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Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans

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The StuttgartDNA Team
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Porsche Wins 2018 Petit Le Mans -- The No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR racing into the history books as winner in its GTLM class at the 2018 Petit Le Mans. Credit: Porsche AG
The No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR is on fire racing into the history books as winner in its GTLM class at the 2018 Petit Le Mans. Credit: Porsche AG

Today Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans, the final round of the 2018 IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship.  In Braselton, Georgia, at famed Road Atlanta, the Porsche GT Team emerged victorious at the end of a grueling 10-hour endurance marathon.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: This photo depicts the wall-to-wall throng, a sea of humanity, crowded together on the grid at the 2018 Petit Le Mans. Credit: Porsche AGPorsche Finishes First in GTLM Class at the 2018 Motul Petit Le Mans

The No. 911 crossed the finish line first in class at the checkers to win the 2018 Motul Petit Le Mans.  This clinched the Porsche GT Team’s third GTLM class win of the season.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: pictured here are the ecstatic Makowiecki, Tandy and Pilet celebrating at the top of 2018 Petit Le Mans podium, with first-place trophies in hand, held high above their heads. Credit: Porsche AG
Makowiecki, Tandy and Pilet (l-r) at the top of the 2018 Petit Le Mans podium. Credit: Porsche AG

Piloted by  Frédéric Makowiecki (France), Nick Tandy (Great Britain) and Patrick Pilet (France), the No. 911 510-hp Porsche 911 RSR began the race P5 in class.  Then to all Porschephiles’ delight, the No. 911 RSR methodically worked its way up through the field.

Although, No. 911’s steady advance was like swimming against the raging current of brutal competition in the GTLM class, both today as well as throughout the entire neck-and-neck season.  This was fierce determination to just win, baby — in tandem with perfect team tactics.  Result:  A near-flawless race.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Seen here at speed is the winning No. 911 on the Road Atlanta track curves. Credit: Porsche AG“It was a gripping race with highs and lows,” conceded Pascal Zurlinden, Director of GT Factory Motorsport.  “Minor errors on the racetrack cost us some time, but with perfect strategies and tire choices, we made it to the front of the field.

“After victories in Sebring and at Le Mans and now Petit Le Mans — the entire team simply did a perfect job,” Mr. Zurlinden continued, “and today we extended the contract with the squad for another three years. Now we’ll prepare for next season.”

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Posing here for a large group photo are the Porsche Motorsport GT Team drivers and crew with both 911 RSR cars in tribute Mobil 1 livery. Credit: Porsche AGThe No. 911 racecar was clad in legendary blue, red and orange Mobil 1 livery stripes (as was the sister No. 912 car).  This livery was chosen to evoke fond memories of the famed and fierce-looking 1998 911 GT1-98 from 20 years earlier.  We’re glad the result lived up to the nostalgic image.

So the third act of the 21st Don Panoz-originated Petit Le Mans cast the No. 911 in the role of grand-finale hero of this perennial epic.  That is when Makowiecki asserted Porsche’s dominance.  With about three hours left in the race’s countdown, Makowiecki scaled the podium’s precipice to a provisional P1 and never looked down from there.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Here we're getting a glimpse of the frantic No. 911 driver change in the Road Atlanta pits. Credit: Porsche AGThen Tandy grabbed the baton for his anchor stint to glory — ultimately rocketing across the finish line to win his GTLM class, with a cozy 11.443-second margin down to the second step of the podium.

“What a crazy race!”  Nick Tandy called out.  “We were relegated from the front to the back and then came back to the front.  When you’re a lap down and still manage to win, it shows just how brilliantly the entire team worked.  Our focus was on ensuring that the car was still fast in cool temperatures at the end.  And it worked perfectly.  And that was the key to victory.”

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Seen here is the jubilant, celebrating No. 911 victory team after winning the race. Credit: Porsche AGDr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President of Motorsport and GT Cars, voiced his own excitement:  “Patrick laid the foundations for this success with a strong double stint.  Nick and Fred then brought it home… Petit Le Mans was a huge race.  This victory fits perfectly with the successes that came just in time for Porsche’s 70th anniversary.”

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Seen here from its right side is the No. 912 speeding down the track, with a blurry German flag in f.g. Credit: Porsche AGUnfortunately, the No. 912 sister car wasn’t as lucky.

Shared by Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium), Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and newcomer Mathieu Jaminet (France), the No. 912 racecar commenced the race as a serious contender for victory across the first 71 laps.

