BREMBO GT|TY3 2-PIECE DISC UPGRADE FOR THE PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4 (981)

BREMBO GT|TY3 2-PIECE DISC UPGRADE FOR THE PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4 (981):

GMG Racing Porsche 981 Cayman GT4

GMG Racing Porsche 981 Cayman GT4. Photo: GMG Racing

OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR AND STRAIGHT TO THE TRACK: The brand new Cayman GT4 (981) is Porsche’s lightweight platform specifically focused for the racetrack and track day enthusiasts.

THE PORSCHE 911 (991) DNA: Since most of the front end, upright, and suspension components on the Porsche Cayman GT4 are from the Porsche 991 GT3 (911), the Brembo OE (Original Equipment) brakes equipped on the Porsche Cayman GT4 are some of the most sophisticated designed for an OE application.

The Porsche 981 Cayman GT4 shares all the same front suspension and chassis components as a 991 GT3. Photo: GMG Racing

The Porsche 981 Cayman GT4 shares the same front end components as a 991 GT3. Photo: GMG Racing

GMG Racing 981 Cayman GT4 Front end

GMG Racing 981 Cayman GT4 Front end, upright and brake system.

CAYMAN GT4 VS. 911 GT3: The Porsche Cayman GT4 Brembo OE brakes utilize 6-piston aluminum fixed monobloc calipers front and 4-piston aluminum fixed monobloc calipers in the rear. The Cayman GT4 uses heavy duty 380 x 34 mm ventilated front & 380 x 30 mm rear brake discs similar to what is equipped on a Porsche 991 GT3. The Porsche Cayman GT4 brakes also uses a wide annulus (radial depth) front and rear pad for maximum swept area, heat dissipation, and pad life. The OE pads are also 18 mm thick front and rear which is comparable to most high performance aftermarket calipers.

Brembo OE brake system equipped on the Cayman GT4

Brembo OE brake system equipped on the Porsche Cayman GT4

HOW THEY DIFFER FROM EACH OTHER: While the Porsche Cayman GT4 and 991 GT3 are similar on paper in many ways, there are some of major technical differences between the Porsche 991 GT3 and Cayman 981 GT4.

Porsche 981 Cayman GT4 vs Porsche 991 GT3. Photo: GMG Racing

Porsche 981 Cayman GT4 vs Porsche 991 GT3. Photo: GMG Racing

These technical differences significantly affect overall brake balance setup and performance.

  • The Porsche Cayman’s suspension setup (especially the rear), geometry, and dynamic weight distribution is fundamentally different resulting in an overall chassis balance that is more sensitive to braking inputs than a GT3.
Cayman GT4 suspension geometry.

The Porsche Cayman GT4’s suspension geometry.

The Cayman GT4 is more sensitive to driver inputs, especially pitch under braking. Photo: GMG Racing

The Cayman GT4 is more sensitive to driver inputs, especially pitch under braking. Photo: GMG Racing

The Cayman’s inherent tendency to pitch more under braking increases front axle brake demand, but inherently results in unsettling the rear axle under braking. However, this can be tuned with managing the operating temperature of the brake disc and also by using different friction compounds that are optimized for the specific brake temperature windows.

Brembo Performance Type 5 endurance discs used to maximize disc life on the track.

Brembo Performance TY5 endurance discs used to maximize disc life on the track.

Cayman GT4 Rear pad options help tune braking characteristics

Porsche Cayman GT4 Rear pad compound options help the driver tune braking characteristics

BREMBO DISC OPTIONS: The front Brembo 380 x 34 / 72 Vane racing disc used for the GT4 application are available in multiple configurations (standard or heavy duty and TY3 Sprint or TY5 Endurance) to help the user setup the brakes to suit their demands.

Brembo 380 x 34 Type 5 Endurance "heavy duty" front discs

Brembo 380 x 34 TY5 Endurance “heavy duty” front discs

  • The Porsche’s Cayman GT4 is a true mid-engine platform with the engine sitting in front of the rear axle closer to the center of the chassis unlike the 991 GT3 which is a rear-engine platform with the engine sitting over the rear axle.
The Porsche Cayman GT4 is a mid-engine platform with the engine closer to the center of the chassis. Photo: GMG Racing

The Porsche Cayman GT4 is a mid-engine platform with the engine closer to the center of the chassis. Photo: GMG Racing

MID-ENGINE VS. REAR-ENGINE: A mid-engine platform will generally demand less out of the rear brakes compared to a rear-engine platform with all the weight sitting on the rear axle. The Cayman’s mid-engine design also inherently results in the rear axle getting unsettled easier under braking inputs.

Cayman GT4 rear can get unsettled under braking. Photo: GMG Racing

Porsche Cayman GT4 rear end can get unsettled under braking. Photo: GMG Racing

STABLE DISC TEMPERATURES: The rear Brembo 380 x 30 TY3 racing disc, used for the GT4 application is offered in a 48 vane configuration. This 48 vane disc configuration stores more heat in the disc, which allows for more stable rear brake temperatures, resulting in improved disc life for the intended use.

Brembo 380 x 30 48 Vane Type 3 racing disc

Rear Brembo Performance 380 x 30 48 Vane TY3 racing disc

  • The Porsche Cayman GT4 generally weighs 200 lbs less than a 991 GT3 (Cayman GT4 Curb Weight – 2955 lbs, 991 GT3 Curb Weight – 3150 lbs).

Overall weight and weight balance directly influence a vehicle’s brake demand. The Cayman GT4 with less overall weight (especially over the rear axle) will also demand significantly less out of the rear brakes compared to a 991 GT3.

  • The Porsche Cayman GT4’s bumper design and aerodynamics are different and more adjustable than a 991 GT3. The Cayman GT4 features an adjustable front diffuser and rear wing to increase downforce and grip versus the non-adjustable parts on the 991 GT3.
Cayman GT4 Rear wing and diffuser

The Porsche Cayman GT4 has an adjustable Rear wing to add rear downforce.

Bumper design has a significant influence on airflow to the brake system which results in different braking demands on the front and rear axles. Increased downforce and grip also affects brake balance and demand depending on the exact chassis setup.

Porsche Cayman GT4 front bumper with adjustable flaps integrated in the bumper

Porsche Cayman GT4 front bumper with adjustable flaps integrated in the bumper to increase brake cooling and downforce. Photo: GMG Racing

IN CONCLUSION: There are certain limitations with the OE components on any high performance application as they are designed specifically for the car manufacturers to their requirements of comfort, wear rates in various road environments, cost and serviceability.

As the braking system’s primary function is to dissipate heat, Brembo uses purpose-designed discs in order to increase the fade resistance and thermal capacity of the system. These discs are directionally ventilated for enhanced cooling and slotted for better performance and continuously refreshing the pad surface. Brembo Performance 2-piece discs are made up of a proprietary advanced cast-iron alloy which offers an exceptional coefficient of friction and resistance to thermal shock and fatigue.

Cayman GT4 OEM disc versus Brembo Type 3 disc assembly

Porsche Cayman GT4 Brembo OEM disc versus Brembo Performance TY3 disc assembly

The same Brembo Racing discs trusted every weekend in professional motorsports are also utilized in the Brembo Performance Program (GT, GT-R & Race Systems).

GMG Racing team using Brembo Type V endurance discs. Photo: GMG Racing

GMG Racing team using Brembo TY5 endurance discs at Thermal Raceway. Photo: GMG Racing

Brembo Type V 2-piece disc assemblies with rotor temperature paint

Brembo Performance TY5 2-piece disc assemblies with rotor temperature paint for track use

GMG's Cayman GT4 Brembo OE brakes being swapped out for Brembo Performance 2-piece disc upgrades.

GMG’s Cayman GT4 Brembo OE brakes being swapped out for Brembo Performance 2-piece disc and Race Technologies pad upgrades


BENEFITS OF BREMBO 2-PIECE DISC UPGRADES:

  • OEM INTEGRATION: Brembo 2-piece disc upgrades are designed to work seamlessly with the OE calipers and systems (manufactured by Brembo for Porsche). This guarantees the utmost in safety and seamless fitment.
  • LIGHTWEIGHT: Disc assemblies include an outer iron disc with aluminum bell/hat and provide decreased corner weights to improve vehicle dynamics including handling, acceleration, and braking.
  • TYPE III SLOT PATTERN: Extensively used in professional motorsports, the Type III slot pattern offers a high initial response with excellent release characteristics.
  • HIGH THERMAL CAPACITY: Greatly improved thermal capacity and heat management over OE discs and other aftermarket discs in the market. This also improves braking performance and allows for greater longevity of the components.
  • FRICTION MATERIALS: Everything we learn by supporting top professional racing teams throughout the world goes into selecting the best brake pad options for all levels of street, track and racing use.

PACKAGES INCLUDE:

  1. Outer Brembo TY3 discs (qty 2)
  2. 6061 T6 aluminum (machined from billet), hard anodized bell/hat
  3. Complete Brembo disc hardware (D-type bobbin) w/ anti-rattle springs. (Full Floating Option Available Upon Request).

