Peter Lapinski

September 21st, 2020 – 311RS Motorsport celebrates a winning weekend at Round 4 of the SRO GT Sports Club America series at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, TX. Ryan Gates drove the #311 Porsche 911 GT2RS Clubsport to GT2 Class pole with a 2:10.48 lap time and secured GT2 Class wins in each of the two races during the weekend.

We would like to extend a special thank you to the entire 311RS Motorsport team for a great team effort during our trip to Circuit of the Americas. The car was setup with precision which allowed us to execute our program with efficiency on and off track. We look forward to finishing this season together on a high note at the 2020 season finale in Indianapolis.

In addition, 311RS Motorsport would like to thank Porsche Motorsport for the reliable 911 GT2RS Clubsport platform and on-site factory support throughout the weekend. SRO America deserves a thank you as well for hosting a safe and fun event, and finally Circuit of the Americas for providing all of us a pristine & safe facility for us all to race at.

Upcoming schedule – Ryan Gates is to campaign the 311RS Motorsport Porsche 911 GT2RS Clubsport at the season finale of the 2020 SRO America GT Sports Club at Indianapolis on October 2-4, 2020.

About 311RS Motorsport: Founded in 2011, 311RS Motorsport is a Porsche racing team and Porsche specialty workshop based in Minneapolis, MN USA. 311RS Motorsport prepares & supports factory Porsche race cars and delivers track developed, street prepared Porsche 911s for road and track use.

Official Press Release

Images courtesy of Peter Lapinski

First off, cheers and thank you to all those who have played a role in making our 2019 season one to remember. Teamwork was the theme for 2019, it was all hands on deck as we took our 311RS Porsche team PCA Club Racing with a 2008 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.

Please enjoy a look back at our 2019 season as seen through the lens of Minnesota’s-own Peter Lapinski.

Winter Testing

-Location: Roebling Road, Road Atlanta, Virginia International Raceway

Winter in MN meant we head south for track time – three tracks in four days. This trip saw the launch of our 997 GT3 Cup program and the first time our GT2RS saw the track on US soil.

Having been to Road Atlanta previously, Roebling Road and VIR provided us a taste of what else the south has to offer. VIR in particular was amazing with it’s natural layout and organic flow – our new favorite US track.

Rain or shine, we drove hard and had an amazing time with some of our best friends – cannot wait for the 2nd Annual in 2020!

Brainerd International Raceway

-Events: PCA First Fling, PCA Club Race, PCA Fall Fling

-PCA Club Race Results in GTC4: Qualified – 1st, Sprint Race 1 – 1st, Sprint Race 2 – 1st, Qualifying and Sprint Race GTC4 class records for Ryan Gates

Our home track. Nothing like it! The mile-long front straightaway at Brainerd International Raceway in MN is home to a few events each year for us. Beginning with First Fling in April, followed by the PCA Club Race in July and Fall Fling in October.

It was a pleasure to run our first PCA Club Race at home and with the support of the entire team – thank you all. We look forward to some of you joining in the Club Race for 2020!

Road America

-Events: PCA Cheese Fling, PCA Road America Challenge Club Race

-PCA Club Race Results in GTC4: Qualified – 1st, Sprint Race 1 – 1st, Sprint Race 2 – 2nd

Our other home track, Road America is just 5hrs from us and is typically the highlight(s) of our summers. This year we attended the PCA Road America Challenge for the first time – an event hosted by the Chicago-region PCA club and featured more than 180 Porsche Club Racers and 60 more HPDE drivers.

And a challenge it was, as we experienced our first on-track contact during the start of Sprint Race 2 into Turn 1. Ryan fought back from an off-track move to avoid cars in front to finish 2nd in GTC4 class – cheers to the GTC4 guys for the great battles out there and a well-deserved win for TJ Larson.

