Wrightune
They say the best things come in small packages, but does that hold true when it comes to Porsche specialists? A visit to Oxfordshire presents a chance for Total 911 to find out…
Why bigger isn’t always better: behind the scenes at this Oxfordshire-based family business
When it comes to fettling cars there’s something very reassuring about the existence of small but very skilled businesses. That’s exactly what we have here, Wrightune consisting of just three people. We were keen to pay them a visit at their premises a short distance from the River Thames in Wallingford, Oxfordshire to see those skills being put to good use and find out what makes the business tick. We’re here to see Chris Wright, son of company founder, Tony, who tells us that the firm’s history is steeped in Porsche motorsport.
“Back in the 1970s my dad worked for JW Automotive, building Ford Cosworth DFV engines for the Gulf Mirage cars, and he then spent more than 15 years with Porsche racers, Dage Sport and G-force Motorsport, where he built engines and transmissions for 935, GT2 and GT3 cars (and the occasional GT1), so he knows racing inside out.” It’s clearly in the blood, as it turns out that Chris himself is no slouch behind the wheel, either - a successful career in kart racing was followed by campaigning a 911 GT3 in the Britcar series. But why become a Porsche specialist? Well, it turns out that Tony’s love for the marque began way back in 1976 when he worked at a main dealer in Henley-on-thames in Oxfordshire, and after the motorsport career setting up the business seemed a logical move.
According to Chris the exact timing is a bit hazy: “It was around 2002 and he just began with a small workshop, working on his own, but we’ve always been on this site.” Since then the company has built a strong reputation for not only the quality of their work, but also a fanatical attention to detail. Customer service, too, plays an important part in Wrightune’s ethos, as Chris explains: “It’s something that’s really important to us. Being a small business we can not only afford to spend time getting things absolutely right, but also make sure we remain focused on building a really strong relationship with every customer. I’m not saying larger businesses don’t do that, but being able to keep close control over everything that happens and every decision is definitely a plus.” That’s no marketing spin, as it’s clear that the team – Chris joined in 2011 to help run things, while technician
Joe Carter served his apprenticeship with them – love the challenge of delivering on high customer expectations. That’s perfectly illustrated by the fact that while we are chatting, alongside plenty of other work, a G50 gearbox was in the middle of being rebuilt, the finished unit due to be shipped to a customer in America just two days later.
The job was taken on at short notice, something the company are used to, and an example of how being small can allow them to provide a quick turnaround if it means keeping customers happy. So what of that other work, and how does the 911 fit in? Well, one thing we discover is that Wrightune is as happy tackling routine service and repair work as it is taking on anything from bespoke engine and transmission builds to complete restorations. It’s also encouraging to realise that much of the work is kept in-house wherever possible, which is another way of keeping a firm grip on quality. Whether it’s milling and machining or returning components to their original finish through processes such as chromating (an important skill when it comes to the magnesium parts found on older cars) it can all be carried out at their modest premises. And if sub-contracting certain jobs is required, then the work goes only to local, trusted suppliers, says Chris. “For me it really is all about quality, so I make sure I go and talk to these businesses beforehand, and I’m quite happy to spend the time watching them do the job to ensure it meets the standards we expect.”
As for the cars themselves, every type of Neunelfer is welcome. While the last few years have seen a healthy demand for servicing and repairing 996 and 997 models, they’ve also seen a noticeable shift towards the older, air-cooled cars. No surprise, perhaps, given the rise in values and the fact that owners are more willing than ever to spend money on them, but it’s certainly good news for Wrightune as classic 911s have become something of a company specialism. What helps here is Tony’s contacts and in-depth knowledge, both of which are invaluable and a constant source of amazement to Chris. “We’ve built up a huge stock of information, and no matter what it is we almost certainly have it somewhere. I can mention something like cam timing data on an RSR engine and my dad will have it to hand. It all stems back to his racing days when he kept detailed records of everything he did, and that’s paying dividends now,’ says Chris.
Mention of the RSR brings the discussion back to racing, something the business is still involved in. They’ve prepared those and 964 Cup cars, and do some GT3 engine preparation for selected customers, but it’s an aspect that they hope will feature more prominently in the coming years. It’s a fascinating aspect of the business and one we could discuss all day, but I’m conscious of the workload that awaits Chris and, with our time in Oxfordshire nearly up, we’re keen to find out from him what the future holds. “As we’ve taken on more work around the air-cooled cars, and seen the restoration side expand, it’s allowed the business to grow organically over the years, but we definitely have plans to develop things further. More space is certainly something we’d like, along with becoming more involved in racing again, but whatever we do the priority for us is maintaining the focus on quality and customer service. We’re true enthusiasts here and love what we do, but those things really are the bedrock of the business… Tony simply wouldn’t have it any other way.”
It’s an encouraging note on which to end our visit, one that’s been hugely enjoyable as we’ve experienced the workings of a small team devoted to our favourite Porsche. It’s said that motorsport improves the breed, and on this evidence it would seem that old saying has never been truer.