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GMP Performance
03-08-2011, 06:45 PM
The 2011 season marks our return to club racing. Our company was started in the 1970's racing VW's and for our 35 year anniversary, we restored the car that started it all and announced our plans to build an Audi S3 race car and compete in the NASA GTS class (Build Thread (http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/342590-GMP-Performance-Building-an-Audi-S3-Track-Car!)).

We are going to compete in the GTS class in the NASA-Southeast region and we race at some of the southeast's most popular tracks. If you are near one of the race tracks, please come by and look for us in the paddock.

2011 Race Schedule:
February 11-13 CMP
March 11-13 Road Atlanta
April 9-10 NCCAR
April 30-May 1 CMP
June 17-19 CMP
July 2-3 Charlotte Motor Speedway
August 6-7 Road Atlanta
September 3-4 Roebling Road
September 8-11 Mid Ohio (National Championships)
October 22-23 CMP
November 12-13 NCCAR
December 2-4 Road Atlanta

GMP Performance
03-08-2011, 07:33 PM
We entered our first race of the 2011 season at Carolina Motorsports Park February 11-13. On Friday, we had our "comp" school and after successfully completing this, we were now eligible to race with a provisional license. The provisional license period is four races and we have to complete them without incident.

Saturday morning was our first session on track and we raced that afternoon. In the very first race for both the car and the driver, we brought home a third place trophy!

On Sunday, we ran our second race. Unfortunately, we were having issues with coilpacks and were only able to make it halfway.

The weekend was an overall success and we are excited to have the 2011 season underway. Here are thumbnail images from the track that weekend. The larger ones are on our site to keep this thread loading quickly.

Click Here for February 11-13, 2011 Images (http://www.gmpperformance.com/index.cfm?PG=carGallery&Mode=displayVehicle&VID=3088&MakerID=2)

http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/20960_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/20961_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/20962_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/20963_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/20964_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/20965_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/20966_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/20967_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/20968_t.jpg

GMP Performance
05-13-2011, 07:31 PM
The second round of the 2011 NASA-SE race season was held at Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA the weekend of March 11th-13th. We left out Thursday evening to run an all day test and tune session on Friday. We had a new turbo setup and were able to utilize the test day to get the programming dialed-in properly.

Saturday morning's practice session was at 9:00am and we were all set to dial in the car for qualifying. The air temperature was 35 degrees so we decided to be very conservative with the cold and short session. We positioned ourselves on grid right behind the gts3 series director in his E46 M3 to get a speed comparison. The session was only fifteen minutes but our new turbo setup proved to be worthy as we were able to keep pace in the practice session.

The qualifying session was scheduled right before lunch at 11:00. We went out again behind the series director to check to see if our speed was up to par. The first two laps were spent getting the brakes and tires up to optimal temperatures and then a mustang went into the wall at 10a and spread grass and parts all across the track so the course went full caution until cleanup. The driver was ok but the car and the session were done. With such a short qualifying session, the field was jumbled and lap times were all over the place. We qualified 4th in class with a number of faster cars behind us since they were not able to run an actual clean lap.

The thunder group race was at 1:30 and the starting grid was a cluster. Timing and scoring had their work cutout trying to keep everyone happy and on such a tight schedule, some things got jumbled. This made the start very intense as many faster cars worked their way through the slower cars quickly. Our strategy was to keep a reserved pace to allow the field to sort itself out. On the third lap, another mustang lost control and ended up in the sand trap at turn 6. The field made a number of laps under caution while the safety crew removed the car to a safe place. The race restarted near the halfway mark of the timed event. We were immediately passed coming down the hill into 10a on the restart by the e46 m3 utilizing a spotter’s radio communication of the green flag restart on the front stretch. The s3 was then held up a lap by a slower Pontiac GTO and which allowed a couple of the faster corvettes to catch and pass. This allowed the BMW to open a sizable lead on the fourth position. After three laps in green flag racing, yet another mustang brought out a full course caution as it heavily impacted the wall at the corner station at turn 2. The race ended under caution and the s3 unofficially finished in 5th. following the race, the first place 996 Porsche was moved into GTSU as it was not able to provide a current dyno sheet moving the official finishing position to 4th on the day.