However, an early puncture threw a monkey wrench in it all.  Then a drive-through penalty sounded the death knell, tumbling the trio headlong down the field.  The No. 912 racecar tried every angle.  All for naught.

That’s because the sickly relentless GTLM competition thwarted all noble attempts.  Despite this tenacious resistance, though, the No. 912 racecar persevered to finish only one minute behind the winning No. 911 sister car.

Kudos.  Not bad.  Not bad at all.

“We definitely had a winning car today.  That’s why it was extremely disappointing to receive a drive-through penalty,” vented Bamber, with some understandable emotion.  “It ruined our chances of winning.”

Porsche Finishes Just Shy of the Podium in GTD Class at the 2018 Motul Petit Le Mans

Meanwhile, Porsche in the GTD class experienced similarly mind-blowing melodramas.

Veteran sole-American Porsche Works driver — as well as all-around good guy and family man — Patrick Long (USA) fought the good fight in GTD alongside Porsche Selected Driver Christina Nielsen from Denmark and Germany’s Robert Renauer.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Pictured here is a speedy driver change in No. 58's Road Atlanta pit box for the Wright Motorsports 911 GT3 R of Long, Nielsen, Renauer. Credit: Porsche AGNot unlike the Factory No. 912 team, the trio in their No. 58 Wright Motorsports 500-hp Porsche 911 GT3 R also suffered a drive-through penalty.  It too spelled curtains for the team, which finished a hair off the podium in fourth place.

Porsche wins 2018 Petit Le Mans: Seen here is a photograph of the black-and-red No. 73 Park Place car, viewed from its left side, on the Road Atlanta track during the 2018 Petit Le Mans. Credit: Porsche AGBut the worst luck of all befell the No. 73 GTD-class Porsche 911 GT3 R.  Fielded by Park Place Motorsports for the 2018 Petit Le Mans, the No. 73 car grudgingly retired early in the fray after only 122 laps.  Wolf Henzler (Germany) shared the grief with Americans Timothy Pappas and Spencer Pumpelly.

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Race result

GTLM class

  1. Tandy/Pilet/Makowiecki (GB/F/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 419 laps
  2. Milner/Gavin/Fässler (USA/GB/CH), Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, 419 laps
  3. Krohn/Edwards/Mostert (FIN/USA/AUS), BMW M8 GTE, 419 laps
  4. Sims/De Phillippi/Auberlen (GB/USA/USA), BMW M8 GTE, 419 laps
  5. Briscoe/Westbrook/Dixon (AUS/GB/USA), Ford GT, 419 laps
  6. Vanthoor/Bamber/Jaminet (B/NZ/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 419 laps
  7. Hand/Müller/Bourdais (USA/D/F), Ford GT, 418 laps
  8. Magnussen/Garcia/Fässler (DK/E/CH), Chevrolet Corvette C7.R, 417 laps
  9. Vilander/Molina/Bertolini (FIN/E/I), Ferrari 488 GTE, 416 laps

GTD class

  1. MacNeil/Serra/Jeannette (USA/BRA/USA), Ferrari 488 GT3, 407 laps
  2. Legge/Parente/Hindman (GB/P/USA), Acura NSX GT3, 407 laps
  3. Sellers/Snow/Lewis (USA/USA/USA), Lamborghini Huracan GT3, 406 laps
  4. Long/Nielsen/Renauer (USA/DK/D), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 406 laps
  5. Henzler/Pumpelly/Pappas (D/USA/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 122 laps

Full results are available on:  http://results.imsa.com

Porsche unveils official Rennsport Reunion VI poster

By
The StuttgartDNA Team
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Porsche unveils official Rennsport Reunion VI poster - Rennsport Reunion V: We see here Porsche Gulf-liveried 917s and other Porsche racecars winding down Laguna Seca's famed Corkscrew at the 5th Reunion. Credit: Porsche AG
Rennsport Reunion V: Porsche Gulf-liveried 917s and other Porsche racecars winding down Laguna Seca's famed Corkscrew. Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche unveils official Rennsport Reunion VI poster, the artwork of which Porsche Cars North America (PCNA) commissioned for the upcoming rare, spectacular motorsports event in September.

Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI — The Event

Once again hosted by PCNA with support and assistance from the Porsche Club of America, Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI (as its “VI” implies) is the sixth iteration of “the world’s largest gathering of all generations of Porsche racecars and their drivers,” touts the PCNA announcement.