A special highlight from Road America in 2019 was the opportunity to run our 311RS-prepared GT2RS for a few private laps before the weekend. Leh Keen was on hand and had the track to himself running with a feature with Panorama. He took our GT2RS out and set a record laptime on his first lap. Thank you Leh!

Random

Peter paid us a few visits at 311RS HQ throughout the season. When we were not on track, we were here. Some interesting projects this season included exhaust and aero development of Porsche’s latest 911 GT2RS and production of the 311RS Porsche 993 CupSport.

While we are still working on the 993 CupSport, it is shaping up to make 2020 very special for us. Until then, cheers to 2019 and thank you once again to all those who have made it a year we will never forget.

Photos courtesy of Peter Lapinski

On July 27th, 2019, Ryan Gates drove the 2008 311RS Porsche GT3 Cup to Overall victory in both Sprint races of the PCA Club Race at BIR, setting two GTC4 class records in the process.

A huge thank you is in order to all who played a role in the team during our first outing together, great teamwork everyone!

-GTC4 Qualifying Record – 1:40.0

-GT4 Sprint Race Record – 1:39.3

Our next race is in four weeks at Road America for another PCA Club Race. With over 150 drivers already registered, we are not taking any chances in preparation of the car – we are working on an upgrade package leading up to the event.

Thank you once more to all those who have helped us make this weekend a reality, here’s to many more just like it.

Photos courtesy of Peter Lapinski

There is not much else like summer at Road America. For 2017, we made the trek 5hrs east with 6 Porsches in tow. And we’re happy to report the event was a success.

Please enjoy Peter Lapinski‘s killer photo set and accompanying notes from our time in Elkhart Lake, WI.

Road America would be the first time on track for this car since our trip to Smokies in April. The setup performed well during our time in Georgia, the only change being a flush of Castrol SRF brake fluid. Together with Girodisc’s PCCB rotor conversion & Pagid brake pads, the setup is built to cope with the huge braking zones of Road America.

Cold pressure check prior to the first session with red.

Luis and his 991 GT3 by 311RS made their way from Chicago to join us for the event.

Those E88s get us every time.

Next to it, Tom’s 311RS-prepared 997.1 GT3. Road America would be the second track event for the car under our supervision. It was great to drive at BIR, but there is nothing like a GT3 at Road America.

Both of these 991 GT3s run a modified version of the 991R diffuser. Road America would be a good testbed for the (hopefully) improved aero.

Ryan made the trip with his 930 – just under 5hrs from door to door. Is this the best road trip car of all time? We think yes.

On-track is where the action was. These two had many nice battles throughout the event. A well-driven 997 GT3 is not easily left behind.

Of course everyone is a winner if they’re driving a 311RS-prepared GT3.

As part of our driver development program, Ryan is in & out of the cars throughout the event keeping each driver on task.

For a few of the guys it was their first time at Road America. The download following each session is equally as important as what we install on track. “You’ve got to use the entire track, just as you would finish an entire beer.” I believe was the discussion here.

Somebody listens well…

For others, it comes naturally.

Bruce was absolutely crushing it all week with his 991 GT3.

He was running an updated chassis setup for the event. Tire wear would indicate we were within range. His only feedback -“I need 200hp more!” Soon enough, I’m sure.

Dial #411 (or 612-547-9311) for more information.

This car is at home on the long, flowing layout of Road America. The wider 19″ BBS & Michelin tire setup on #411 allows the driver to explore his limits with loads of confidence, seen here pushing into the carousel.

And mid-carousel.

If you could only hear the Akrapovic setup on exit of Turn 3…

Our next event is in a few weeks at BIR – it’s the annual National PCA Club Race. It’d be great to say we’ll be in the race, however this year our cars will be relegated to the DE event. See you there!

Photos courtesy of Peter Lapinski

Porsche season has officially arrived in Minnesota.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Lots of arms crossed fellas…

Sundays at the track, nothing else like it.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Photos courtesy of Peter Lapinski.