Sunday's racing agenda had us qualifying in the morning and racing that afternoon. In the qualifying session, we went out a ripped a quick lap and put the S3 on pole. We started the race form the first position in class but were in the middle of the GTS field. At the green flag, we dropped back in the field but were running first in class. We then had a class competing BMW E30 with an engine swap pass us for the lead before the race went full course caution to remove a stationary racecar from the course. We lost the second place position to the silver E46 M3 who was able to get a great jump on the restart. After a few laps, we were able to regain second place and were gaining on the first place E30. Our lap times were continuing to improve as the race went on but unfortunately, our race ended early in turn two. While cresting the hill in turn two, the car experienced snap oversteer and slid sideways into the inside retaining wall. While the impact was not severe, it did damage the hood, bumper and front fenders and our race weekend was over.

Overall, we were very pleased with the weekend. The S3 proved its speed and our team showed that we can run up front.

https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/21280_t.jpg
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Anthony
05-13-2011, 08:46 PM
Awesome. More pics, please! [:D]

GMP Performance
05-13-2011, 08:59 PM
Our S3 racing team returned to CMP in Kershaw, SC for Round 3 of the NASA Southeast GTS racing series. Attending this event was especially challenging due to the accident repairs required from round two at Road Atlanta. Our Audi S3 was not offered in the United States so acquiring replacement parts meant contacting an Audi dealership in Germany and having the items shipped over. Once in the States, the S3 parts were delivered to the paint shop and they were able to finish applying a fresh coat of white paint and get the car back to us the Monday prior to the event weekend. After a few late nights, the engine and drivetrain were back in and the car was unloaded at CMP just in time for practice on Saturday morning.

Saturday’s practice and qualifying went well and we qualified mid-pack for the race. At the start of the race, we encountered a part failure causing a loss of boost. A silicone connecting sleeve had been internally punctured in the Road Atlanta accident and during the practice and qualifying sessions, the pressure pierced through completely. We had a replacement but the outer diameters did not match 100% and the clamps did not apply enough pressure to maintain the seal. We hastily made repairs in the pits and limped the car around the track to finish the race, collecting valuable championship points.

On Sunday, our qualifying session was cancelled and the field lined up according to Saturday’s finishing positions. We started last on the GTS grid but at the drop of the green flag, our S3 advanced in the field. We passed the third and fourth place cars and settled into the third place position for the remainder of Sunday’s race.

https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/21285_t.jpg
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GMP Performance
05-13-2011, 09:07 PM
Awesome. More pics, please! [:D]
that is on the "to do" list for Road Atlanta in June! BTW, do you have an Audizine flag we can hoist above our trailer in the paddock so fellow members can find us?

GMP Performance
06-28-2011, 09:05 PM
The Audi S3 Racing Team returned to Road Atlanta for the 4th race of the 2011 NASA South East region in the GTS Challenge class. We were currently 2nd in the points standings and were competing in our Audi S3 trying to close the gap on the series points leader.

The weekend's racing was going to be exciting as participation levels were at a season high. Extra cars on grid meant that classes were divided. Typically, we are in the Thunder run-group, which consists of high-horsepower European cars, as well as the larger domestic and import cars.

Since this event had so many entrants, a "Blitz", German word for Lightning, class was formed and comprised of all German cars. The combined group had nearly 50 cars registered and ranged from Porsche 997's to Spec E30 BMW's.

Saturday morning practice was used to scrub in our new wider wheel and tire setup. BF Goodrich joined forces with us and provided a sticky set of R1 tires in 245x40x17 that we mounted onto our new 17x9.0 wheels, up from 17x7.5.

