Nord Stern is back at Road America for 2019 – June 10-11th. With us this time were eleven (11) Porsches from our crew in Minnesota. A healthy bunch, set for a good time as weather was great both days we were on track.
For information on any of the setups featured here, contact us and we’ll be happy to share. Street, track, or both, we’ve built a setup for it.
Please enjoy a selection of images from the weekend courtesy of Peter Lapinski.
We are proud to announce that 311RS will be racing with Porsche in 2019 with a 2008 911 GT3 Cup.
Our company was founded in 2011 on the back of a successful Evo X Time Attack campaign – 3 championships in 3 seasons. Racing is in our DNA, it’s racing that drives our “Track developed, street prepared” philosophy each day.
Since 2015, 311RS has worked solely with the Porsche brand with the goal to one day compete in a Porsche 911 of our own. We are set to make that goal a reality in 2019.
The annual Nord Stern “Fast Fling” PCA Club race at BIR will be the scene of our first race with the GT3 Cup – July 26-28th, 2019. This PCA race will be a great first test for us as we understand how to efficiently run our team and the GT3 Cup.
We plan one additional PCA Club race for 2019, with our focus set on preparing for the 2020 season.
The 997.1 GT3 Cup is now over 10yrs old, qualifying as a “historic” race car. Beginning in 2020, we plan to campaign the car at major historic events including, but not limited to, The WeatherTech International Challenge with Brian Redman at Road America, Rennsport Reunion VII, The Classic 12hr at Sebring, and more.
Leading up to our first race in July, we’ve got a few test days planned along with some updates to the car. We’ll be preparing the car consistent with all other 311RS Porsche units. This means fitting the car with components from our technical partners, such as Girodisc, JRZ, BBS, and more.
We’ll keep this section up to date as the car progresses towards it’s first race as a 311RS. See you on track in April for Nord Stern PCA First Fling!
Photos: Peter Lapinski
We’re onto the next step of our GT2RS development – aerodynamic assessment.
Porsche has delivered the GT2RS with a seemingly endless list of aerodynamic tricks and solutions. It is important for us to understand how each of those elements work together if we plan to adjust the aero setup on the car. Which we do.
Our upcoming Race exhaust system removes the factory center muffler, which itself acts as part of the rear diffuser. Removing this muffler creates a large hole at the rear of the underbody aero system. This must be addressed if we are to call our exhaust system an upgrade.
The folks at Patience Metal Fab introduced us to a local duo who run Nextrev Motorsports. Aerospace engineers by day, race car builders by night. At their day job, these two work with some of the most advanced technology and manufacturing processes available today.
We were specifically interested in a 3D scanning process which creates a model of the GT2RS for use with CFD software. We were connected with a local 3D scanning company which would provide the scan data to NextRev for use with aero development.
It is important for us to not only understand how the factory aero systems work on the GT2RS, but also where they can be improved – in this case by starting with a diffuser to work in conjunction with our Race exhaust system.
The 3D scanning process begins by placing thousands of specialized dots around the car. These dots are “activated” during the first round of scanning. After the computer recognizes the location of the dots, a second round of scanning triangulates the dots and creates a surface of the car based off the deformation of the lasers.
Seeing this 3D scanning process first hand was unreal. These guys were pros and made it look easy.
With the exterior completed, we moved onto the underside.
More dots…
Here is the underside with the OEM diffuser removed. There is a lot of room for improvement back here – Porsche including a diffuser from the factory provides us with mounting points for a much larger diffuser.
3D scanning the underside of the car proved to be a simpler task – the black paint was so shiny (thanks Carsmotology) that we had to rub some wax on the paint to dull it.
Getting all the nooks and crannies.
Here you can see the result from the scan of the GT2RS underside. The use of 3D scanning and CFD for this project will be a huge advantage for us while we evaluate our options for the rear diffuser (and additional small aero tricks).
Our first test day with the car is the 26th of February. We hope to have a prototype of our diffuser ready by then so we can report back with some real world results. Until then, we’ll keep this news section flush with updates as winter rolls on.
Photos courtesy of Ryan Gates/311RS, LLC.
We have received our first batch of Manthey Racing GT2RS extended water tanks.