This year, Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI will be expanded from the three-day duration of past Reunions to an unprecedented four-day “family reunion.”  Once again, this historic event is set at world-renowned WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, just off the Monterey Peninsula, from September 27 through 30, 2018.

In 2015, Rennsport Reunion V attracted close to 60,000 fans from all over the world to Laguna Seca Raceway.

As was the case then, Rennsport Reunion VI will be another aforementioned family reunion of the largest gathering of vintage as well as contemporary Porsche racecars, their drivers past and present, their engineers, and, of course, thousands of Porsche fans from around the globe.

Rennsport Reunion VI is one of many events taking place this year to commemorate and celebrate Porsche’s 70th anniversary of its very first sports car.

Here are some links that you need to bookmark to stay up to date on the latest developments about Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI:

The official Parade Lap registration link (to purchase Parade Laps which went on sale on July 11, 2018, at noon EDT — supplies are severely limited and can be purchased only if you have already pre-purchased a PCA Corral Pass).

The official Laguna Seca Raceway website (to learn more about the event directly from the Raceway and to obtain tickets to the event).

The official Porsche website about all Porsche Rennsport Reunions (to learn about Reunions past, present and future).

The official Porsche Club of America website (to get the latest updates on PCA’s plans for and activities at Rennsport Reunion VI)

The official StuttgartDNA website (to learn about the latest general developments on Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI).

 

Porsche unveils official Rennsport Reunion VI poster: The poster is seen here, depicting three significant players in Porsche motorsport history: (1) the 1960 12 Hours of Sebring winner, the Type 718 RS 60, Porsche's first overall endurance race winner; (2) the 2008 RS Spyder which amazingly won races overall ahead of presumably dominant LMP1 cars in the American Le Mans Series in its LMP2 Prototype class; and (3) the groundbreaking 959 Group B rally car, which not only won the punishing 6,200 mile 1986 Paris-Dakar off-road rally, but also subsequently transformed into the world’s fastest production street-legal road car.

 

Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI — The Official Poster

The official poster for Rennsport Reunion VI depicts three significant players in Porsche motorsport history (from top to bottom):

  • The 1960 12 Hours of Sebring winner — the Type 718 RS 60 — Porsche’s first overall endurance race winner
  • The 2008 RS Spyder which, to everyone’s amazement, from its LMP2 Prototype class won races overall ahead of presumably more dominant LMP1 cars in the American Le Mans Series, and
  • The groundbreaking 959 Group B rally car, which not only won the punishing 6,200-mile 1986 Paris-Dakar off-road rally, but also subsequently evolved into the world’s fastest street-legal production car of its time.

The poster is a reproduction of the original painting by celebrated automotive artist Dennis Simon, the creator of four of the previous five Reunion posters.  Here are descriptions of his previous Reunion works:

  • 2004 Rennsport Reunion II poster — set at the 1968 24 Hours of Daytona as three 908s cross the finish line
  • 2007 Rennsport Reunion III poster — depicts the formidable 917 and 962 in Gulf and Löwenbräu liveries, respectively
  • 2011 Rennsport Reunion IV poster — adorned with Al Holbert’s 911 RSR from 1974 and the 1981 factory 935 long-tail, notoriously known as “Moby Dick,” in world-famous Martini Racing livery
  • 2015 Rennsport Reunion V poster — rendered on this poster from the last Reunion are the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning 917 K, the now-retired Le Mans-winning Porsche 919 Hybrid and LMP1 WEC Champion, and the class-winning 356 SL at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans

Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI — Ticket Availability

As of this writing, very few tickets and General Camping spots for Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI are still available — but they won’t last very much longer.

Grab them fast while you can by calling the Laguna Seca ticket office at 831-242-8200.  Also call this number to inquire about the availability, if any at this late date, of Premier and Reserved Camping reservations.

You can also check availability and purchase any remaining tickets by clicking here on this link to the Laguna Seca / TicketMaster ticket portal.

Sadly, though, all Porsche Corral tickets are sold out, as are all Premier Pit Row Suites, and all Flagroom and Preferred Parking options.

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Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page.  Your input is highly valued by us and much appreciated!

2017 Panamera and 2018 Panamera voluntary recall

By
The StuttgartDNA Team
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2017 Panamera and 2018 Panamera voluntary recall: A dark-grey Panamera Turbo is seen here from the left rear in studio. Credit: Porsche AG.