Saturday's qualifying session was brief and our car was mid-pack. The new wheel and tire setup proved to take a bit more getting used to as the increased grip changed the characteristics of the car.

The race on Saturday started and ran the duration incident free. Our S3 performed well but was sidelined with two laps to go due to a coil-pack issue.

Sunday morning started with an early qualifying session which we were unable to make. However, the car and team were all set for the afternoon race and we lined the S3 up at the back of the grid. Unfortunately, the coil-pack issue plagued us again and were forced to retire with only one lap in the books.

Road Atlanta proves to be our nemesis this year but our sights are now focused on Round 5 at Charlotte Motor Speedway July 2nd and 3rd.

Our new BFG R1 tires and Performance Friction brakes are performing flawlessly and we are 100% confident that the coil pack gremlins have been resolved. We will have the S3 ready to go as we chase down the 2011 season points championship.

We wanted to make sure and capture a bunch of pictures from the weekend. We have four pages of pictures so click here to check them out and see what you think. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38539900@N06/sets/72157627016014788/)
http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-4-Road-Atlanta_681_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-4-Road-Atlanta_677_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-4-Road-Atlanta_678_t.jpg

Are you interested in getting your car on track? Join the NASA-SE region at the next event for an HPDE session with an instructor. Click Here to visit their website for details. (http://www.NASA-SE.com)

GMP Performance
06-28-2011, 09:07 PM
Audi S3 Racing /// Round 5 NASA-SE GTS Racing Series

This is the 5th race of the 2011 NASA South East region in the GTS Challenge class. We are currently 2nd in the points standings and will be competing in our Audi S3 trying to close the gap on the series points leader.

Charlotte Motor Speedway is one of NASCAR"S home tracks and we will compete on the high-banks combined with the infield road course.

Weekend Racing Schedule:

Saturday, July 2nd, 2011
9:30am-9:45am - Practice
11:35am-11:50pm - Qualifying
2:55pm-3:25pm - Race

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
12:20pm-12:35am - Qualifying
3:20pm-3:55pm - Race

Anthony
06-29-2011, 12:54 PM
Very cool. Any chance that one of the races this season is televised?

GMP Performance
06-30-2011, 09:48 AM
Very cool. Any chance that one of the races this season is televised?

I wish. Amateur racing at its best and there is no coverage.

GMP Performance
08-02-2011, 07:21 PM
Round 5 of the 2011 NASA-SE was held July 2nd and 3rd at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, NC. This was our only visit to the NASCAR racetrack that had a configuration combining the stock car oval as well as an infield road course that started past the start/finish line and snaked through reconnecting in the ovals first corner. Our Audi S3 team comes into the race weekend a mere 4 points out of the lead in the championship. The car ran well the last race weekend in Road Atlanta so we did not make any changes going into the race weekend at CMS.

http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3_682_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_683_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_684_t.jpg


With no major changes to the Audi S3, Saturday morning's practice session went well and we focused on setting up the chassis for the unique racetrack. The banking presents a challenge as the car is jarred pretty hard in the transition to it form the infield course. We dialed in the shocks to compensate this as well as the overall uneven surface of the road course. Qualifying was later that afternoon and the weather was warm, making for a sticky track. The car ran really well allowing us to qualify first in class.

http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_685_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_687_t.jpg

http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_688_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_690_t.jpg


The race started shortly after 3pm and we jumped out to an early lead. However, while leading, the bumpy track broke an exhaust hanger and we were forced to pit for repairs. Luckily, there were a few vehicles off track causing a full course caution. With the field slowly lapping, the crew was able to make repairs and return the S3 to the track just in time to take the green flag. Unfortunately, the exhaust had separated at the turbo so we were not able to finish the race at full speed, but we were able to finish and collect additional points. Saturday's race result dropped us to 14 points behind the leader.

http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_691_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_693_t.jpg

http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_694_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_695_t.jpg


