nakai-san, who said he discovered a lot during the construction.
The wing is super large and super aggressive and requires a crossbar to prevent excessive flex.
As for the fender liners, it’s pretty simple. Nakai-san uses the stock liners, modifies them, and adds custom pieces as needed. It’s this kind of attention to detail that sets RWB builds apart.
Watching Nakai-san work, I saw his dedication to perfection. If a kit line is off by a few millimeters, he does it again. I saw Nakai-san take his time to make sure the trunk lid had even gaps and opened and closed properly—a process aided by the release cable being disconnected so he could concentrate on the task at hand.
Another thing that surprised me was the addition of the double canards. They complement the large wing perfectly.
Once everything was finished, it was time to mount the wheels for the final 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 full circle for me within the RWB family. While it brought a sense of closure, I know Nakai-san’s journey will continue, with this new era of the 997 poised for growth. Congratulations William, I look forward to future projects.
Young Rik
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