Porsche Cars North America, Inc., (PCNA) just issued a voluntary recall and stop-sale notice regarding certain 2017 Panamera and 2018 Panamera model variants.  This 2017 Panamera and 2018 Panamera voluntary recall refers specifically to a subset of second-generation Panameras (Type 971).

To date, the Panamera recall alert applies only to Panamera models sold in the United States and Puerto Rico — about seven-hundred fifteen (715) Panameras, so far.

Porsche’s internal testing revealed possible issues concerning the Panameras’ connecting links.  According to that testing, Porsche determined that the connecting links on the rear-axle anti-roll bar do not meet Porsche’s installation quality standards.

Here’s the potential issue:  A connecting link could detach from the anti-roll bar.  In turn, here’s the hypothetical result:  The detached part(s) could make contact with the surrounding suspension components, thus damaging those components.

Fortunately, as of this writing, there have been no reports of any accidents or mishaps.

PCNA will notify all affected Type 971 Chassis G2 Panamera customers by mail about the voluntary recall.  Those customers will thus receive instructions to take their vehicles to an authorized Porsche dealer.

The dealership’s service department will install stronger, improved connecting links to the rear axle’s anti-roll bars free of charge.

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Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page. Your input is highly valued by us as well as much appreciated!

Porsche wins both 2018 Le Mans 24-Hour GT classes

By
Larry Domasin
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Porsche wins both 2018 Le Mans 24-Hour GT classes: Seen here in vivid relief is the No 92 Pink Pig RSR tking th checkered flag, with PEC in bg. Credit: Porsche AG
Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche wins both 2018 Le Mans 24-Hour GT classes – GTE-Pro and GTE-Am classes – in the 86th running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans classic.

This double win in both classes are Porsche’s 106th and 107th class wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is very special for Porsche – wonderful celebratory achievements coincidentally occurring during Porsche’s anniversary year of “70 Years of Porsche Sports Cars.”

The No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR led its GTE-Pro class through two-thirds of the Sarthe classic, and subsequently for most of the balance of the race.  Their nighttime laps of the race were virtually flawless in defending their lead.

After a truly flawless 344 laps, the No. 92 factory Porsche 911 RSR whooshed cross the finish line first in GTE-Pro class on Sunday afternoon.

“An absolutely perfect weekend for Porsche,” noted Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.  “You can’t wish for more than this in our anniversary year.  It’s impossible to plan such a thing, but when it happens, it’s an indescribable feeling.

“Congratulations to the drivers, the teams and all the employees who made this success possible.  It makes me very proud,” Dr. Porsche emoted.

In the “Pink Pig”-colored (aka the “Truffle Hunter”-liveried) No. 92 car, lucky dog Michael Christensen (Denmark) was behind the wheel to revel in the glory firsthand.  Ecstatically his fellow No. 92 pilots Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) and Kévin Estre (France) cheered him on from the pits.

“Today is one of the most beautiful – no, the most beautiful day – of my career:  I’ve won Le Mans,” gushed Laurens Vanthoor.  “I can’t describe my emotions and I still can’t believe it.  Kevin, Michael and I complemented each other perfectly.  The entire team was just brilliant today.”

Kévin Estre chimed in:  “It’s simply unbelievable.  I just can’t describe my feelings.  Today is the best day of my life.  We have won the world’s most difficult and wonderful race.  That can’t be put into words.”

“It was an incredible race.  I don’t know what to say.  The car was fast right from the start,” added Michael Christensen, summing it all up.  “We had a little luck during a safety car phase, and we managed to pull clear of the field a little.  From that point on, we focused on extending our lead.

“In the final third of the race we simply tried to avoid taking any risks and bring the car home safely.  This worked perfectly.”

The Pink Pig’s marathon triumph represents the unprecedented 106th class win for Porsche at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on the 8.47-mile storied Sarthe race circuit.

Equally stunning after an entire 24 hours, the No. 91 sister car took the checkers next in second place, piloted by Frédéric Makowiecki (France), in the GTE-Pro class.  Fellow No. 91 Factory drivers Richard Lietz (Austria) and Gianmaria Bruni (Italy) also cheered on Makowiecki in their garage.

“Today is a banner day for Porsche – this double win is a wonderful gift for the 70th anniversary,” declared Lietz.  “It was a great race, and it doesn’t get much better than first and second place.  This shows that GT racing is the future and we need to invest in it.”