BREMBO CAYMAN GT4 (981) 2-PIECE DISC OPTIONS:

FRONT BREMBO 2-PIECE DISC OPTIONS: 981 CAYMAN GT4 OE IRON EQUIPPED

MSRP COMPLETE AXLE SET: $1,895.00

981 Cayman GT4 Front disc specifications:

–          380 x 34 disc – Standard
–          TY3 slot type
–          20 mm air-gap (wide air-gap for overall brake disc weight reduction)
–          72 vane ventilation
–          21 lbs – disc ring
–          23 lbs – complete 2-piece disc assembly

981 Cayman GT4 Front “High Thermal” disc specifications:

–          380 x 34 disc – High Thermal
–          TY3 or TY5 “Endurance” slot type available.
–          17 mm air-gap (narrow air-gap for the brake disc to have extra thermal capacity and durability under higher brake demand conditions)
–          72 vane ventilation
–          23 lbs – disc ring
–          24.5 lbs – complete 2-piece disc assembly
–          Compatible with 911 Turbo (991) Models

REAR BREMBO 2-PIECE DISC OPTIONS: 981 CAYMAN GT4 OE IRON EQUIPPED

MSRP COMPLETE AXLE SET: $1,895.00

981 Cayman GT4 Rear “High Thermal” disc specifications:

–          380 x 30 disc – High Thermal
–          TY3 slot type
–          16 mm air-gap
–          48 vane ventilation
–          20 lbs – disc ring.
–          22 lbs – complete 2-piece disc assembly
–          Compatible with factory braking brake (e-brake)

PORSCHE CAYMAN GT4 (981) OEM DISC WEIGHTS – FOR REFERENCE:

– Front, 380 x 34: Approximately 24 lbs
– Rear, 380 x 30: Approximately 22.5 lbs

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Brembo Performance (GT, GT|R) & Brembo Racing Systems – Subaru Impreza WRX STi

Brembo Performance (GT, GT|R) & Brembo Racing Systems – Subaru Impreza WRX STi

 BREMBO RACING APPLICATION

Written by G.Krishnan and G.Taniguchi

The Subaru WRX STi is demanding on brakes due to the high COG (Center of Gravity), longer pedal stroke (pedal ratio), and the chassis balance which forces the front brakes to do a bulk of the braking work. Brembo performance and specific race systems are designed with each specific application and the chassis requirements in mind. This specific 4 piston Brembo Racing system using a 328 x 35 mm disc for the Subaru WRX STi was designed specifically to help clear most 17″ wheels and with a true motorsport application in mind (Touring Car Racing). Understanding that each chassis, team, driver pairing is different: all the variables were considered when engineering a race system for a professional team racing in a professional series versus an OEM type or aftermarket system designed for a wide range of operating environments that a road system would experience to the occasional rigors of a track day.

2015 Spec Subaru NBR 24 Brembo brakes. Photo: Subaru MSM

2015 Spec Subaru NBR 24 Brembo brakes. Photo: Subaru MSM

Subaru Nurburgring 24 Challenger - Brembo Racing package equipped

Subaru Nurburgring 24 Challenger – Brembo Racing endurance package equipped

Advantages of the Brembo Racing Disc Range:

  • Stock Disc Size:  The OE Subaru WRX STi stock disc size is 325 x 30 and most aftermarket systems on the market which clear smaller wheels make a considerable compromise in thermal capacity. This is why Brembo offers a 328 x 35 mm or 350 x 34 mm Brembo type V or type III face type disc. These racing discs for the Brembo race systems are a huge step up in thermal capacity compared to OE and the thermal mass is closer to what all professional Subaru STi motorsport GT teams are using around the world.
  • Disc Casting/Vane Count:  Brembo is one of the only braking companies which controls the engineering, design, and manufacturing process of components and brake systems from start to finish. The specific Brembo Racing 328 x 35 mm disc uses a large 19 mm air gap typically (vs. 10-14 mm) and 72 vane disc configuration which is designed to maximize the cooling surface area of the disc while keeping the Outer Diameter (OD) of the disc on the smaller side to assist with wheel clearance.  The Brembo vane design is substantially better than the vane designs used by the OE discs or typical “racing” branded products.
Brembo 328 x 35 72 vane discs. Photo: Lachute Performance.

Brembo Racing 328 x 35, 72 vane discs. Photo: Lachute Performance.

  • Brembo type V Face type:  The Brembo type V face type is a motorsport developed face type with comparable initial response compared to a typical sprint disc while focusing on braking control, modulation and low wear of the consumable parts (pads/discs). The Brembo Racing type V face type is designed to offer lower pad and disc wear for certain long distance endurance races or heavy duty braking applications.
Brembo Race system with Type V Discs. Photo: Lachute Performance.

Brembo Racing 4 piston system with Type V Discs. Photo: Lachute Performance.

  • Pad Area / Disc Surface Area:  The stock Subaru WRX STi 4 piston pads use a large annulus (radial depth from outer to inner diameter of the disc) for maximum pad surface area. For this heavy duty STi motorsport package, Brembo engineered it with an extremely high thermal brake disc which is 35 mm thick and also has an annulus (radial depth from OD to ID of disc) of 64 mm (the specific pad uses a 61.5 mm annulus).  This increased annulus leads to higher overall thermal capacity leading to lower disc temperatures and significant improvements in the pad and disc life.


Advantages of the Brembo Racing Caliper Range:

Brembo develops vehicle specific performance and racing brake packages designed specifically for the chassis they are supplied for. All Brembo race systems include all the specific parts needed to bolt the system right onto the vehicle without any modifications.

  • Brembo 4-piston caliper range: Brembo Racing calipers are specifically chosen for the intended applications and environments they are used for. The 4-piston Brembo Racing caliper used specifically for many of the more affordable or track day race systems can accept a 328 > 355 mm diameter disc range with either a 32 or 34 mm disc thickness. The caliper is also available in many various piston size configurations so the pistons can be sized specifically for proper brake balance. As generally production based cars have much higher weights, horsepower levels, and are more “open” in terms of setup versus dedicated race cars, a proper caliper is specified to meet the demands. This extended range gives Brembo the ability to tailor the brake system (caliper, brake discs, and pads) specifically to the chassis whether for motorsports or track day use.
Brembo Racing calipers are available in a wide range of piston configurations and can accept a wide range of discs. Photo: Alex Roy

Brembo Racing calipers are available in a wide range of piston configurations and can accept a wide range of discs. Photo: Alex Roy

  • Piston Size:  Brembo engineers racing systems specific to the chassis and the application keeping the growing demands of the user in mind. The Subaru WRX STi OE caliper and the caliper used with this race system use 40 / 44 mm pistons. The effective brake torque required by the STi is closer to 40 / 44 because the chassis does most of the braking in the front. Brembo race systems generally keep the brake balance close to what the requirements of the chassis are, as altering or moving the brake balance significantly can detrimentally affect the chassis dynamics on the street or race track.
Brembo Racing 4 piston caliper with staggered pistons for optimum balance. Photo: Alex Roy

Brembo Racing 4 piston caliper with staggered pistons for optimum balance. Photo: Alex Roy

  • Brake Feel & Control: Brembo calipers offer superior braking feel and control compared to other calipers on the market. This comes from the many years of experience engineering and manufacturing motorsport calipers, including pistons, and piston seal grooves which heavily influence brake feel which is critical at the highest levels of professional motorsports. This is also one key reason why Brembo is used prominently throughout all forms of motorsports.
  • Heat Rejection:  Brembo motorsport specific calipers (including the Brembo Performance GT-R caliper range) use either solid or ventilated stainless steel piston inserts for effective heat rejection. This helps protect the brake fluid and caliper seals from heat allowing greater braking stability in extreme duty or motorsport applications. Depending on the application and caliper design, the piston or piston insert material and design can be specified accordingly.
Stainless steel inserts on a Brembo Racing caliper. Photo: Alex Roy

Stainless steel inserts on a Brembo Racing caliper. Photo: Alex Roy

  • Knock back:  brake pedal knock back is generally not a function of the brakes and more of flex in the upright, hub or knuckle assembly. However, symptoms of knock back (pedal travel requiring the driver to double-tap the pedal prior to the brake zone) are generally felt in the brakes leading to a lack of confidence from the driver. Brembo can work closely with the customer (or team) to trouble shoot and remedy knock back like symptoms in ways which are specific to the application. Some of the ways knock back can be remedied are through: specific piston sizes, adjustment of float in the disc to hat assembly or occasionally through knock back springs if the piston design can accept the springs. Contrary to popular belief, there is no one “magic bullet” solution or component which can cure knock back without other technical drawbacks.

This is why it is important to understand the customer’s requirements, and work closely to address their technical needs.

  • Swing Bridge: Brembo calipers are specified with swing or integral (fixed) bridges depending on the intended environment and chassis. Brembo’s swing bridge design requires no tools to open up the caliper to change brake pads. When a chassis or category of racing requires a fixed integral bridge, a specific caliper can be supplied to meet those demands.
Brembo Swing Bridge design allows for fast pad changes. Photo: Alex Roy

Brembo Swing Bridge design allows for fast pad changes. Photo: Alex Roy

  • Overall Pad Thickness: The Brembo OE WRX STi calipers use a standard 15 mm pad, and Brembo Performance calipers can accept up to an 18 mm pad depending on the exact caliper spec. With Brembo Racing calipers, they can usually accept a 20, 25, or 29 mm pad depending on the exact caliper specification. This can be quite a significant gain because thicker pads not only dramatically improves overall pad wear rates, but it also helps with overall pedal consistency (pads also function as a barrier against heat transfer to the pistons from the braking surfaces).
Brembo Race system. Photo: Lachute performance

Brembo Race system for Subaru WRX STi. Photo: Lachute performance

LP Motorsport STi competing in Canadian Touring Car Series. Photo: Lachute/LP Motorsport

LP Motorsport STi competing in Canadian Touring Car Series. Photo: Lachute/LP Motorsport

BREMBO PERFORMANCE “HIGH-THERMAL” APPLICATION:

Due to nature of the Subaru WRX STi and the brake demand of the application, Brembo Performance “High-Thermal” or Heavy Duty packages are also offered for street and track use. The Subaru STi, depending on the model, did get a range of OEM Brembo systems starting with 4 piston front / 2 piston rears or 6 piston front / 2 or 4 piston rears for certain overseas models. Brembo works very closely with car manufacturers to develop specific brake solutions for specific models and markets however, with OEM systems, there are always compromises as these systems are still limited by cost, serviceability, and comfort requirements of the car manufacturer.