On Sunday, we set out to qualify at 12:20. After Saturday's disappointing race, we were determined to get our first win. In our session, we were able to knock 3.5 seconds off our qualifying time from Saturday. We really felt good about the race. The race ran without a single caution flag. Due to a grid sheet infraction, we started the race from the back of our run group. after a few laps, we were able to get around the championship leader and take the lead. The race ran without incident and we caught a few of the cars in other classes and were able to pass them as well. We crossed the finish line first in class to record our first victory for the team.

http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_696_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_697_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_698_t.jpg

http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_699_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_700_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_701_t.jpg

http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_702_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_703_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-5-CMS_704_t.jpg

Click here and you can see larger images on our site. (http://www.gmpperformance.com/index.cfm?PG=aboutUs&Mode=view&AUGID=83)

Join us at the next event at Road Atlanta. You can drive your car on track! Check www.NASA-SE.com for details.

GMP Performance
08-31-2011, 04:32 PM
Round 7 of the NASA-SE German Touring Series is being held at Roebling Road (http://www.roeblingroad.com/) outside of Savannah, GA. This is our first and only visit to this track and our Audi S3 will compete against other German cars in the fight for the 2011 championship. Check out the track's site and stop by and support the only Audi in the field!

Saturday Schedule:
8:45-9:05 : Practice
9:45-10:00 : Qualifying
2:00-2:35 : Race

Sunday Schedule:
9:55-10:10 : Qualifying
2:55-3:35 : Race

Enthusiasts wanting to get on track can register for an HPDE (High Performance Driver Education) at www.NASA-SE.com

We also want to thank our sponsors for their support. Please drop them a line and let them know you saw them racing with the Audi S3 Racing Team.

+ PMC (Palmetto Motorsports Club) - www.PalmettoMotorsportsClub.com
+ BF Goodrich - www.BFGoodrich.com
+ Audizine - www.Audizine.com
+ Performance Friction Brakes - www.PerformanceFriction.com
+ APR - www.GoAPR.com
+ NASA-SE - www.NASA-SE.com

Anthony
08-31-2011, 08:24 PM
Ah, good old Roebling Road Raceway. The home of Motor Week, TV's longest running automotive magazine! [>_<]

GMP Performance
09-01-2011, 06:41 AM
Ah, good old Roebling Road Raceway. The home of Motor Week, TV's longest running automotive magazine! [>_<]

I heard that as well recently. Interesting and really cool that they shoot there.

GMP Performance
10-01-2011, 12:14 AM
Audi S3 Racing 2011 - Round 6 - Road Atlanta

Date: 8/8/2011

We returned to Road Atlanta for Round 6 of the NASA-SE German Touring Series. Our Audi S3 competed against other German cars in the fight for the 2011 championship. We had some issues to overcome from a test weekend at VIR. During that weekend, we suffered turbocharger bearing failure that forced us to order and replace the turbo and exhaust housing the week prior to the event.

We had to drive through the night and arrived late to Road Atlanta, missing morning practice. As we headed out for qualyfying, we were were sidelined with a sticking wastegate actuator and were unable to start the session. We made repairs to the wastegate and were confident for Saturday's race. After only a few laps, the wastegate actuator was again problematic and we retired after the midway point of the race, ensuring partial points for the race and towards the championship. We spent the rest of the afternoon diagnosing the issue and worked until the early morning hours to make proper repairs, reclocking the turbo to the correct alignment.

Sunday we went out in an early HPDE session to test the repairs and lap times were promising. Qualifying yielded positive results and we were able to qualify first in our GTS3 class. Sunday afternoon's race was a promising victory for us as we led from the drop of the green flag capturing our secod victory of the season.

Unfortunately, the weekend DNF set us back in the points chase. While we were able to pass the race's midway mark, we only received half the points. We are now having to battle a serious deficit and it puts pressure on us to perform well in the last few races of the season. Our next race is at Roebling Road in Savannah, GA over Labor Day Weekend. This will be our first and only visit to the track this season and a good finish is critical.