These 10 pre-sold units are the first to arrive in the U.S, with exception to the unit in our GT2RS. It’s worth noting that Manthey Racing themselves do not sell components in the U.S. market – we are your source for these components.
While in Germany for European Delivery this past September, we paid a visit to Manthey Racing. The reason for our visit? A prototype version of this water tank was installed on our GT2RS along with a set of Michelin Sport Cup 2R tires.
We spent the next few days testing the setup on our U.S. spec car with solid results – the additional capacity was critical during our time at Spa.
These tanks increase the capacity of the charge cooling system nearly 300%. And anyone that has tracked a GT2RS knows the importance of the charge cooling system and the car’s thirst for distilled water! The intercooler sprayers do an incredible job of keeping temperatures on target.
It’s our pleasure to offer this solution here in the U.S. to GT2RS owners. These tanks, along with the entire Manthey Racing catalog, are now available through 311RS.
This includes the upcoming GT2RS MR package that was recently shown in detail at the Essen Motor Show. This same package is what Manthey Racing used on their GT2RS to set the production car lap record (6:40.3) around the Nordschleife.
If you own a Porsche GT car, Manthey Racing makes something for your car. Please contact us today and we’ll discuss what’s available for you platform from Manthey Racing.
Photos courtesy of Ryan Gates/311RS, LLC. & Manthey Racing
We dyno two of Porsche’s latest 911s in order to establish a baseline for each project. Read on to see how these two beasts fared on our local Mustang dyno.
The first step in any project we work with here at 311RS is to record baseline numbers – i.e. weight, lap times, power, etc.
With RS Motors 30 miles away, we have local access to a Mustang Dyno. We prefer a Mustang dyno for it’s load-based calculations – simulating the rolling resistance a car will see in the real world.
Numbers may not be as high as an intertia-based Dynojet, however the numbers provided from a Mustang dyno are reliable and consistent across the industry.
First up, the 2018 GT2RS is loaded onto the rollers for it’s baseline runs. The car is sufficiently broken in with 1,130miles on the clock. Porsche quotes the car at 700hp at the crank from the factory.
We ran the GT2RS for three pulls on the Mustang dyno. Seeing a car run under load on a dyno never gets old!
The GT2RS produced a healthy 630whp and 547tq on it’s final run. These numbers confirm this unit is making at least the 700hp quoted from Porsche.
Next up we have a 2019 GT3RS with 500 miles on the clock. No doubt still a bit tight, however there is no time like the present for a baseline dyno given our plans for the car this winter.
The 4.0L N/A engine in the 991.2 GT3RS is rated at 520hp at the crank from the factory.
Again, this car appears to be quite healthy – producing 456whp & 325tq.
While the GT3RS was making it’s runs, Ryan worked quickly to swap the exhaust on the GT2RS – removing the OEM catted & valved system and replacing it with our prototype 993 GT2 Evo-inspired straight pipes made locally here in MN by the guys at Patience Metal Fab.
The goal with these pipes is two fold – remove weight and reduce restriction.
Onto the dyno the car went. At this point, the car is running the factory tune and is not optimized for the additional flow of our straight pipes. Even so, it is important we see how the car responds with an exhaust swap alone.
Porsche runs a heavily torque-based control strategy with it’s ECU. Just because there is a reduced back pressure doesn’t mean the car will produce more power than the target torque value. The ECU will close the throttle, limit wastegate duty cycle, etc. to keep that targeted number exactly the same.
A look at the back -to-back dyno plots between stock exhaust & straight pipes confirms the above. The ECU clearly does not like the additional flow and as the revs increase it consistently trims power off the top end.
All of this leads to one thing – tuning. We cannot wait to unlock the potential of these cars by dyno tuning them. Mitch from COBB will be paying us a visit come mid-January to tune each of these cars with COBB AccessPorts.
By the time Mitch arrives in MN, the GT3RS will have a Dundon Motorsports longtube header system on it. Those alone are said to make good power without a tune, so we’ll confirm that and move forward with tuning after a few baseline runs.
As for the GT2RS, we’ll have the car tuned for the OEM exhaust as well as the straight pipes. In the event we visit a track with noise restrictions, it’s important we can still run the OEM system to good effect.