STi RA-R OE System

Subaru STi RA-R / R205 OE Brembo System

The Subaru Impreza STi Type RA-R and R205 models (Non US, overseas models only) got the most sophisticated of the OE Brembo systems. They feature Brembo 6 piston front and 2 or 4 piston rear calipers, paired with a 340 x 32 mm Brembo front disc using a very unique high performance face type. Sourcing, retrofitting, and servicing these OE brake systems is generally very time consuming as OE Subaru parts can only be sourced from Subaru (per Brembo’s relationship with the auto manufacturer) which can really add up because the replacement parts are unique to the OE components (replacement disc rings, seals).

The Brembo Performance 350 x 34 “HD” brake system for the Subaru WRX STi offers significant improvements even over the high performance Subaru OE System while being cost effective ($3995 MSRP versus $4000-$5000 for the Subaru OE components):

Brembo 350 x 34 HD System for Subaru WRX STi

Brembo Performance GT system: 350 x 34 HD (Heavy Duty/High Thermal) system for Subaru WRX STi

Brembo Performance Caliper and Pad Feature & Benefits:

  • Feature: 6 piston sequential pistons sized specifically to the STi OE Master cylinder, ABS, and chassis.
  • Benefit: Maintain optimum performance and brake balance for the Subaru Impreza WRX STi for street or track use while minimizing pad taper.

  • Feature: Lightweight Mono bloc caliper with integral bridge versus a standard pin bridge on the Subaru Brembo OE system.
  • Benefit: Improved rigidity and pedal feel in a wide range of environments from high performance street to track use.

  • Feature: High temperature recessed seals and dust boots.
  • Benefit: Optimum performance at elevated temperatures seen on track while still maintaining drivability on the street. Motorsport use only calipers without dust seals need interval servicing as the piston seals do not have any protection against the environments.

  • Feature: Larger brake pad area compared to OE, while using wide 65 mm annulus, and 18 mm overall thickness*
  • Benefit: Using thicker pads with greater pad surface area helps with overall longevity of consumables and stable performance.

*Subaru WRX STi RA-R/R205 OE 6 piston caliper pads use a smaller pad area, using a 54 mm annulus and are only 15.5 or 16 mm thick*

  • Feature: Friction material choices**
  • Benefit: Whether used for performance street or for dedicated track use: Race Technologies can choose from a wide range of street/track dual purpose, sprint or endurance race pads to best suit the customer’s intended use and environment.

**All Brembo systems come equipped with high performance Brembo/Ferodo FM1000 brake pads, which is a great dual purpose street and track compound. However, for specific use, other compound choices are available upon request.

Pad Options for Brembo Performance systems

There’s a range of pad options for Brembo Performance systems (Brembo, Ferodo, Race Technologies, etc).

Brembo Performance Disc Assembly Feature & Benefits:

  • Feature: Brembo 350 x 34 mm, 68 mm wide annulus, “high thermal” discs.
  • Benefit: Improved brake torque and durability over the 340 x 32 mm OE Subaru 6 piston system discs found on the Impreza STi RA-R/S205 OE System.

  • Feature: 72 directional vane ventilation, with 19 mm air gap.
  • Benefit: Vastly improved cooling efficiency over the Subaru OE system pillar vane ventilation type, while maintaining the increased thermal capacity of the disc. This translates to lower brake temperatures and greater life of components under heavier use.
Brembo 72 vane ventilation

Brembo directional high thermal 72 vane ventilation which is a substantial increase over the Brembo OE pillar vane design.

  • Feature: Brembo Racing discs using Type III motorsport developed face type.
  • Benefit: Highest overall braking confidence as the Brembo’s aggressive face type places a strong emphasis on a high initial response (bite) and smooth release characteristics.
Brembo Type III Racing Disc

Brembo Type III Racing Disc

  • Feature: Brembo Performance 2-piece disc assembly with anti-rattle hardware.
  • Benefit: Brembo Performance 2 piece disc assemblies are lighter and more durable than typical 1 piece disc or other “aftermarket” 2 piece disc assemblies. Brembo anti-rattle hardware allows the disc to expand and float on the bell while reducing noise. When time for replacement, only the disc ring and hardware needs to be replaced instead of the entire disc assembly.
Brembo Anti-Rattle hardware

Brembo anti-rattle hardware (a Brembo innovation)

Brembo’s extensive background in professional motorsport with Subaru and as the OE brake supplier to Subaru gives extensive experience with the platform’s braking needs. This allows Brembo to develop a wide range of performance and racing solutions to meet the growing demands of Subaru customers whether for street, track or racing use.

Subaru Nurburgring 24 Challenger

Subaru Nurburgring 24 Challenger equipped with Brembo Racing brake package.

Other key advantages:

  • Friction Program & Development:  Race Technologies and Brembo have a flexibility with friction that few brake manufacturers and suppliers have.  Unique compounds and pad shapes can be developed in relatively short lead times to meet the growing demands of professional racing teams and drivers.  With the greater thermal capacity engineered into the Brembo system, we can choose higher friction, heavier duty friction pad options as well.  Race Technologies has helped several top factory supported Motorsport teams win endurance, sprint races & championships in professional racing purely based on the available range of the friction program.
Race Technologies Pads

Race Technologies pads. These pads were developed to offer up a specific solution for track or race use.

  • Brembo HTC64T brake Fluid:  Brembo is one of 2 brake fluid suppliers to F1 and the Brembo HTC fluid is also one of the few racing brake fluids being actually purchased by professional sports car racing teams. Brembo Racing fluids have lower compressibility which leads to a more consistent pedal feel, better fluid recovery, and higher dry boiling points compared to other fluids.
Brembo Racing and Performance Fluid Range

Brembo Racing and Performance Fluid Range: HTC 64T (track, racing), LCF600 plus (street, track, racing), Sport EVO 500++ (street)

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Brembo 2-piece disc, brake fluid, and pad install on GMG Racing’s 991 GT3

GMG Racing 991 GT3 – Brembo Performance Install & Review

GMG Racing, an Official Brembo dealer, is one of the premier high performance and professional racing shops in Southern California who specialize in Porsche track preparation. GMG Racing’s background in professional racing campaigning multi-car efforts in the Pirelli World Challenge series with both Porsche and Audi FIA GT3 platforms. Using this extensive racing experience accumulated over the years, GMG Racing also offers up the same upgrades supplied by their technical partners that they trust on the racetrack.

James Sofronas, owner driver of GMG Racing, also owns a personal 991 GT3 shop car to showcase GMG’s capabilities on and off the track. One such way is by holding track day and driver training specifically for 991 GT3 owners at The Thermal Club raceway which is very demanding on brakes and tires.

GMG Racing 991 GT3 Trackday. Photo Credit : GMG Racing

GMG Racing 991 GT3 Trackday. Photo Credit : GMG Racing

One of the first major upgrades done to the GMG Racing’s 991 “WC-GT3” was improve the braking reliability, longevity, and performance under track use. GMG Racing swapped out the Porsche OE discs, pads and fluid on the 991 GT3 with Brembo 2-piece discs, Race Technologies pads, and Brembo Racing HTC64T fluid.

GMG Racing 991

GMG Racing 991 “WC-GT3”

INGREDIENTS REQUIRED:

  • Porsche 991 GT3
  • GMG Racing
  • Brembo 2-piece front disc assemblies.
  • Brembo 2-piece rear disc assemblies
  • Your choice of front and rear pads although Race Technologies TS20’s were used.
  • 6 bottles of Brembo HTC64T Racing brake fluid.
  • Tarett Engineering brake caliper studs (*optional, supplied by GMG Racing)
GMG Racing 991 GT3.

GMG Racing 991 GT3 in stock form.

BRAKE DISC COMPARISON

While the 991 GT3 has very sophisticated brakes for an OE brake package, there is always more that can be done with certain components to improve overall longevity and performance. The OE Porsche brake discs, pads and fluid are all engineered with comfort, serviceability and cost effectiveness in mind.

Brembo OE co-cast discs

Brembo OE co-cast discs

As the braking system’s primary function is to dissipate heat, Brembo uses purpose-designed discs in order to increase the fade resistance and thermal capacity of the system. These discs are directionally ventilated for enhanced cooling and slotted for better performance and continuously refreshing the pad surface. Brembo 2-piece discs are made up of a proprietary advanced cast-iron alloy which offers an exceptional coefficient of friction and resistance to thermal shock and fatigue.

The same Brembo Racing discs trusted every weekend in professional motorsports are also utilized in the Brembo Performance program (GT, GT-R & club race systems).