Saturday's Race
http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-4-Road-Atlanta_707_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-4-Road-Atlanta_724_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-4-Road-Atlanta_715_t.jpg
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Sunday's Qualifying
http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-4-Road-Atlanta_709_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-4-Road-Atlanta_719_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-2011-Round-4-Road-Atlanta_711_t.jpg


Sunday's Race
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For larger images, Click here and take a look at the event gallery (http://www.gmpperformance.com/index.cfm?PG=aboutUs&Mode=view&AUGID=84).

Weekend Schedule

Saturday August 6th, 2011
Practice - 8:20AM to 8:40AM
Qualifying - 11:00AM to 11:15AM
Race - 2:05PM to 2:40PM

Sunday August 7th, 2011
Qualifying - 9:35AM 9:55AM
Race - 2:35PM 3:10PM

Enthusiasts wanting to get on track can register for an HPDE (High Performance Driver Education) at www.NASA-SE.com

We also want to thank our sponsors for their support. Please drop them a line and let them know you saw them racing with the Audi S3 Racing Team.

+ PMC (Palmetto Motorsports Club) - www.PalmettoMotorsportsClub.com
+ BF Goodrich - www.BFGoodrich.com
+ Audizine - www.Audizine.com
+ Performance Friction Brakes - www.PerformanceFriction.com
+ APR - www.GoAPR.com

GMP Performance
10-01-2011, 01:19 AM
Audi S3 Racing - Round 7 - Roebling Road

Date: 9/23/2011

Round 7 of the NASA-SE German Touring Series was held at Roebling Road outside of Savannah, GA. This was our first and only visit to this track and it took some time to figure out this deceptively challenging layout. Following our race win at Road Atlanta, we headed into Round 7 with determination to finish the season positively. The S3 was running well and we utilized the practice and qualifying sessions to learn the track. Saturday's race started and we cautiously ran mid-group and followed some of the more experienced racers gaining valuable insight into the racing line. By the halfway point, we started picking up the pace and were able to improve our lap times. While still off the class leader's lap times, we were able to finish ahead of the points leader and make up valuable ground.

On Sunday, our Audi S3 started to lay down some quicker laps and close the gap behind the class leader's pace during qualifying. The start of the race gave us a chance to tuck in behind the lead car and learn from the driver who calls Roebling Road his home track. Ultimately, the leader pulled away to win the race but we finished a respectable second, again gaining points towards the season's points championship.

We took a ton of pictures from this weekend and have them all in our event gallery. Click here to take you right to the race weekend gallery page (http://www.gmpperformance.com/index.cfm?PG=aboutUs&Mode=view&AUGID=85). Here are a few of our favorites from the weekend.
http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-Round-7-Roebling-Road_736_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-Round-7-Roebling-Road_738_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-Round-7-Roebling-Road_732_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-Round-7-Roebling-Road_730_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-Round-7-Roebling-Road_742_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-Round-7-Roebling-Road_759_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-Round-7-Roebling-Road_791_t.jpg http://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-Round-7-Roebling-Road_792_t.jpg

The next race is October 22-23rd and we head back to CMP in Kershaw, SC. We have a two month window and we have a number of time-consuming items on our "to-do" list that we will be attending to. We consider Kershaw our home track and we are excited to continue our pursuit of speed in our inaugural season of GTS racing.

GMP Performance
10-25-2011, 10:52 AM
Round 8 of the NASA-SE German Touring Series took us back to our home track at Carolina Motorsports Park in Kershaw, SC. This is where we test with the Palmetto Motorsports Club and we are comfortable at this venue. With just two race weekends left, we were pushing hard to win the 2011 championship.

On Friday, we had our Audi S3 on track to test some recent upgrades. We installed a set of H&R sway bars in the front and rear and were dialing in the new handling characteristics (See more on the install here). Unfortunately, during our 4th test session a fire erupted in the engine bay and while rescue workers were on the scene quickly to extinguish the flames, the S3 suffered significant damage.