Our next area of focus will be on the aero department. The parachute caused by removing the rear muffler is to be addressed, as is additional cooling to ensure we aren’t burning up the back of the car with these 5″ straight pipes.
Until then, please enjoy this video of the GT2RS putting launch control to the test on slippery December roads here in MN. Turn the volume up!!
GT2RS owners interested in the development of our GT2RS program, please contact us and we’ll keep you up to date with each step of the process.
Photos courtesy of Peter Lapinski.
Nearly 3.5yrs from time of deposit, there is now a 2018 911 GT2RS inside 311RS HQ. And just in time for winter development season.
Below we’ll take a look at our first few stages of development for the GT2RS platform.
The car has just arrived to MN from Germany. We spent a week with the new 991 GT2RS for European delivery back in September – driving the car hard through Germany and Belgium was quite the experience. The roads, the tracks, the beer (!), all were wonderful.
Prior to landing in Europe, we coordinated with Manthey Racing to have a set of Michelin’s new Sport Cup 2R tire ready for install when we arrived. These GT2RS-specific Sport Cup 2R tires are a step on from the standard Sport Cup 2, offering more grip via revised tread pattern and much, much softer top-layer compound. Think Michelin racing slick-level grip…
Our first taste with the tires was on track at Spa Francorchamps. We’re happy to confirm the additional grip is certainly noticeable, especially when the tires were fresh.
We’ll be running the Sport Cup 2R exclusively on our GT2RS. You’ve got to love a street tire with legitimate race tire grip, even if for just a portion of the tire’s life. We look forward to understanding the tires further as the car develops into 2019.
A potential bottleneck for a track-driven GT2RS is the charge cooling system, specifically the size of the factory water tank. While at Manthey, they offered us one their yet-to-be-released extended water tanks. The Manthey piece works in conjunction with the factory water tank, and in the process increases capacity nearly 300%.
Early indications are that the factory GT2RS water tank functions well on a street car. However for those that track their GT2RS, especially in warm climates, the limitations of the factory unit become quite clear.
We put the new Manthey system to the test at Spa Fracorchamps. While there, four other GT2RS’ were also on hand for RMA Trackdays event. And sure enough each of them were refilling their water tank throughout the day – typically with each fuel fill up.
In contrast, we ran 6 sessions with the car, 3 full tanks of fuel, and left the track with nearly 1/3 of the Manthey tank full with distilled water. Keep in mind the Manthey tank is piggybacked on top of the factory tank, so the 1/3 left in the Manthey tank is in addition to what was in the factory tank below.
Manthey’s setup performed flawlessly. We recommend it for all GT2RS owners who plan to drive their cars – it’s a must. We’ve got a batch coming in in early December and ordered a few additional units for inventory.
Please contact us should you wish to upgrade your GT2RS with Manthey’s water tank (or any other items from their catalog).
The next phase of our program focuses on the exhaust system. The factory setup is quite nice – the catalytic converters are attached to each turbo with a direct exit out the exhaust type when the valve is open. While the valves are closed, the exhaust gases are directed into a titanium center muffler and back out the exhaust tips.
Each catalytic converter and valve combo weighs 12.2lbs. Combined with the center muffler and hardware, the complete system is roughly 35lbs.
The system makes good sound and plenty of power, however the catalytic converters are quite restrictive for track use.
Our plan is two fold – Our Track exhaust system will remove the catalytic converters while retaining the valves and center muffler. This will allow the car to breath freely while the muffler is retained to manage sound.
The Race exhaust setup is the one we are most excited for. This system will be as light as possible consisting of only two straight pipes, one off each turbo, routed directly out the back of the bumper. The center muffler will not be retained nor will the valves. Our goal is a system that weighs less than 10lbs.
More on both of these setups in the next week as we have the first few prototype units produced.
With exhaust development underway, it was time to install a GT2RS-inspired roll bar. The bar is produced as a collaboration between two local companies – Patience Metal Fab & Imola Motorsports, and we’re proud to offer it to GT2RS owners.
This roll bar faithfully reproduces the look and feel of the factory Ti roll bar, down to the shape and orientation of the gussets.
We finished this unit the Satin White Gold metallic – the same color of the magnesium BBS Weissach wheels. The finish looks similar to the factory Ti unit, however we really like the fact the roll bar now matches the color of the wheels.