The OE 991 GT3 co-cast Brembo discs are sized 380 x 34 mm in the front and weigh 24 lbs, and 380 x 30 mm in the rear weighing at 23.4 lbs. The Brembo Racing Heavy Duty “HD” type V front disc assemblies are 24.5 lbs, and the rear Type III assemblies are 22 lbs. The 991 Turbo discs are substantially heavier than the GT3 discs as the Turbo models are harder on front brakes than the GT3 models. Brembo 2-piece disc assemblies on a 991 GT3 or Turbo will offer a net gain in weight savings.

Brembo Porsche OE discs vs Brembo Performance 2-piece disc assemblies

Brembo Porsche OE discs vs Brembo Performance 2-piece disc assemblies

There are many advantages to replacing the OE discs on a Porsche GT3 or Turbo, some of them are:

  • OEM Integration: Brembo upgrades are designed to work seamlessly with the OE Master, ABS and existing brake systems (Example: Integration with the rear parking brake)
  • Weight Savings: Reducing overall un-sprung weight helps improve vehicle dynamics such as handling, braking, and acceleration.
  • Durability: The Brembo discs for these Porsche disc assemblies come from the Brembo Racing program. These discs feature proprietary metallurgy which is resistant to fatigue, cracking, and are engineered for maximum longevity on the street or track.
  • Different Slot Types: Extensively used in professional motorsports, Brembo type III and type V disc face types can be used to tune or adjust the brakes’ technical characteristics to the chassis or driver.
  • Range: Brembo offers lightweight and heavy duty “HD” disc options to suit the needs of the driver, car model (Turbo or GT3) /setup and environment.
  • Replacements: Brembo replacement rings are comparably priced to OE, and when the Brembo discs are worn, only the outer disc ring and hardware needs to be replaced.
  • Drivability: Brembo 2-piece discs maintain the drivability of the OE brakes by using anti-rattle hardware. Brembo’s specific anti-rattle disc hardware utilizes a spring fastener in order to slightly preload the assembly which eliminates the noise (clattering) generally associated with floating discs.

Brembo OE Porsche disc vs Brembo 380 mm 72 vane racing disc

Brembo McLaren spring

Brembo McLaren spring

NOTE: Brembo’s specific anti-rattle hardware which is commonly used in high performance brake disc assemblies was actually developed in the 1990s. This innovation was initially engineered exclusively for the McLaren F1 supercar which is why the hardware is often nicknamed the “McLaren” spring.

 BRAKE DISC INSTALLATION

GMG technicians Ruben and Sergei (who drives a 997 Turbo himself) used their extensive Porsche know how to install the Brembo 2 piece disc assemblies on the GMG 991 GT3 shop car.

GMG Technicians working on GMG 991 GT3

GMG Technicians working on GMG 991 GT3

 FRONT DISC ASSEMBLIES

The OE front discs were the first to be installed. The Brembo performance 2-piece discs and Race Technologies pads are a direct replacement to the OE units. GMG made sure to push the pistons all the way back in to ensure proper stack width (2 pads and brake rotor total width). The Porsche center lock “lug” was then removed and the Brembo 2-piece disc assembly and pads were then installed. Once the Brembo performance disc assemblies were fitted, the OE Caliper was re-installed using brand new caliper studs. The entire process was done on the front right disc, and then the front left disc.

Porsche 991 GT3 OE front brakes

Porsche 991 GT3 OE front brakes

Porsche centerlock unit

Porsche centerlock unit

Brembo Porsche OE front disc vs Brembo 380 mm racing disc and pads.

Brembo Porsche OE front disc vs Brembo 380 mm racing disc and pads.

The Race Technologies TS20 compound was specified as the baseline pad since the car will be street driven and used on the track. The TS20 offers low noise, dust and good pedal feel. It is also an excellent dual purpose compound for street and light track use.

Brembo 2-piece disc assembly fitted

Brembo 2-piece disc assembly fitted

Brembo 2-piece disc assembly installed

Brembo 2-piece disc assembly installed

Since the GMG Shop car is also their test car, the car will see extended track time on many southern California circuits. A Brembo Type V 380 x 34 mm front disc was specified for the lowest disc and pad wear under heavy track conditions. An optional Race Technologies endurance compound was also supplied for dedicated track use.

  • Brembo Type V (endurance face type): motorsport developed face type with marginally less initial response compared to the type III face type. The Brembo Racing type V face type was also designed to have lower pad and disc wear for certain long distance endurance races (mostly 10, 12 and 24 hour races).

REAR DISC ASSEMBLIES

Once the front disc assemblies were installed, GMG then turned their attention to the rear discs and pads. The exact same installation procedure was followed for the rear disc assemblies as well. The rear right corner was installed first, and then the rear left corner was installed. GMG installed new caliper studs on the rear as well when re-installing the OE Porsche calipers. Race Technologies TS20 compound pads were used for the rears as the baseline pad.

Porsche 991 GT3 rear brakes

Porsche 991 GT3 rear brakes

Porsche OE 991 GT3 rear discs vs Brembo performance Type III discs

Porsche OE 991 GT3 rear discs vs Brembo performance Type III discs

Tarrett Engineering Caliper studs used by GMG Racing.

Tarett Engineering Caliper studs used by GMG Racing.

GMG installed Tarett Engineering caliper studs.

GMG installed Tarett Engineering caliper studs.

RT TS20 rear pads

RT TS20 rear pads

The Brembo Type III 380 x 30 mm rear brake disc was specified for optimum balance and brake release under heavy track conditions. This is because the 991 GT3 shifts its’ brake balance towards the rear under braking. The smooth release characteristics of the Brembo Type III face type can help a driver avoid rear tire in stop lock up while still maintaining optimum braking performance.

  • Brembo Type III (aggressive face type): motorsport developed face type with an emphasis on high initial response while maintaining a smooth pedal release.
Brembo 380 x 30 Type III rear disc fitted.

Brembo 380 x 30 Type III rear disc fitted.

Brembo Performance Type III rear discs installed on GMG 991 GT3

Brembo Performance Type III rear discs installed on GMG 991 GT3

As mentioned earlier in this article, the Brembo 2-piece disc assemblies are compatible with the Porsche factory parking brake. One does not have to compromise and lose the parking brake functionality when installing the Brembo disc assemblies.

BRAKE FLUID AND BLEED

Upgrading brake fluid for spirited, track or racing use is easily one of the most overlooked things when thinking of upgrading any component or part of the brake system. Brembo’s HTC64T brake fluid is the top fluid used in the top professional racing categories around the world (Examples: F1, FIA GT, LMP1). This is because the Brembo fluid offers low compressibility, good after boil recovery, and high boiling points.

  • Brembo HTC64T Typical Applications: Open Wheel*, Stock Car, Rally, Endurance & Sprint GT**, Track Day.

*Brembo HTC64T is one of a very few select fluids being actively used by F1 teams.

**Brembo HTC64T and LCF600 Plus are both racing brake fluids which are actively used and homologated for FIA GT3 & GTE based sports-car racing.

  • Independently proven low Compressibility at severe temperatures.
  • Dry Boiling Point: 335 C (635 F)
  • Racing Use Only
Brembo HTC64T

Brembo HTC64T (used in F1, FIA, GT, LMP1)

Brake fluid performs a very critical function as it is the “life blood” of the brake system, as it is the foundation to hydraulically transfer brake pedal effort to the brake caliper’s pistons. Brake fluid also performs a vital function of lubricating caliper piston seals brake fluid performance (or the lack of) can directly affect brake pedal feel, pressure and consistency through the operating temperature range. It is also one the most cost effective ways to improve brake pedal consistency (avoiding spongy pedal) under high temperature use.

Once the Brembo performance 2-piece disc assemblies and RT pads were installed on all four corners, the OEM brake fluid was flushed and bled with Brembo Racing HTC64T brake fluid. As the fluid was being bled on each corner, GMG made sure to keep an ample amount of new fluid filled in the master cylinder reservoir to ensure that air did not enter into the hydraulic system.

Brembo fluid bleed

Brembo fluid bleed

Brembo HTC64 being poured in

Brembo HTC64 being poured in

ON TRACK IMPRESSIONS

To evaluate the results of the new Brembo discs, fluid bleed, and RT pads, the GMG Team took the 991 GT3 shop car to Thermal Club.

Driver (James Sofronas) and GMG Team comments: Testing out a new setup @thethermalclub today! @jamessofronas had the GMG 991 GT3 out and with the new Brembo Brake pad and Rotor setup says that the car is even more amazing! A predictable pedal feel without activating the ABS too early. A must have for any car that is going to see some track time! Combined with Pirelli Trofeo R tires it is just a winning combo!

Thermal Club Track layout. Image: Thermal Club

Thermal Club Track layout. Image: Thermal Club

Thermal Club located in Palm Springs, California often has very high ambient temperatures which can be demanding on the car, tires, and brakes. The effectiveness of brake cooling is only as good as the temperature of the air flowing thru the brake ducts (if the ambient air is hotter, the brakes will not cool down as much). The track layout and surface can be very similar to some of the European GT tracks, featuring many high speed to low speed braking zones, and a high level of mechanical grip (the more grip you have, the harder you can brake). GMG Racing has setup their shop GT3 understanding the demands of the various tracks around Southern California, and the Porsche 991 GT3, for optimal results.