A post-incident inspection revealed that the fuel rail came loose from the injectors and sprayed fuel over the hot engine and exhaust. The heat and flames charred everything in the engine bay and completely destroyed all the electrical components, including the wiring harness and melted everything rubber or plastic. However, the engine, intercooler piping, cooling system plumbing and suspension remained intact so we decided the best thing to do was wash the car down and get a good look at what it would take to make repairs at the track. Once cleaned, we began making a list of necessary items that were needed for repair. We were able to source parts from all over and help was on the way from our shop Charlotte. Guys arrived around 10pm with bins full of spare parts and specialty tools.

The rebuild started after the car was cleaned up with the complete removal of the harnesses. The dash was pulled out of the interior for easier access and all parts were placed in a "clean-up" area. From there, we began to build a harness from scratch combining a sourced coil-pack and injector harness with standard colored wiring off the shelf from AutoZone. The vehicle's engine management system also needed to be addressed, as it was not working at the time either. So while some guys were on the wiring, others were attending to the additional component repair. The driver-side axle was removed and the work started to replace the melted CV Boots. The brake pads had seized to the rotors from the water that extinguished the flames so the brake calipers and rotors came off the car. The brake lines had also melted and new ones were custom ordered from California for overnight delivery.

Work continued through the night and into the morning hours. At around 4am, the engine management system was finally able to communicate again and we were nearing completion of the new wiring harness. At 8am, the engine was restarted and the S3 was alive! We worked feverishly through our morning practice and qualifying and as the rebuild neared completion; we were waiting only on the brake lines. As the race time drew near, we scrambled to find the brake lines. In the last minute, we pulled the brake lines out of our Audi A5 project car that was at the track and with luck, the units worked! So at noon, we installed the rotors, pads, calipers and a new set of wheels and tires. We test-drove the S3 around the pits testing the brakes, steering and suspension. With all systems go, we rolled to grid for our 1:15pm race.

Unfortunately, as the S3 rolled off grid to begin warm-up laps, the car suffered from a bad mis-fire and we were unable to run the race. Our team was heart-broken after working through the night to make the repairs. However, we had come too far to give up and after a few hours sleep, we began investigating the problem to see if we could make the necessary repairs. After tracing wires, we found the issue that caused the problem and were able to repair it. Now that we were able to make full boost, we knew we could make the race Sunday. Saturday, we relaxed and hosted a GTS party displaying the S3 and its new "custom-paint".

Sunday morning, the NASA-SE officials granted us a provisional test-session. We completed a lap and then pitted to check the vehicle, completed two laps and checked out, then three, and four. With only a few minor repairs and adjustments, we were confident that the car was ready to qualify and at 9:30am, we finished our qualifying session. The S3 was back on track! However, we qualified the car as a FWD, without the use of our AWD (Haldex) system. Our race was scheduled for that afternoon at 1:30pm so we used that time to figure out if we could repair the AWD. CMP's track officials granted us access to the skid pad and we made changes to the wiring to see if we could communicate with the AWD controller. With 40 minutes until racetime, a potential fix was discovered and the melted ABS and diag-port components and wiring were untangled from the melted harness. Once rewired, we were able to communicate with the Haldex controller and clear codes. The rear wheels were checked and the pump was working again!

The Audi S3 started the Sunday sprint race from the back of the field and within a few laps, we were running a comfortable pace mid-pack. Our class leader was too far ahead to catch and we settled into a conservative pace, running a few seconds off our normal laps times. The S3 had a few issues during the race but we were able to take the checkered flag, wrapping up a monumental weekend effort.

A giant THANK YOU goes out to all those individuals that put out the flames, helped us with sourcing parts, offered their track-side support and a special thanks to Dave, Nate and Especially Cody for your relentless determination and never say die attitude.

Our next event is the NASA-SE Santa's Toy Run at Road Atlanta December 2-4. This is the last race of the year and Saturday's Sprint Race will count for double points. We were too busy with the car this weekend to even worry about points and we are going into this event focused on doing what we need to do to get the car competitive again. We have our work cut-out for us now back at the shop. The track-made wiring harness has to come back out and get rebuilt properly along with the brake lines, calipers and front suspension and driveline.


