How exciting would it be to see the Gulf 917s turning wheels in anger on the same stretch of tarmac as a Martini 935, a Coca Cola 962, and a Sunoco 917-30? It would likely be one of the most exciting races anyone has ever seen, if only for the historical significance that each of these cars represents. The Cayman Interseries, presented by Napleton Porsche takes this concept to a more realistic level. Boiled down to what is essentially a spec racing series, the Cayman Interseries allows only identically prepared Cayman S to compete in a semi-professional racing series wearing the liveries of some of the most iconic Porsche racing cars of all time. Spec racing is often equated with boring and staid so-called performance cars, partly due to the popularity of spec-miata series being run throughout the country. Luckily, the Cayman Interseries is more than that, whether it owes its success to the beauty of the cars involved, the memories of the cars that they invoke, the sounds they produce, or the tantalizingly close racing, no one can be certain. One thing is for sure, the Cayman Interseries is the ultimate in spec racing.
Napleton began the series in 2009, preparing several Cayman S models for Interseries duty. Beginning with a stock example of Porsche’s mid-engined beauty, Napleton Racing then fits the requisite safety equipment, improves on the excellent suspension with adjustable remote reservoir shock absorbers and stiffer spring rates, the braking system is reworked with race grade components, and finally, power is increased, simply through use of a catalyst-back exhaust system, and a quick PCM flash. The end result is staggering as the newly reborn Cayman looks and sounds as though it were built in Zuffenhausen alongside the GT3 R Cup in the factory Rennworken. Weighing in at just three thousand pounds full of fluid, equipped with a full roll cage, and a heavy driver behind the wheel, the Cayman is a truly quick car, as it makes full use of 300 horsepower at the rear wheels. The cars are capable of speeds around 162 miles per hour depending upon track configuration, and the engines rev to about 7400 RPM.
The cost of preparation on a Cayman Interseries racer is approximately 40,000 dollars over the cost of the Cayman S base car. The list of what you get for your 40 grand is quite long, and after having read it, it seems like quite the bargain. The car must be prepared by Napleton, where the PCM, Engine, Transmission and ports are sealed to avoid tampering. Longevity is certainly nothing to worry about, as the cars run stock OEM internal running gear components. Series Vice President Jack Baldwin claims that last year’s champion had over 7500 at-speed miles on his engine-chassis combination without any reworking. Since the series started in 2009, only one car has had to have the engine replaced, though after sifting through the electronic data, the engine was proven to have spent nearly 3 and a half minutes in the “level five over rev” range which is defined as 9300 RPM and above.
Running an eight race series in 2011, the Interseries travels in conjunction with established SVRA and HSR vintage events. Not only are the cars easily recognizable, and immediately competitive, they also are given the opportunity to shine on major national circuits such as Daytona, Mid Ohio, Road America and Watkins Glen. The average competitor in the series may not become the next Mario Andretti, but they are certainly given the chance to race where legends race. At the benefit of both participant and spectator, the Cayman Interseries is one of the most interesting spec series you can be a part of, and certainly the most pleasing to the eye.
Chassis/Body
Full Roll Cage with door beams
Window net
roll bar padding
Cobra Hans style race seat and brackets
Schroth 5 point quick release harness
Remote on–board fire system with 8 nozzles
Electrical cut-off switch
MOMO steering wheel with adapter
Quick release hub & roll bar hook
Cayman Interseries Front splitter
GT3 style adjustable rear spoiler painted body color
Suspension/Brakes
JRZ Pro adjustable remote reservoir shocks
3 way adjustable front and rear sway bars
Hypercoil Springs with helpers
StopTECH 6 piston Cayman Interseries designed front calipers
StopTECH full floating front rotors with aluminum hats
Performance Friction Cayman Interseries brake pads front and rear
Stainless steel brake lines
SRF racing brake fluid
GT3 two piece lower control arms
Solid front and rear control arm bushings
Spherical bearing tie rods with bump steer ends
Rear toe links with bump steer adapters
GT2 front brake ducts
NACA rear brake ducts
Engine/Transmission
Cayman Interseries developed ECU flash for PCM, ABS and engine mapping
Series specific race exhaust system
Center mounted third radiator
Electric oil pump with auxilary oil cooler
limited slip differential with chrome-moly housing
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