GMG Racing 991 GT3 and R8 LMS Ultra at Thermal

GMG Racing 991 GT3 and R8 LMS Ultra at Thermal

Modern sports cars have very sophisticated OE ABS systems and engaging the ABS under braking can lead to poor threshold braking, lack of pedal feel, and potentially result in a slower lap time. Having a high overall level of braking confidence and control, usually allows the driver to spend less time on the brake pedal. If the brakes offer enough performance and control for the driver to stay out of ABS engagement (depending on their driving style and car setup), the result is usually a faster lap time on track.

Brembo (General News) Brembo Performance

PORSCHE 911 GT3 (997): BREMBO 2-PIECE TY3 DISCS

PORSCHE 911 GT3 & TURBO (997): BREMBO 2-PIECE TY3 DISCS

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Porsche’s 911 (997) GT3 and Turbo are platforms engineered specifically for high performance use, which also have unique brake demands. (Example: 450 horsepower for a 3.8 GT3 RS and 500 horsepower for a 4.0 GT3 RS)

The Brembo OE brakes equipped on the specific Porsche 997 GT3 & Turbo models are a sophisticated design for an OE application. The Porsche Brembo OE brakes utilize 6-piston aluminum fixed monobloc calipers front and 4-piston aluminum fixed monobloc calipers rear. The brake discs are heavy duty 380 x 34 mm ventilated front and 350 x 28 mm rear brake discs. While 997 GT3 and Turbo brakes physically look similar, their piston configuration and brake balance are tuned for the specific chassis. The GT3 places more of the brake balance towards the rear, while the Turbo is more demanding on the front brakes due to the AWD (All Wheel Drive) system and electronic aids.

The Porsche 911 GT3 OE brakes use a wide annulus (radial depth) front and rear for maximum pad swept area (this makes a significant difference in thermal capacity and pad life). The OE pads are also 18.5 mm thick front and rear which is comparable to most high performance aftermarket calipers.

There are certain limitations with the OE components on any high performance application as they are designed specifically for the car manufacturers to their requirements of comfort, wear rates in various road environments, cost, and serviceability.

As the braking system’s primary function is to dissipate heat, Brembo uses purpose-designed discs in order to increase the fade resistance and thermal capacity of the system. These Brembo Racing discs are directionally ventilated for enhanced cooling and slotted for better performance and continuously refreshing the pad surface. Brembo 2-piece discs are made up of a proprietary advanced cast-iron alloy which offers an exceptional coefficient of friction and resistance to thermal shock and fatigue.

The same Brembo Racing discs trusted every weekend in professional motorsports are also utilized in the Brembo Performance program (GT, GT|R, & Race Systems).

997 GT3 with Brembo Racing Type III rear discs. Installed by BBi Autosport. Photo Credit : Jerry Truong / BBi

997 GT3 with Brembo Racing Type III rear discs. Installed by BBi Autosport. Photo Credit : Jerry Truong / BBi

BENEFITS OF BREMBO 2-PIECE DISC UPGRADES:

  • OEM INTEGRATION: Brembo 2-piece disc upgrades are designed to work seamlessly with the OE calipers and systems (manufactured by Brembo for Porsche). This guarantees the utmost in safety and seamless fitment.
  • LIGHTWEIGHT: Disc assemblies include an outer iron disc with aluminum bell/hat and provide decreased corner weights to improve vehicle dynamics including handling, acceleration, and braking.
  • TY3 SLOT PATTERN: Extensively used in professional motorsports, the type III slot pattern offers a high initial response with excellent release characteristics.
  • HIGH THERMAL CAPACITY: Greatly improved thermal capacity and heat management over OE discs and other aftermarket discs in the market. This also improves braking performance and allows for greater longevity of the components.
  • FRICTION MATERIALS: Everything we learn by supporting top professional racing teams throughout the world goes into selecting the best brake pad options for all levels of street, track and racing use.
Falken 997 GT3R at 2015 Nurburgring 24 equipped with Type III Brembo discs. Photo Credit : Falken Motorsports

Falken 997 GT3R at 2015 Nurburgring 24 equipped with TY3 Brembo discs. Photo Credit : Falken Motorsports

PACKAGES INCLUDE:

  1. Outer Brembo TY3 discs (qty 2).
  2. 6061 T6 aluminum (machined from billet) hard anodized bell/hat.
  3. Complete Brembo disc hardware (D-type bobbin) w/anti-rattle springs (full floating option available upon request)
  4. Some systems include choice of street or race pads.

BREMBO 911 GT3 & TURBO (997) 2-PIECE DISC OPTIONS:

FRONT BREMBO 2-PIECE DISC OPTIONS: 911 GT3 OE IRON OR PCCB EQUIPPED

MSRP COMPLETE AXLE SET W/PADS: $2,495.00*
*FRONT SYSTEM INCLUDES PADS

911 GT3 Front disc specifications:

–          380 x 34 disc – Lightweight
–          TY3 face type
–          20 mm air-gap (wide air-gap for overall brake disc weight reduction)
–          72 vane ventilation
–          21 lbs – disc ring
–          23 lbs – complete 2-piece disc assembly
–          Compatible with 911 GT3 and Turbo (997) Models

911 GT3 Front “High Thermal” disc specifications:

–          380 x 34 disc – High Thermal
–          TY3 or TY5 “Endurance” face type available.
–          17 mm air-gap (narrow air-gap for the brake disc to have extra thermal capacity and durability under higher brake demand conditions)
–          72 vane ventilation
–          23 lbs – disc ring
–          24.5 lbs – complete 2-piece disc assembly
–          Compatible with 911 GT3 and Turbo (997) Models

REAR BREMBO 2-PIECE DISC OPTIONS: 911 GT3 OE IRON or PCCB EQUIPPED

MSRP COMPLETE AXLE SET: $1,895.00

911 GT3 Rear “High Thermal” disc specifications:

–          350 x 28 disc – High Thermal
–          TY3 slot type
–          16 mm air-gap
–          72 vane ventilation
–          14.5 lbs – disc ring.
–          16 lbs – complete 2-piece disc assembly
–          Compatible with 911 GT3 and Turbo (997) Models
–          Integrates into factory parking brake

PORSCHE 911 GT3 (997.2) OEM DISC WEIGHTS – FOR REFERENCE:

– Front, 380 x 34: 24.1 lbs
– Rear, 350 x 28: 20.7 lbs

PORSCHE 911 GT3 (997.1) OEM DISC WEIGHTS – FOR REFERENCE:

– Front, 350 x 34: 26.4 lbs
– Rear, 350 x 28: 21.9 lbs

PORSCHE 911 Turbo (997) OEM DISC WEIGHTS – FOR REFERENCE:

– Front, 350 x 34: 25.6 lbs
– Rear, 350 x 28: 21.9

997 GT3 with Brembo Racing Type V Front discs. Installed by BBi Autosport. Photo Credit : Jerry Truong / BBi

997 GT3 with Brembo Racing Type V Front discs. Installed by BBi Autosport. Photo Credit : Jerry Truong / BBi

PROFESSIONALS CHOOSE BREMBO
FROM PORSCHE TEAMS, ENGINEERS, TO DRIVERS

Porsche factory run 997 GT3-R Hybrid at Petit Le-Mans. Photo : James Boone

Porsche factory run 997 GT3-R Hybrid at Petit Le-Mans. Photo : James Boone

“At Olsen Motorsports we only use the best, most reliable components on the market. Brembo has come to the table with a complete package that has changed the way we think about brakes. With the many options in friction we are able to put together track specific brake packages to get the last bit of pace out of the many chassis’ s that we work with to stay consistent, competitive, and up front on track. The longevity and consistency of the product is amazing, and that coupled with the accessibility, knowledge, and support of the factory, Brembo is now the only brand that we offer to our customers”.

Tim Olsen, owner of Olsen Motorsports


“Ok, here‘s a factual event that happened to us, it was very eye opening to me at the time, I thought “this cannot be possible”, but it was because we did a back to back test later that morning and sure enough, it fixed the problem (this was at a Sebring test in February, the weather was mid 70’s to low 80’s).  The driver complained of poor threshold feel, we replaced the pads thinking they had lost their friction potential, still the same result. So then we changed rotors (thinking “this is insane but what the hell”), and on the second lap the driver called in saying “I can brake properly now”.  I learned a lot that day, to never be closed minded about things that otherwise seem obvious.

 Brembo rotors, combined with the correct pads, allow the driver to decelerate the car harder and more controllably because the materials are properly compatible – this is not case with other rotors and pads and we know this because we did back to back tests, the drivers response and the data proved it”

Craig Watkins, former Engineer of Flying Lizard Motorsports for 10+ years


“Although often overlooked, the ability to stop is really the most important aspect of sports car racing.  As a driver, I have been trusting Brembo products to slow me down for the majority of my career.  I am very demanding of the brake system on my race cars.  I need stability at the initial brake application, and the ability to modulate smoothly off the brake pedal is essential for optimizing corner speeds.  Having Brembo components installed on the car always gives me the confidence to push the limits throughout the brake zones.”

” In fact, it was Brembo products on the Brumos Racing Porsche that helped us make that final charge for the 2011 Rolex Series Championship.  A qualifying issue in the final race placed us at the back of the grid, and it wouldn’t have been possible to make our way up to the front without maximizing stopping capacity.”

Andrew Davis, 2011 Grand-Am Rolex GT champion with Brumos Racing.