As the veteran newcomer to the Porsche works drivers, Gianmaria Bruni had the following to say:  “This double victory is fantastic – for Porsche and our team.  We had a great race and a great fight with our No. 92 sister car.  We tried everything but our team colleagues didn’t make any mistakes and they deserve this win.”

Makowiecki furiously contended non-stop with the No. 68 Ford GT for more than hour.  The Frenchman totally kept his cool all the while in his the blue-and-white “Rothmanns”-liveried 911 RSR, hanging on to second place for the most precious last third of the race.

“Our car was very fast, but we simply couldn’t keep up with our sister car, which was incredibly consistent,” confessed Makowiecki.

“For over an hour, I battled hard with a competitor for second place.  That makes my job as a race driver really fun, but we couldn’t make up ground in this phase.  I’m thrilled for the team with our second place at Le Mans.  We’ll be back next year to fight for victory,” Makowiecki vowed.

So how is it so momentously possible that Porsche wins both 2018 Le Mans 24 GT classes – seemingly with the greatest of ease?

For one thing, Porsche had history on its side – Porsche has “been there, done that” so many times before that Porsche seems unstoppable over time at this rate.

This is very reminiscent of all foregoing triumphant times in Porsche motorsport.  (Parenthetically, we thank and love you eternally, Baron Fritz Huschke von Hanstein, Porsche’s original motorsports impresario, in effect for inaugurating this long, unprecedented legacy.)

This year’s GTE-Pro victory represents the extraordinary 106th class win for Porsche at Le Mans.  Amazing. . .

Not so happily amazing is what happened to the third factory Porsche 911 RSR, the No. 93 car.  Piloted by Patrick Pilet (France), Earl Bamber (New Zealand) and Nick Tandy (Great Britain), No. 93 lost 25 minutes due to repairs and ultimately finished eleventh.

No. 94, the fourth and final factory Porsche 911 RSR, suffered an even worse fate.  Shared by factory teammates Romain Dumas (France), Timo Bernhard (Germany) and Sven Müller (Germany), the No. 94 car retired after nightfall — the culprit:  suspension failure.

“Obviously I’m really disappointed,” Dumas volunteered.  Most of all I feel sorry for the team because the guys have worked hard and did a great job.  But things like this can happen in motor racing.”

The second Porsche win came in GTE-Am, of course, memorializing the 107th class win for Porsche at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The No. 77 Porsche of the Dempsey-Proton Racing customer team crossed the finish line first in its GTE-Am class.   Porsche Young Professional Matt Campbell (Australia), Christian Ried (Germany) and Porsche Junior Julien Andlauer (France) shared driving duties in the No. 77 Porsche.

Julien Andlauer is now the youngest class winner at Le Mans, at just 18 years old.

“At 18 years of age,” enthused Andlauer, “I was given the chance to contest Le Mans for the first time, and then we won.  I’m very proud of the whole team and I can’t really believe it yet.  Now I’m the youngest Le Mans winner – incredible.”

Patrick Dempsey, co-owner of Dempsey-Proton Racing, had this to say about his team’s against-all-odds win:  “I’m lost for words.  Everyone did a fantastic job – it was a victory for the whole team.  The race was incredible – we made no mistakes and our work was rewarded with this great success.  I can’t tell you how incredibly proud and happy I am for Porsche, too.”

The No. 99 Porsche 911 RSR of the Proton Competition customer team finished just one place away from the third step on the podium.  Finishing fourth in class, the No. 99’s All-American team consisted of Patrick Long (Manhattan Beach, California), Porsche veteran pilot Spencer Pumpelly (Atlanta, Georgia) and rookie Timothy Pappas (Boston, Massachusetts).

“It was great fun driving the car here,” Patrick Long mused.  “I particularly enjoyed the night stints.  The lights on the new 911 RSR are a great development.  We’re very pleased about our sister car’s victory in the GTE-Pro class.”

Patrick Long’s WeatherTech teammate in the GT Daytona class and Porsche Selected Driver Christina Nielsen (Denmark) finished in sixth place in the No. 80 Ebimotors Porsche 911 RSR.  Christina ran the race along with teammates Fabio Babini (Italy) and Erik Maris (France).

“Sixth place is a very good result, because this was our first time at Le Mans,” explained Christina Nielsen.  “We worked hard and made very few mistakes.  I’m very proud of the whole team.  We will improve and hopefully be back next year to compete.”