Enthusiasts wanting to get on track can register for an HPDE (High Performance Driver Education) at www.NASA-SE.com
We also want to thank our sponsors for their support. Please drop them a line and let them know you saw them racing with the Audi S3 Racing Team.

+ PMC (Palmetto Motorsports Club)
+ BF Goodrich Tires
+ Audizine (Audi Enthusiasts Forum)
+ Performance Friction Brakes
+ APR (Audi Performance Racing)
+ NASA Southeast
+ H&R Suspensions

https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-CMP-Oct-2123-2011_807_t.jpg https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-CMP-Oct-2123-2011_809_t.jpg https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-CMP-Oct-2123-2011_810_t.jpg https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-CMP-Oct-2123-2011_823_t.jpg https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-CMP-Oct-2123-2011_865_t.jpg https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-CMP-Oct-2123-2011_824_t.jpg https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-CMP-Oct-2123-2011_832_t.jpg https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-CMP-Oct-2123-2011_834_t.jpg https://www.gmpperformance.com/CFJFiles/GMP/Event-Images/Audi-S3-Racing-CMP-Oct-2123-2011_847_t.jpg

See the full gallery here (https://www.gmpperformance.com/index.cfm?pg=aboutUs&mode=view&AUGID=87)

Anthony
10-25-2011, 04:18 PM
So, guys, any chance you'll be making it out west a bit? Say California, or even Arizona or Nevada?

GMP Performance
10-26-2011, 05:45 AM
So, guys, any chance you'll be making it out west a bit? Say California, or even Arizona or Nevada?

Hey Anthony, we are running the Southeast region of the US. We would love to come out that way and Leguna Seca is on our bucket list.

Anthony
10-26-2011, 04:33 PM
Hey Anthony, we are running the Southeast region of the US. We would love to come out that way and Leguna Seca is on our bucket list.
If you ever do, be sure to let me know and I'll be there! Sears Point as well since it's in my backyard. [;)]

By the way, love the shirt! [up]

GMP Performance
10-27-2011, 09:29 AM
If you ever do, be sure to let me know and I'll be there! Sears Point as well since it's in my backyard. [;)]

By the way, love the shirt! [up]

Absolutely! Sears Point is another one. Glad you liked the shirt. There were only a few made.

GMP Performance
11-25-2011, 02:05 PM
The season finale is being held at Road Atlanta with Round 9 of the NASA-SE German Touring Series. Saturday's race will count for double points and class champions will be crowned that night. Sunday's race is a "Fun-Run" with all competitors, regardless of class, on track at once . Starting positions are determined by drawing numbers and fast and slow cars are mixed in with each other throughout the starting grid.

Saturday Schedule:
8:40am to 9:00am - Practice
11:20am to 11:35am - Qualifying
3:45pm to 4:20pm - Championship Race

Sunday Schedule:
12:35pm to 1:25pm - Fun Run Race



Enthusiasts wanting to get on track can register for an HPDE (High Performance Driver Education) at www.nasa-se.com

We also want to thank our sponsors for their support. Please drop them a line and let them know you saw them racing with the Audi S3 Racing Team.

+ PMC (http://www.PalmettoMotorsportsClub.com)
+ BF Goodrich (http://www.BFGoodrich.com)
+ Audizine (www.Audizine.com)+ Performance Friction Brakes (http://www.PerformanceFriction.com)
+ APR (http://www.GoAPR.com)
+ H&R Springs (http://www.hrsprings.com)

johnn34
05-11-2012, 12:10 AM
Nice pictures…I also have some pictures.
http://www.tyresmoke.net/attachments/1152908-AudiS3race6.JPG

http://pictures.topspeed.com/IMG/crop/200901/oettinger-s350-based_460x0w.jpg