Brumos 997 Grand-Am Cup at Daytona 24 hour. Photo : James Boone

Brumos 997 Grand-Am Cup at Daytona 24 hour. Photo : James Boone

Brembo (General News) Brembo Performance Brembo Racing

2015 Nurburgring 24 Hour

2015 ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nurburgring

Congratulations to Belgian Team WRT (Drivers:Christopher Mies, Nico Müller, Edward Sandström and Laurens Vanthoor) for winning the 2015 Nurburgring 24 hour race. This is also the inaugural debut and first win of the new 2015+ spec Audi R8 LMS at the Nurburgring 24 hour event. This is the second consecutive time in 2 years that Audi Sport have won the 24 hour race at Nurburgring with the Audi R8 LMS platform. Audi Sport Team WRT completed an overall of 156 laps to win the tough 24 hour race which featured very close racing. With only a 40 second gap to second place, this year featured the closest finish ever for the 24 hour event.

2015 NBR 24 hour winner - Audi R8 LMS by Team WRT. Photo Credit : Audi Sport

2015 NBR 24 hour winner – Audi R8 LMS by Team WRT. Photo Credit : Audi Sport

At the end of the 2015 24 hour race, 3 out of the top 5 and 6 out of the top 10 overall were equipped with Brembo Racing brakes. The winning Belgian Team WRT Audi R8 LMS was also equipped with Brembo Racing RB340 endurance racing pads. Audi Sport equips Brembo Racing brake systems and Brembo RB340 pads on all 2015+ spec Audi R8 LMS cars.

2015 24 Hours of Nurburgring – Top 10 Results

  • First: #28 – Audi Sport Team WRT, Audi R8 LMS – Brembo Racing equipped
  • Second: #25 BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, BMW Z4 GT3
  • Third: #44 – Falken Motorsports, Porsche 997 GT3-R – Brembo Racing equipped
  • Fourth: #26 BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS BMW Z4 GT3
  • Fifth: #5 Black Falcon, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 – Brembo Racing equipped
  • Sixth: #17 Walkenhorst Motorsport, BMW Z4 GT3
  • Seventh: #29 – Audi Sport Team WRT, Audi R8 LMS – Brembo Racing equipped
  • Eighth: #11 – Bentley Team HTP, Bentley Continental GT3 – Brembo Racing equipped
  • Ninth: #35 – Nissan GT Academy Team RJN, Nissan R35 GT3
  • Tenth: #33 – Team Premio, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 – Brembo Racing equipped
Bentley Continental GT3 running for the first time at Nurburgring 24. Photo Credit: Team HTP Motorsport.

Bentley Continental GT3 running for the first time at Nurburgring 24. Photo Credit: Team HTP Motorsport.

Brembo Racing RB340

The Brembo RB340 material offers excellent wear resistance, high initial bite, stable friction levels (the performance does not degrade as much at elevated temperatures) and good modulation in a wide range of conditions. Brembo’s RB340 material is unique in construction as the optimal performance of the material is dictated by the energy of the brake system, not specifically the braking surface running temperature. This also means the material performance can be stable in a wide temperature range. The combination of wear resistance and a high initial attack means the driver does not need to use as much pedal effort to achieve the optimum stopping power and potentially fewer brake pad / disc changes in an endurance race.

Photo Credit: Aston Martin Racing

Photo Credit: Aston Martin Racing

2015 24 Hours of Nurburgring – Overview

The 24 hour endurance event which has been running since 1970 and is one of the most important races that car manufacturers running FIA GT3 based cars (which is increasingly becoming the global platform for GT racing) focus on. Many teams, car manufacturers (Examples: Audi, AMG, Porsche, Subaru, Hyundai) and technical suppliers even have facilities near the Nurburgring for extensive testing of professional racing and production based cars. The 2015 24 hour endurance event had over 150 entries which included factory supported FIA GT3 spec cars as well as privateer teams running cars such as the BMW E46 M3, Subaru Impreza WRX STi, Opel Astras and Volkswagen GTi which all race on the same circuit in separate classes.

2015 Nurburgring 24 - SP3T Class winning Subaru WRX STI NBR equipped with Brembo brakes. Photo Credit: Subaru Global

2015 Nurburgring 24 – SP3T Class winning Subaru WRX STI NBR equipped with Brembo brakes. Photo Credit: Subaru Global

The Nurburgring circuit is very difficult, fast, unforgiving and over 15 miles in length to complete one lap. 2015 featured several mandatory “slower speed zones” for driver and spectator safety as the modern GT3 specification cars are just as fast, if not faster than previous years in which they can easily hit 300 km/h plus on the straightaways. The reduced speed sections meant that teams could potentially add more down force and focus on overall grip versus overall top speed. With more down force comes the ability for higher braking performance. The 24 hour race always features changing grip levels on the track, slow & fast blind corners, rain, black ice and very fast straightaways which end in long as well as heavy brake zones. With the addition of “slow zones”, sudden traffic build up was a major factor as well especially at night-time. Brakes must offer a high level of performance, control, be consistent and have low wear (fewer pad changes in an endurance race means less time lost in the pits).

Falken Motorsport GT3-R with Brembo Type 3 discs. Photo Credit : Falken Motorsport

Falken Motorsport GT3-R with Brembo Type 3 discs. Photo Credit : Falken Motorsport

5th place finishing Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3. Photo Credit : Black Falcon Racing Team

5th place finishing Black Falcon SLS AMG GT3. Photo Credit : Black Falcon Racing Team

The Nurburgring circuit and the 24 hour race in Germany is regarded as one of the most demanding events in the world on teams, equipment, and drivers. It is the event where the latest and most cutting edge professional GT sports car technology is showcased.

Brembo (General News) Brembo Racing

Brembo Brake Discs: Face Types

HOW DISC FACE TYPES (SLOT / GROOVE TYPES) AFFECT BRAKE PERFORMANCE:

Brake discs are one of the major brake tuning options which a professional race team has at their disposal at any typical race weekend. There are many subtle changes that can be made to a brake disc casting or configuration which can drastically influence braking characteristics. A brake disc’s face type (slot / groove pattern) is one of those changes, and can influence many braking characteristics.

Some of them are:

  • Initial response (bite)
  • Control and modulation
  • Release
  • Pad wear
  • Disc wear
Brembo Racing Type III Discs installed on GMG Twin Turbo Audi R8

Brembo Racing Type III Discs installed on GMG Twin Turbo Audi R8

There are also many variables which are considered when engineering a brake disc face type. Changing some of these variables can drastically influence the overall performance of the brake disc. Some (of the many) variables which are taken into consideration for brake disc slot design are:

  • Slot depth
  • Slot angle
  • Length of slot
  • Number of slots
Audi R8 LMS with Brembo 370 mm Type 1 racing discs in the front. Photo: James Boone

Audi R8 LMS with Brembo 370 mm Type 1 racing discs in the front. Photo: James Boone

Brembo and Brembo Racing primarily offer 4 different brake disc face patterns based on the application, intended use, driver preference, and other technical requirements of the application or chassis.

Drilled: drilled brake discs are suitable for a wide range of applications, operating temperatures and driving environments (especially wet weather).

  • Benefit: offers the highest initial response of all the available disc face types while continuously refreshing the braking surface and being also typically a bit lighter.
  • Drawback: Drilled discs are generally more prone to heat checking and thermal cracking if used consistently at extremely high temperatures. This however, really depends on the track, driver, and chassis setup.
Brembo drilled disc assembly

Brembo drilled disc assembly

Type I: Brembo “8 straight – slot” face type with an emphasis on stable brake feel and improve resilience against thermal cracking.

  • Benefit: stable braking feel at all temperatures, low disc wear, and continuously refreshing the braking surface for optimum performance.
  • Drawback: The Type 1 standard disc face has the lowest “initial response” or “bite” compared to Brembo Drilled, Type III or Type V discs.
Brembo Type 1

Brembo Type 1 “8 slot” disc assembly

Type III (aggressive face type): motorsport developed face type with an emphasis on high initial response while maintaining a smooth pedal release.

  • Benefit: highest overall braking confidence, control, and allows driver to spend less time on the brake pedal. When chasing the fastest lap time, less time on the brake pedal typically leads to a quicker lap time.
  • Drawback: Any disc with an aggressive face type like the Type III will have a higher chance to mechanically abrade the pad and disc surface leading to quicker or uneven pad wear. However, this really depends on variables such as car setup or track layout.
Brembo Type III Disc assembly

Brembo Type III Disc assembly

Type V (Endurance face type): motorsport developed face type with marginally less initial response compared to the type III face type. The Brembo Racing type V face type was also designed to have lower pad and disc wear for certain long distance endurance races (mostly 10, 12 and 24 hour races).

  • Benefit: braking modulation and control similar to Type III, while offering lower overall pad and disc wear on the track.
  • Drawback: While the most well balanced of all Brembo face types, Type V discs generally do not have as high of an initial response compared to the Type III.
Brembo Type V Disc assembly

Brembo Type V Disc assembly

Brembo (General News) Brembo Performance Brembo Racing

STOLEN Scion FR-S (please share and help find the car/parts)

UPDATE: the car was recovered whole.
The car was most likely taken around for a joy ride but ditched without any damage.

***** STOLEN (Please Help)*****

This is why we can’t have nice things.