Long and Nielsen will resume their IMSA competition during the Six Hours of The Glen on the July 1st.  Both drivers will team up once again in their Wright Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 R.

The No. 56 Team Project 1 Porsche 911 RSR finished in seventh place in GTE-Am class.  Works driver Jörg Bergmeister (Germany), Egidio Perfetti (Norway) and Park Place Motorsports principal / driver Patrick Lindsey (Santa Barbara, California) shared driving duties in the No. 56 car.

Competing in the WEC during the 2018-2019 “Super Season,” Lindsey made his debut in the Sarthe 24-hour marathon.

“We experienced a race of mixed fortunes,” Jörg Bergmeister confessed.  “At one point things looked really promising for us and we were within striking distance of second place.

“However, unfortunately we were hampered by brake problems towards the end of the race and fell back.  But we’ve gained a lot of valuable experience, which will help us in the future.”

Bergmeister and Lindsey will return to North American shores (in their own Park Place GT3 R), as will Nielsen and Long, all four campaigning in their respective GT3 R cars at the six-hour endurance classic at Watkins Glen in two weeks.

Consisting of team pilots Mike Wainwright (Great Britain), Ben Barker (Great Britain) and Alex Davison (Australia), the No. 86 Gulf Racing customer team was on the receiving end of a punt by an errant car on the course.  The accident knocked the No. 86 car all the way to the back of the field shortly after the race began.

The Gulf team’s pit crew fought tooth and nail to repair the car.  Once the racecar got back out on track, the No. 86 Porsche clawed its way back up the leaderboard to finish in a very respectable tenth position – all things considered.

Speaking for the No. 86 team, Ben Barker asserted, “Unfortunately we couldn’t bring home the result we wanted after 24 hours. The car was very fast over the entire race distance, even after our accident. The team did a brilliant job and made no mistakes. The accident at the start was simply bad luck.”

As Porsche wins both 2018 Le Mans 24-Hour GT classes, the triumphant Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen automobile manufacturer stretches further ahead of its competitors in the drivers’ and manufacturers’ classifications of the FIA WEC world championship.

“Victory in the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am class underlines that we’re doing everything right at Porsche in both factory and customer sport,” declared Pascal Zurlinden, Director GT Factory Motorsport.  “We were able to extend our lead in the manufacturers’ classification and we also moved into the lead of the drivers’ category.  All in all, a perfect day.”

But perhaps Oliver Blume, CEO of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, summed up the double-victory result best by concluding, “…Porsche belongs to Le Mans and Le Mans belongs to Porsche.”

Aaaah, there is no substitute. . .

© 2018 – 2020 Copyright StuttgartDNA.com / Larry Domasin. All Rights Reserved.

Please share your COMMENTS with everyone by scrolling down to the “LEAVE A REPLY” space below at the very bottom of this page.  Your input is highly valued by us and much appreciated!

 

Race result

GTE-Pro Class

  1. Christensen/Estre/Vanthoor (DK/F/B), Porsche 911 RSR, 344 laps
  2. Lietz/Bruni/Makowiecki (A/I/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 343 laps
  3. Hand/Müller/Bourdais (USA/D/F), Ford GT, 343 laps
  4. Pilet/Tandy/Bamber (F/GB/NZ), Porsche 911 RSR, 338 laps

GTE-Am Class

  1. Ried/Andlauer/Campbell (D/F/AUS), Porsche 911 RSR, 335 laps
  2. Flohr/Castellacci/Fisichella (CH/I/I), Ferrari 488 GTE, 335 laps
  3. Keating/Bleekemolen/Stolz (USA/NL/D), Ferrari 488 GTE, 334 laps
  4. Long/Pappas/Pumpelly (USA/USA/USA), Porsche 911 RSR, 334 laps
  5. Babini/Nielsen/Maris (I/DK/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 332 laps
  6. Bergmeister/Lindsey/Perfetti (D/USA/N), Porsche 911 RSR, 332 laps
  7. Wainwright/Barker/Davison (GB/GB/AUS), Porsche 911 RSR, 324 laps

The Porsche Inno-Space quality-control program

By
Larry Domasin
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0
Porsche Inno-Space quality-control program: An example of Porsche Inno-Space is demonstrated here with an image of a crankshaft on a large video screen. Credit: Porsche AG
Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche AG’s long-term financial prospects depend in large part on the Porsche Supervising Board’s forward-looking multi-year prospective plans and projections into the future.  Conventional fortune tellers beware:  Apparently your unforeseen competition is about to become even fiercer.

