Congrats on signing up for your first DE.

Porsche fluid is totally up to the task for your DE. You can certainly upgrade (ATE Typ 200, Motul, etc...) to another brand, but it isn’t necessary for your first outing. Fresh fluid is the most important thing.

Enjoy Mid Ohio!

I don’t know, I always had brake issues on the track with stock fluids. People always talk about not pushing the car to the limit for DEs, but that’s what a track event is for. I would run the better fluid.

The more I think about how people respond to posts about DEs - too much variation in responses - I think the main determining factor on whether or not stock is '"fine" for DEs is really up to the driver. For example, I like to push things, so even on all season tires, I was passing 911 turbos, Ferrari's, Corvettes and Vipers on my 18-yr-old Cab...

A DE can be relaxing or it can feel like an all-out race. Yes, I know some folks say that DE is NOT a race, but honestly, we are in a 911 on a race track with no speed limits. And it can be just as dangerous as a real race. So, honestly, this whole idea about which fluids discussion, whether or not stock tires will work, stock oiling system, what pads, etc. - it all boils down (pardon to pun) to how much you intend on pushing your car and HOW you intend on pushing your car.

Example1: You can use lite braking and lite gas and still squeal the tires through all the turns via momentum driving, focusing on lines, etc. Your limiting hardware factor is going to be tires, followed by oiling system limitations - yes, even all season tires can cause oil starvation or cavitation on turns. Stock oil in this case might not be good enough.
Example2: You can use full throttle on every straight and then slow down for easy turns. Your limiting hardware factor will be engine power and therefore, engine cooling ability and proper oil for redline runs. Again, stock oil might not be good enough.
Example3: You can perform late braking on all the high speed straights and then go easy in the turns. Your limiting factor will be heat build-up in the brakes and you can easily cook the brakes or boil them. Stock DOT4 fluid would not be enough here.
Example4: You aren't driving particularly hard, but because you are new, you are black flagged to come into the pits. You stop for the track worker to tell you that you didn't allow someone to pass. You then head back out and notice that you have no brakes because they boiled (because you came into the pits with no airflow after the straight.
Example5: By the end of the day, you become a quick learner and you combine one of more examples in the above. Because, hey, isn't that the point? Now you could benefit from all sorts of improvements and stock parts won’t be good enough, and you better check tire pressures as it’s not hard to get PSI above the max rated pressure on the tires.

On the other hand, you can take your stock Mazda 3 wagon out there, learn the lines, have a great time, and never have any issues at all. But I promise, the second you start pushing that thing, you will find a way to break it down.

Thoughts?