May 8th, “I would like to take this opportunity to express a sincere “THANK YOU” to everyone who shared this post and helped me on getting the car back. Million thanks to my colleague for staying overnight searching these parts on Craigslist and all 86 related forums, Race Technologies for making this post and countless support. All my friends from 86 cup Garrett Tokuno Ted Park Julio Gorgé Mike Kang Marlon R Tecson Derek Dicker Van Nguyen for sharing this post to the community. My homies Gary Yeung driving all day/night in the Bay Area looking for the car. Like I said, there is a cash reward to those who can find me the car. Whether car is in one piece or just a barebone chassis, I still want it back in my garage! – Simon”

PLEASE HELP AND SHARE THIS POST. The car community is extremely strong, so we should be able to recover Simon’s (the owners) car/parts. Also there’s a cash reward with no questions asked.

Stolen in the Bay Area at around 4 a.m. on Monday (5/4/15) in Burlingame, CA (Simon was in the Bay Area participating in the 86 Cup).

Here’s the parts list:

  1. Greddy 2.1 Stroker
  2. Kraftwerk Supercharger Kit
  3. Koyo Radiator
  4. JRZ RS Pro Coilover
  5. Brembo Club Race Front BBK
  6. RE10 Front Brake Pad
  7. TS20 Rear Brake Pad
  8. Voltex Type 2 Center Mount Rear Wing
  9. Volk Racing TE37RT 17×9.5 5×100 +40
  10. Hankook TD 255/40ZR17
  11. MoonFace Roll Center
  12. Cusco Front Tower Bar
  13. Cusco Rear Tower Bar
  14. Tomei Expreme 60R
  15. Tomei Front Pipe
  16. Tomei Over Pipe
  17. Tomei Equal Length Header
  18. O.S Giken Clutch Kit
  19. O.S Giken LSD
  20. 4.556 Final Drive
  21. Cusco Rear Differential Cover
  22. Sabelt Steering Wheel
  23. Sabelt GT140 Seat (Driver)
  24. Bride Zeta III Seat (Passenger)
  25. Works Bell Hub
  26. Works Bell Quick Release
  27. Sabelt 5 Point Harnesses
  28. Cleib Front Lip Spoiler
  29. Cleib Side Panels
  30. Cleib Rear Diffuser
  31. Whiteline Differential Bushings
  32. Whiteline Subframe Bushings
  33. Whiteline Rear Trailing Arm Bushings
  34. Tom’s Rear Taillights

If you have information regarding this car, please contact the owner: simon@renn-spec.com or text/call (626) 215-3231. Thank you for your support/help.

Brembo (General News) Brembo Performance

Brembo Carbon Materials (CCM, CCM-R, and Racing Carbon)

Brembo Carbon Materials (CCM, CCM-R, and racing carbon)

 

Brembo Offers 3 Types of Carbon Based Discs:

  1. Carbon Ceramic (CCM): street use
  2. Carbon Ceramic (CCM-R): street and track use
  3. Carbon-Carbon: race use

Original Equipment Carbon Ceramic Material (CCM):

CCM discs supplied for the OEM are designed to offer significant weight savings over typical cast iron OEM discs while offering outstanding performance and very long life under typical street use. However, OEM CCM discs have limitations for serious performance driving and dedicated track use.

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Carbon ceramic offers significant weight savings over typical cast iron OEM discs

OEM CCM discs do not wear in the same way as cast iron discs. The life on CCM discs is determined by the loss of disc mass as the material oxidizes. This cannot be verified by simply measuring the overall disc thickness like traditional iron discs. Each disc assembly is weighed after assembly and then the minimum allowable weight is permanently etched into the bell. In order to check the weight after use, a cleaning procedure must be performed before checking the weight.

An exhaustive on-road and on-track test program is needed during vehicle development in order to manage airflow to the discs in order to provide enough cooling to achieve satisfactory component life. Oxidation increases rapidly with temperature and it is for this reason that extended high temperature use such as experienced on the race track dramatically reduces the discs life.

OE carbon ceramic (CCM)

OEM carbon ceramic (CCM)

OEM CCM discs are designed to be used with very specific brake pad materials. While there are other pad materials supplied on the market by various pad manufacturers claiming to be “CCM friendly”, there is currently no established validation process for such materials. Pad materials developed for cast iron brake discs will have considerably different results when used on CCM if the various factors are not considered. Pads used with CCM discs also have much greater surface area than would be present in a similar performing cast-iron system which somewhat offsets the weight savings of the disc.

  • Production Process Time: Relatively quick production time (for a carbon-based material), approximately 4 weeks (1 month).

Brembo Racing IndyCar Carbon racing discs & pads

Brembo Racing IndyCar carbon racing discs & pads

Brembo Racing Carbon-Carbon:

Brembo carbon-carbon materials are used in the top levels of professional motorsports in such racing categories as open wheel (i.e. Formula 1 and IndyCar) and sportscar racing (i.e. LeMans and LMP1) amongst others. The latest motorsport carbon-carbon discs offer stable performance over a wide temperature range, are extremely lightweight, and are highly wear resistant.

Brembo F1 carbon-carbon disc

Brembo F1 carbon-carbon disc

While many companies market high performance and racing carbon materials, there are only a few manufacturers who sell carbon-carbon brake materials to the top levels of professional motorsports. These are: Brembo, Carbone Industrie, and Hitco (a subsidiary of the Brembo SGL Group). Brembo supplied over 60% of the Formula 1 field in 2014 and is the sole supplier for IndyCar, Along with supplying brake systems to both factory run Porsche and Audi LMP1 efforts in the FIA WEC (World Endurance Championship) for 2015. It is quite normal for an LMP1 car racing at the 24 hours of LeMans to finish the endurance race without any disc or pad change.

Side profile of a carbon-carbon disc.

Side profile of a carbon-carbon disc.

Racing carbon-carbon systems differ from other brake systems in that they utilize a pad that is also made of carbon-carbon material very similar to the disc material. There are specific carbon-carbon formulations for the disc and pads that can be chosen to suit the system to the needs of the racing series, car, track, or driver.

Wear occurs in a carbon-carbon system both through material thickness reduction, as well as by oxidation. During a braking event, the temperatures reached in a carbon-carbon system can be well in excess of those seen in a racing cast-iron system, but the airflow management must be such that the temperatures are brought down significantly to avoid excessive oxidation. Racing carbon-carbon systems do not work well at low temperatures, and are for motorsports use only.

  • Production Process Time: Approximately 28 weeks (7 months) for production from start to finish.

Brembo CCM-R discs.

Brembo CCM-R discs.

Brembo CCM-R:

Brembo created the CCM-R material by applying the knowledge gained through developing and supplying carbon-based brake materials for both OEM road use and racing applications. Brembo CCM-R discs are sized and cross-drilled similar to the OEM CCM material discs, however, the base material, production process and construction is more in-line with Brembo carbon-carbon racing discs. CCM-R discs were developed with high-performance and racing use in mind.


Debut of CCM-R for the Nissan GT-R (R35)

Brembo CCM-R material comparisons to CCM:

  • Increased material strength, thermal conductivity, and coefficient of friction
  • Reduced temperatures
  • Significant increase in disc life, especially under track conditions
  • Density similar to CCM, but potential for reduced weight due to ability to reduce disc and pad dimensions
  • Wear extent can be determined by visual inspection

CCM-R discs and pads are delivered pre-bedded with a specific friction material for street and track use which will operate in a wide temperature range. If the customer is using the vehicle for primarily track or race use, a race-only material can be specified.

  • Production Process Time: Approximately 28 weeks (7 months) for production from start to finish.
Porsche 997 GT3R Hybrid Equipped with Brembo Racing brakes - ALMS 6 hour endurance race

Porsche 997 GT3R Hybrid Equipped with Brembo Racing brakes – ALMS 6 hour endurance race.

Porsche 997 GT3R Hybrid Equipped with Brembo Racing brakes  - ALMS 6 hour endurance race

Porsche 997 GT3R Hybrid Equipped with Brembo Racing brakes – ALMS 6 hour endurance race


Pre-Bedding:

Pre-bedding is the process of transferring pad material to the disc surface in a controlled environment. It is critical to have a transfer layer of pad material on the CCM-R disc to generate friction. Due to the material strength of CCM-R and the high level of surface hardness, it takes considerable pressure and temperature to transfer pad material onto the disc surface. This is done on a high inertia brake dynamometer using very specific computer controlled programs at the Brembo factory.

Carbon ceramic pads that were used to pre-bed the discs

Carbon ceramic pads that were used to pre-bed the discs

Brembo CCM-R discs pre-bedded and matched to specific friction materials.

Brembo CCM-R discs pre-bedded and matched to specific friction materials.

Representative Component Weights:

  • Brembo 355x32mm, 53mm annulus Cast-Iron 72-vane disc ring: 16.5 lbs
  • Brembo 360x32mm, 64mm annulus CCM-R disc ring: 7.5 lbs
  • Brembo 355x32mm, 53mm annulus Carbon-Carbon disc ring: 5.8 lbs

Typical Pad Weights – For Perspective:

  • Brembo 6-piston 26mm thick Cast-Iron disc race pad: 1.8 lbs
  • Brembo 6-piston 17mm thick CCM-R disc pad: 2.7 lbs
  • Brembo 6-piston 26mm thick Carbon-Carbon race pad: 0.7 lbs
Brembo CCM-R Grain Structure and Brembo Carbon Carbon grain structure

Brembo CCM-R Grain Structure and Brembo Carbon Carbon grain structure

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Sabelt x Corner 3 Motorsports

Corner 3 Motorsports, a stocking Sabelt authorized dealer in southern California specializing in high performance Japanese platforms supplied the following Sabelt products for Alex Rodriguez’s Time attack FD Rx7:

The Sabelt package:

– Sabelt GT160 Halo full bucket racing seat.
– Sabelt 6 Point 2 to 3 inch “HANS specific” harness.
– Sabelt SW633 330 mm suede steering wheel.

