Hartmut Kristen in Feb 2015 Panorama

The interview with Hartmut Kristen in the February 2015 issue of Porsche Panorama is also very interesting and has a Nord Stern connection.  Kristen attended the 1991 Last Fling as a guest of Nord Sterner Fred Senn.  You can read more on this blog here.

I remember the visit clearly as it isn't often someone from Porsche attends a Nord Stern DE.  They were specifically looking for customer input regarding importing a car like the Carrera RS.  While it wasn't possible to import the CarreraRS due to all the import requirements of the US.  They did come up with a version of the 964 called an RS America.  The car featured a whale tail, 17" wheels, M030 suspension, interior bits, and that was about it.  Sales languished because it didn't offer much in performance upgrades and the price was quite high.  I owned a '93 from 1994 to 2001.  I enjoyed the car very much.

I will to think those conversations led to the GT3 in 1999.  The change in thinking was that enthusiasts would buy new cars of they offered features they desired.  Some us us like a stiff suspension and don't need a valet system.

Another point on this Panorama article.  If you follow sports cars racing to the depth that I do, there is a great deal of "inside baseball" here.  Lot's of stuff he clearly could say when he was working for Porsche.  Obviously not a fan of the Balance of Performance process and the vagaries that come with.  I wouldn't expect a manufacturer to feel any other way.  Read this article carefully.