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Porsche season has officially arrived in Minnesota.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

For 2017, Nord Stern hosted it’s annual Spring Fling event on April 28-30th at Brainerd International Raceway. PCA wisely runs the 3.1 mile Donnybrooke layout – nearly 50 years after the facility opened in 1968, “Donnybrooke Speedway” still makes for a great proving ground.

A 1 mile straightaway to start the season? We’ll take it.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

We have a few fresh faces in the crew for 2017 – including Tom’s 2008 997.1 GT3. This weekend would be it’s first outing after our preparation during winter break – click to see before & after. These GT3s in particular (2007-2008) have a special place in our hearts, so it was a real treat to see it through the process and onto the track.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017 BBS E50

Ryan’s 1987 930 was on hand to start the year. Sadly, no track time for this one – it’s been relegated to cheerleading duty for 2017. It does a great job of looking pretty, however. So all is not lost.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017 Speedlines

The #69 311RS makes a return for 2017, this time on a Polar Silver 1996 993 C2. John sent his Forest Green metallic 964 packing just before winter and emerged with this 3.8L beauty. What a stud.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Rich added a 2009 997 Turbo to his garage late-summer 2016. It’s a great driver for him, and and as he would soon find out, real quick on track. The car received a full set of two-piece Girodisc rotors along with fresh pads all around prior being introduced to BIR.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Friday’s schedule is built around PCA’s Driver Education course – a must for any new member to PCA who plans to enjoy their Porsche on track. We introduced two new members to the club for 2017 and it’s safe to say they are hooked. Sorry guys!

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Each driver is assigned a PCA-certified instructor to guide them through the process. The day’s schedule begins in the class, then moves to the skidpad for cone drills. The part everyone is here for, track time, runs for the rest of the day with the instructor by the driver’s side. It’s an awesome experience for new drivers.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Those drivers that have taken the course previously enjoy a relaxing Friday.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Saturday is a different story. We hit it hard and get to work sorting the cars.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

The 3.8lL engine in John’s 993 is a gem. It’s built using 993 RS engine & drivetrain components, which in combination with a gearing change, makes for one hell of a drive.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

The 993 RS trend continues with brakes, wheels, and aero pieces each from the European-market 993. This setup is bound to evolve in time, however it’s in a great place to begin the season. It’s so fun.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Saturday ends with some good old fashioned team work. Turn 1 at BIR is really tough on the left hand tires, it’s nearly flat out at 150mph+. A quick swap side to side and the tires wear very nicely.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 PSC2

A close up look at tire wear of a fresh Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Lots of arms crossed fellas…

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Sundays at the track, nothing else like it.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Rich was crushing it during his first weekend at the track. The 997 Turbo ate up BIR’s long, flowing Donnybrooke layout with Rich attacking out of the box. It was awesome to watch.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Tom and his 311RS-prepared 997 GT3 ran smoothly all weekend. The car is nicely setup for a mix of street & track use – not too much, and not too little of anything. I think we all fell for the car during the course of the weekend.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Our initial setup for the car produced nice, flat cornering and took advantage of the extra grip of the meaty Sport Cup 2s all around.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017 Ryan Gates Tom Kileen

Part of the fun is getting to know the car. Here, Ryan explains to Tom how to properly engage 6th gear before entering Turn 1.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

993s are just perfect – they are just the right balance between vintage and modern. They feel good, sound good, and they’re fast. John’s especially.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Heading into May it looks we’ve got a bunch more driving to look forward to. A thank you to the folks at Nord Stern for hosting the event. We had a great time, see you at Road America.

311RS Porsche 911 997 993 930 GT3 C2 Turbo BIR Brainerd International Raceway Peter Lapinski Nord Stern PCA 2017

Summer is around the corner, is your Porsche ready? Make it a point to get it right, contact us to book your time with 311RS. Imported from Stuttgart, refined in Minneapolis.

Photos courtesy of Peter Lapinski.

Smokies GT is a not-for-profit group of Porsche GT car owners who get together annually in the beautiful Smoky Mountains for a weekend of driving. This year’s Smokies GT event was held April 21-22, and it would be the first time we’d attend but certainly not the last.

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT

The event benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and this year’s Spring meeting was a massive success – more than $120,000 was raised by the 85 Porsche GT owners on hand. What an accomplishment for a great cause.

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT

Friday is spent at Atlanta Motorsports Park for an open track day. For us, it was the first time we’d been on track in 2017. We brought down 4 GT3s from Minneapolis – one 996, one 997, and two 991s.

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT

As part of the fundraising effort, Leh Keen was on hand giving rides for charity. He’d be using our 991 GT3 for the rides, which was quite an honor for us, and quite a ride for the passenger we’d have to imagine. Together we raised $2,500 for the cause.

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT

Saturday began with a drive to Heaven’s Landing – which is a gorgeous private air strip up in the Smoky mountains. We were there to run the cars flat out for 1/2 mile. Imagine the sound of 85 GT cars flat out for 1/2 mile. Quite nice huh?

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT

There’s a more to the story, but for now we’ll let Peter’s photos do the talking. Thank you once again to the organizers of SmokiesGT for the incredible event. We’ll see you next year! And to Leh and his wife Eliza, the hospitality was much appreciated you two. See you soon.

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT Peter Lapinski

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT Peter Lapinski

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT Peter Lapinski Leh Keen

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT Peter Lapinski

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT Peter Lapinski Leh Keen

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT Peter Lapinski Luis Fraguada

311RS Porsche 911 997 996 991 GT3 RS SmokiesGT Peter Lapinski

Photos courtesy of Peter Lapinski.

Peter Lapinski was on hand to witness the new “further-forward rear engine” 911 RSR during it’s second battle of 2017 – the 65th running of the Mobil1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Porsche RSR Sebring by Peter Lapinski

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Coming off a convincing debut to start the season at Daytona, Sebring would present another great challenge for the new RSRs.

Porsche RSR Sebring by Peter Lapinski

Porsche RSR Sebring by Peter Lapinski

Porsche fought the good fight with the new RSR performing well. The #911 of Pilet, Makowiecki, and Werner was in contention for the GTLM class win right through the final hour.

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Porsche RSR Sebring by Peter Lapinski

With 59mins left to race, a long pit stop, a puncture, and lastly a dubious penalty all but ended the #911’s chances for the win. In the end Pilet drove the #911 to a hard-fought 7th place just ahead of the #912 in 8th.

Porsche RSR Sebring by Peter Lapinski

Porsche RSR Sebring by Peter Lapinski

The pace was good all the way to the end, just not luck. The pace is a great sign that the new RSR and it’s unique (for a 911) design is bound for success. We’ll be curious to see if this design ever makes it way into a 911 for road use.

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A “further-forward rear engine” 911 GT3 sounds like an interesting idea. Will it happen? Time will tell…

Photos courtesy of Peter Lapinski.