We installed a chromoly steel unit which weighs 37lbs. A titanium version is possible, however the cost vs. performance ratio is questionable. Estimates have the titanium bar between 8-12lbs lighter than chromoly with a price of $15k-18k. Compare that to the $3,500 for the chromoly unit, the decision to fit the steel unit to our GT2RS was clear.
And just like that, the 311RS GT2RS program is up and running. During this winter we’ll be continuing development and preparing the car for it’s first track time early 2019. We’re headed down south in February to get a jump on testing, likely headed to Road Atlanta, Sebring, VIR, and more.
Until then, this news section will be active as the car shapes up through the winter. Please contact us with any questions about the program and to place an order for your GT2RS. We’ll keep this news section active in the meantime. Thanks for reading!
Photos courtesy of Ryan Gates/311RS, LLC.
The first of our production 311RS CupSport units is underway.
Based on a 1995 Carrera, this 993 came to us with an accident-free 190,000 miles.
We began teardown of the 993 curious to see what we’d find beneath. Thankfully the shell is in remarkable condition. No rust, no body work, and had never been taken apart outside of normal service.
Off to metal fab first at BBT, followed by time in the paint booth.
#01 will be back in our hands in January and we look forward to sharing more with you then.
Inquiries for 311RS CupSport commissions please contact our communications director, Terri – admin@311RS.com.
Photos courtesy of Peter Lapinski.
We visited Spa Francorchamps with a fresh Porsche 911 GT2RS picked up for European delivery. A GT2RS at Spa? Chance of a lifetime.
Here is the video:
The car was stock and running the new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2R tires. It is unreal to think a stock 911 can run consistent 2:33s laps one after another.
The car is impressive sitting still.
The GT2RS is currently on Eurpahtes Highway headed to port in Houston. It will be loaded for transport to Minneapolis and arrive by mid-November. There roads here are currently dry and snow-free (!!!).
Plans for the winter include few safety upgrades, setup work to the chassis and engine package.
From there, we’ll be heading south with a few cars to see good friends and set a few baseline laptimes at Road Atlanta, Sebring, and perhaps a few others.
These winter months will be exciting, we’ll be sure to keep the News section current.
Photos & video courtesy of: Ryan Gates/311RS, LLC.
We have some in-car footage from our final track event of 2018 – Road America with MVP track days. Ryan drove Luis’ 996 GT3 for a session with him onboard. The car loves Road America. It is such a blast to drive.
Here is the video:
We’ve been preparing the car for Luis since he bought it in 2015. It’s progressed quite nicely with Luis focused on improving it’s performance for road and track use.
His GT3 is setup with components we’ve developed specifically for the 996 GT3 platform. Thing is a beast.
The highlights:
1) Suspension – 311RS-spec JRZ RS Pros, ERP arms & solid bushings
2) Wheels & tires – 311RS-spec BBS E88 18×9″ & 18×11.5″, Michelin Sport Cup 2s – 235 & 295
3) Brakes – Girodisc rotors with Pagid Yellows & stainless lines
4) Engine – Cup exhaust, BMC filters, IPD plenum, tune
5) Interior – Euro GT3 seats, Techquipment bar, removed airbags, sun visors, glove box, front console, & head unit.
6) Exterior – RS front bumper (not pictured, used older photos for the post), carbon hood, RS wing, RS mirrors
Photos & video courtesy of Ryan Gates/311RS, LLC.
When they need to get TKP Safari 2 dirty before a car show, you don’t say no.
The mission was simple – find some mud.
A friend of the family cautiously agreed to us driving Allan Thom’s The Keen Project Safari Porsche 911 on his property – where they conveniently have a motocross track!
If you aren’t yet familiar with Leh Keen’s Safari 911 program, well that’s a shame. But here, check out this video and you’ll be caught up to speed.
This was our first opportunity behind the wheel of a TKP Safari. They are all about driving and having the most fun while doing so. That fact is immediately clear as you get moving.
It’s got the Porsche 911 steering feel you need, it sounds great, and you can drive it on dirt!
Our meeting was brief, but Safari 911 thank you for the memories.
Photos courtesy of: Peter Lapinski