Profile: Adam Harris

Although Adam Harris didn’t say it, his background and obvious love of car racing means that he is thrilled to be involved in the Manthey-Racing/Porsche Centre Brighton tie-up. M anthey-Racing is the company behind the Nürburgring record-breaking modified Porsche GT2RS, which has now arrived in Australia – but is only available from three Porsche dealerships. One of these is Porsche Centre Brighton (PCB) who can supply, fit and warrant Manthey-Racing (MR) parts. The Australian operations are the first retailers outside of Germany to be cleared to install the Porsche GT RS MR kit. This is obviously a significant honour, and Adam has it covered – even though it’s not his main job. As workshop manager for PCB, Adam oversees the whole workshop, manages the intake of work, and distributes this to his technicians to ensure that it is done to the highest possible standard. “We currently have 10 technicians and three apprentices,” Adam says. “I have a deputy, and between the two of us we quality control.” Quality control is a mainstay of Adam’s work. Nothing leaves the workshop without being checked, driven and thoroughly inspected. And while a typical day includes some administrative work, opening the workshop and distributing jobs to the technicians, it is Adam’s knowledge of the brand that makes him indispensable. Adam started his career in the UK, working there until moving to Australia in 2010. He was trained as a Porsche mechanic from the outset, achieving Gold Level Master Technician status from Porsche. That makes Adam the go-to person for his technicians when a tricky technical issue arises. More importantly, he is also the go-to person when a customer has a problem that needs some extra care. “If an extra interface between the service advisor and the workshop is required, I can talk with the customer and help out,” he explains. “If the customer is trying to explain something, I can go and road test with them to gain a better understanding of what we are dealing with in the workshop so we can get it right first time.” Getting it right is an all-too obvious passion of Adam’s, due to his love of Porsches and the one car he would love to own – the Porsche 993, the last of the air-cooled Porsche models. But for the time being, he is more than happy to help other owners nourish their passion for the brand. What really gets Adam excited is when he is able to consult with customers who have purchased a Porsche GT RS and they want to explore the opportunities available using Manthey-Racing parts. “Customers come into the dealership with their GT RS, asking me to make it go faster and handle even better,” he notes. “They come in to investigate the options, and together we tailor a package to make their car more of a ‘track animal’.” The parts ‘package’ may involve changes to the brakes, aerodynamics or suspension. Adam is never happier than when he can help set up a Porsche to exactly suit the needs of his customer. The MR aerodynamic package includes underbody components, canards, an enlarged rear diffuser and a bigger, more aggressive rear wing. Suspension upgrades include multi-adjustable coil-over dampers, springs and strut tops, while braking is enhanced via upgraded lines and pads. Lighter magnesium wheels are offered in a choice of finishes. “We’ve taken on Manthey-Racing because of the link between Manthey and Porsche,” Adam says. “I have a motorsport background and I’ve worked with Australian V8 Supercars with Kelly Racing. With Manthey being involved in motorsport, I am the ideal conduit to make sense of the technical aspects. “I can sit down with the customer and they tell me what they want to achieve; I then offer tailored solutions.” The workshop installs the MR items and then sets up the to the user’s exact specifications. “We have an area in the workshop whose sole purpose is Manthey. We can do the work there, then set the car up for the track and for the client,” Adam said. “With my motorsport experience it’s easy for me to explain to a customer what is on offer, establish what they want, and how to achieve it.” • Adam HARRIS Workshop Manager Porsche Centre Brighton