FLM911

Weird, but one of my .2 GT3 rear air ducts is missing. Havent had an impact or run over something, but it isnt there. The duct on the other side is fine. Have had the car from new in March, and only just noticed its missing when I had it on a car lift this weekend at a friends house. No scuff marks or evidence of some sort of impact to tear it off, Porsche tech today agreed when I took it in today to the dealer.

Anyway...two day track event coming up at VIR. New duct will be with me and on the car by early afternoon (overnighting the part) but I have two 30 min sessions in the morning ahead of when I can get it on the car.

Car has motul fluid and Pagid RS29's, performed flawlessly since March at VIR. Ambient air temp is ~85 degrees so not too hot, and two very long straights at VIR to give the brakes chance to cool a little anyway.

Should I worry about running those two sessions without that one rear duct? Tempted to run with it but take it a little easier on the braking check temps when I come in.

(side note - dealer was terrific, and will drive the parts to the track for me tomorrow. Over and above level of service as its not clear if the duct was there at new - got to think it was - or not)

DJN

Hey FLM911,

No worries at all:

1) You will be taking it easy on your first morning of a two day event to shake out the cobwebs....right?
2) It won't matter anyway because the previous 997.1 GT3 and 997.1 GT3RS did not have these ducts at all in the rear.
3) If you are an expert driver your TC and SC will likely be off, when used, these put alot of extra heat in the rear brakes when one is not driving smoothly
4) If you are not an expert driver, .....read #1 again!

Have Fun!
Doug N.

Carrera GT

The GT cars are pretty much hand built, so little things can happen.

I wouldn't be concerned about cooling on the steels in a .2 GT3, especially for only a couple of sessions.

If you really want to "conserve" the brakes, do all your braking in a straight line at high speed, have you foot off the brake pedal at turn-in. Then your brakes are finished generating heat while the car is still at speed for air cooling.

You can also -- at your own peril -- turn off SC and TC -- the rears will be applied subtly for SC events even without the indicator light flickering, so that's working the rears. If you rely upon SC for anything, then of course, don't turn it off!

markus_t19

exact same thing happened to me: 2 weeks after delivery (and about 2000km) i did an inspection and the rear duct on the right hand side was missing ...with no signs of an impact.
do they fall off ?

cheers, Markus

got2go

knocked my right rear off after two wheels off at VIR between turns 4 and 5. Drove the rest of the day in the heat with no problems (same fluid and pads as you). Keep the TC and PSM turned off.

FLM911

Hey - we met during that event (Gray GT3) and I think your mini-off was captured by the event photographer (http://www.fandsenterprises.com/vircar.htm). Remember seeing a series of shots of a red GT3 and a big cloud of dirt coming up behind you. Dont know if the shots are still online.

Appreciate the feedback.

cscrogham

When you get to VIR ck w/ Kerrigan at Synergy and tell him Cole sent you, he probably has one you can use until yours arrives. Happy to help if he has one...Cole

FLM911

Thanks!

ir_fuel

Am I seeing a pattern here?

Mine is also missing. rear duct on the right hand side

TRAKCAR

Hmm, I better go look under the car ;-)

I would not worry about it and enjoy your planned track day.

Larry Cable

they do drop down and I could imagine if you bottomed out it would come off although they are held on pretty securely with a couple of M6 bolts ...

suncoast has them available, I would certainly replace it sooner rather than later, it will take you less than 10 minutes to do so ...

I also agree that turning SC+TC off will help ... although I dont think the electric nannies on the .2 are quite as intrusive as they were on the .1 in this regard

diethelm

Missing the left rear.

Although there are no signs of damage, given how many are missing, I suspect they are easily knocked off.

911SLOW

They do come off only in those who always drive FLAT OUT.

Zip tie them.

FLM911

...and that is how I drive, FLAT OUT.

So at the Trackdaze event at VIR on Thursday and Friday this week, got to love those guys as the free tshirts they were giving out had those immortal words on the front - "THAT IS HOW I DRIVE...FLAT OUT". Priceless.

DrDrilZ

noticed my rear right duct is loose. before too long i may be missing it also. sounds like the right one is problematic