The Sabelt package offered the following advantages to the driver (based on driver comments):

– GT160 seat lowered the driving position so the drivers’ head (when using a helmet) no longer hit the roll bar of the vehicle.
– GT160 seat also improved driving position for better heel and toe downshifts.
– Sabelt 6 point harness fitted flush with the HANS Device and the submarine belt was much more comfortable. This was due to the 2 belt “split design” of the submarine belt.
– Sabelt steering wheel was thicker and more comfortable to use compared to the old steering wheel.

Corner 3 Motorsports focuses on three core philosophies: complete knowledge in the services they provide, specializing is only a few select Japanese platforms, and working with the most premium brands that best represent them. Corner 3 chooses Sabelt because Sabelt supplies safety components to professional motorsports, has a comprehensive product range to suit their clients needs and is a market leader in safety equipment.

Sabelt was founded in 1972 and part of the Brembo group since 2008, is a technology leader supplying safety equipment to the high performance and professional racing markets.

Contact Information:

Web: http://www.corner3garage.com
Address: 22701 Granite Way, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Phone: 1-(949) 380-0801

Photos Provided by: Corner 3 Motorsports

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Alex’s time attack FD3S equipped with sabelt GT160 seats

Sabelt Steering Wheel

Sabelt Steering Wheel

Brembo (General News) Sabelt

Can I use calipers off of “XXX” and place it on my “XXX”?

Originally posted on Modified Magazine

Mark Valskis from Brembo North America helps explain what goes into a properly designed big brake system. Upgrading the brakes on Honda Civics to Type-R calipers and rotors or bolting up the bigger 300ZX brakes to S13s and S14s are classic examples of upgrade paths that have proven to be both affordable and effective for grassroots enthusiasts. But more recently I’ve noticed a trend where some hard parking import enthusiasts are bolting huge multi-piston calipers and rotors off of European exotics like Porsches and Ferraris to their Subarus, Mitsubishis, Hondas and Nissans. This may look cool in the coffee shop parking lot, but as I learned when upgrading to the 1-inch Type-R master cylinder from the original 13/16-inch CX model master cylinder on my EG race car (which made a huge difference in brake pedal feel and firmness), there’s a lot more to properly upsizing your braking system than just adding larger-diameter rotors and increasing the number of piston in your calipers. According to Mark Valskis, engineering manager at Brembo North America, The first thing to consider in regards to the brake system is safety. There is a very large misconception that any caliper can be used on any vehicle, as long as it can be made to physically bolt up in some manner. However, there are vast differences in braking systems between vehicles, and often in ways that would not be predicted. For example, a Subaru WRX has approximately 30 percent more brake piston area than a Porsche 911. Taking a caliper from that Porsche application and applying it to a WRX (all other things being equal) would result in a 30 percent reduction in braking torque and a significant (and very unsafe) shift of brake balance to the rear of the vehicle. Understanding the importance of rotor thickness, not just diameter, and how this can impact performance and safety is also a key element to factor in when doing any sort of custom retrofitting of brake parts not designed for your car. A fundamental consideration is the brake disc thickness, Mark says. In a great many cases, we see calipers being used on discs that are thinner than what they have been designed for. In these cases, once the pads and the disc have worn, the first thing that can happen is the brake pads move past the abutment surfaces on the caliper, resulting in damage or brake failure. It is also possible that the pistons move completely past the seals in the caliper, resulting in complete and catastrophic brake failure. Just like the rotors, the calipers are also designed for specific operating conditions, so bolting them up to an entirely different chassis can also be problematic, if not downright dangerous. The caliper bodies themselves are built to withstand the structural requirements of their intended application, Mark says. We have seen instances where calipers are being used far outside the bounds of their design loads. The ABS system is also designed to function optimally only within the parameters of the original braking system.

modp_1105_2_o+breaking_bbk+porsche_caliper

Type-R brakes on base-model Civics and Integras is commonplace, but Porsche 6-pot calipers and 14-inch rotors on a Subaru? Is this a case of sacrificing performance for style?

By using components that are well outside these bounds, especially as it relates to fluid volume which is impacted by caliper piston area, caliper stiffness and so on the ABS system performance suffers. Mark also made the excellent point that custom retrofits, like we’re starting to see more of, also involve producing a caliper bracket adapter, a component that needs to be designed, analyzed and tested to prove its integrity for the system’s lifetime. Mark elaborates, Even if the components chosen to adapt are appropriate, without this very important detail being properly designed, the system could also be extremely unsafe and experience a catastrophic failure. The primary benefit of upgrading to bigger brakes is, of course, greater fade resistance and improved modulation, rather than one-stop braking distance. As we experienced firsthand with Project G35, where the undersized (non-Brembo) OEM brakes were quickly overwhelmed by the heat buildup produced by track testing, only when we upgraded to significantly larger brakes (in this case AP Racing front and rear BBKs) did we see consistent braking performance lap after lap. The BBKs provided the ability to efficiently convert, store and dissipate the kinetic energy (in the form of heat) being produced during repeated and heavy deceleration. As to the question, How big is too big? when it comes to upgrading a braking system for high-performance use, Mark from Brembo responded, While mass in the brake disc is generally beneficial to the performance of the braking system, clearly it is not to the other performance parameters of the vehicle, such as acceleration, ride and handling due to the effects of increased unsprung mass. The brake disc mass must therefore be properly balanced with other performance considerations. In many cases, depending on the vehicle in question, it’s possible to reduce the system’s overall weight while increasing the thermal capacity of the brake disc. This is possible due to multi-piece brake discs and high-performance, fixed-mount aluminum calipers in place of factory one-piece discs and cast-iron sliding calipers.

2015 Honda Civic Type-R equipped with a Brembo brake system as Original Equipment (OE).

2015 Honda Civic Type-R equipped with a Brembo brake system as Original Equipment (OE).

Mark then expanded on the topic of brake system sizing by adding, First, we should dispel the myth that more equals better as it relates to components of the brake system, calipers in particular. Simply increasing the number of pistons in a caliper does not make for a superior caliper. The number of pistons in a caliper is a function of optimization for a particular pad shape and piston area, and for the most part, has little direct bearing on the performance of the braking system. Likewise, increasing the piston area is not the mark of a superior brake system. We often see ads or statements expounding upon X percent’ increase in piston area or braking power. The fact is that in almost every circumstance, this is to be specifically avoided. Given that Brembo is the global leader in braking system design, a fact proven by its dominance at the highest levels of motorsport, as well as being the factory choice on many of today’s highest performing road cars, we asked Mark for a little insight into how the company goes about designing its BBKs.

IMG_6461

Brembo’s GT big brake kits are second to none, thanks to the company’s extensive experience

The design of a Brembo GT braking system first begins by an analysis of the original equipment braking system and the pertinent vehicle parameters. This includes the dimensions of all of the original braking system components, including piston area, pad area, disc diameter, thickness, annulus width and air gap. The most pertinent vehicle parameters are the gross weight, weight distribution, center of gravity, wheelbase, top speed and vehicle usage, as well as tire size(s). Calculations are then performed in order to determine the best disc size for the application. Brembo has internal standards for this, based on our experience as an OEM supplier, the performance aftermarket and top-level racing. Due to our unique position in this respect, we have performed tens of thousands of road, track and dyno tests on vehicles and have used this data to establish a threshold for the disc thermal capacity. The caliper piston area is selected in order to closely maintain the original braking torque and fluid volumes. Calculations and dynamic simulations are performed to verify optimum brake balance through the full range of deceleration rates and to ensure safety, performance and the integrity of the ABS system. Further calculations are made for the brake pad surface area and volume. Mark then went on to add that, Each of Brembo’s calipers undergo complete functional and structural testing, as well as environmental testing (salt spray corrosion, etc.) to prove its strength and fatigue lifetime. These tests have been performed at values exceeding that of any application that it is to be employed in. Each time a new application is created, the loads are compared to the qualification values to verify that the caliper meets the structural requirements. If an application should happen to exceed the tested parameters, a full complement of structural and fatigue testing is performed at new higher values. Discs have likewise undergone full dyno testing for thermal shock, thermal fatigue, high deceleration resistance, friction coefficient, wear, etc. The disc bells and caliper brackets are designed to adapt the Brembo disc and caliper to the vehicle. Using the results from the braking system calculations as inputs, these components are analyzed using finite element analysis to evaluate the stress levels, and are physically tested to verify fatigue life at maximum applied torque. There is, of course, a lot of very interesting science and engineering hidden beneath the surface of a high-quality BBK, things like material choices and design considerations that maximize caliper stiffness. Look for a future discussion on this very subject, if we’re fortunate enough to tap into the bottomless pool of brake system knowledge housed by Mark and his team of engineers at Brembo.



Brembo Brakes: Stopping Everything from Ferrari to F1! – The Downshift Ep. 72
On this episode of The Downshift, we head to Bergamo Italy to visit Brembo, the world’s largest brake manufacturer. Brembo was founded in 1961 and has become known for their technical innovation and reliability. Brembo brakes can be found on the worlds fastest road cars, as well as in the worlds most renown racing series from Nascar to F1.

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