What is the Porsche Inno-Space Quality-Control Program?

One such latest example of Porsche’s future-gazing is the Inno-Space Program.  This sgDNA Finance / Corporate News post is definitely not a final analysis of the assumed-but-not-guaranteed success of the Porsche Inno-Space quality-control program.

On the contrary, at this early stage in the game as in life, we can only see the immediate here and now.  And, yet, the Porsche Inno-Space quality-control program could be a wonderful vision into the global future of Porsche AG’s universe.

Don’t you want to know what, exactly, the Porsche Inno-Space quality-control program is?  We do.

And whether or not it’s entirely “do-able”?

Let me explain at least the “what” as simply and accessibly as possible.  Inquiring StuttgartDNA minds certainly want to know.

Porsche’s Inno-Space Quality-Control Program Undergoes Testing at the Leipzig Factory

According to Porsche, here’s the skinny:

The critical goal of Porsche AG’s Inno-Space innovation, which just debuted in its testing phases at the plant in Leipzig, is to kick up Porsche’s already stellar quality-management triumphs yet another notch.

The vehicle (pardon the pun) to accomplish this lofty quality assurance / quality control (QA / QC) ambition is the concept of “the look and feel test using augmented reality (AR).”

Huh?

Obviously, some definitions are already in order.

Porsche Inno-Space quality-control program: An example of the Inno-Space tecnology; a tablet is held over a B-pillar window to detect any flaws. Credit: Porsche AG

You Look Marvelous – or Maybe Not So Much:  The Look and Feel Test

The look and feel test involves photographing an isolated production process and storing that video footage in the database documenting the entire production of the Porsche model and variant in question.

The footage is then loaded into any applicable tablet via a newly developed tablet app.  The app also stores the footage and then catalogs it.

The app can then – in theory – identify any and all flaws that inherently deviate from the predetermined perfect production execution of the task at hand.

This process, in turn, enriches the quality of QC (quality control) itself – and saves considerable time (which ultimately translates into saving more M-O-N-E-Y).

Developing Inno-Space to Optimize Porsche QA / QC

By the end of 2018, this process is scheduled to be integrated into Porsche’s production-line assembly processes.

The objective is to develop this innovative Porsche Inno-Space quality-control program starting from the aforementioned testing stages.  That development entails transitioning and dovetailing the QA / QC program into and with the actual production phases on the Porsche multi-model assembly lines for the ultimate in quality assurance / quality control.

The plan is to establish a dedicated factory Information Technology (IT) simulated environment.  In turn, this matrix-like environment, if you will, can then be connected to any Porsche plant.

The goal?  Seamlessly integrating new quality-management innovations into production that ultimately – and sustainably – deliver the optimal end-user experience.  Superlative quality assurance / quality control is highly coveted as the means to the end of creating nothing but very happy campers out of most if not all new Porsche owners.

And achieving all of this, hopefully, with the least expenditure of time, effort and investment, of course.

Admirable aspirations.

Transforming the Inno-Space Dream into “Reality”

However, this ambitious paradigm shifts the workflow limelight somewhat dubiously.  Emerging dominant among the responsible factory personnel would be the proposed resident IT (information technology) team.  The IT team would work closely with the newly overshadowed and hence newly subordinated quality-management (aka quality-assurance / quality-control) team.

This high-technology ascendancy seems to be the wave of the future, which may freak you out if you happen to be a Porsche purist.  Does me, to a degree.

Let’s not kid ourselves, though.  Surveys such as those conducted by auto-industry titan J.D. Powers and the rest of the lot have a strong influence in driving these brand-new technologies, apps and procedures.  I guess the ends do indeed justify the means in the cutthroat world of the international automobile marketplace.  But I mean it in a good way.

“In the Inno-Space, we can design and test pioneering concepts for the future without disrupting the plant’s normal processes,” envisions Albrecht Reimold, Member of the Executive Board for Production and Logistics at Porsche AG.

The Brave New World of Augmented Reality

Jump-Starting the Future:  Porsche’s Strategic Partnering with External Institutions and Start-ups

Of course, such Silicon Valley-caliber high-technology innovations can’t all be expected to well up exclusively from in-house at Stuttgart, Weissach or Leipzig.  After all, time is of the essence.  Tick-tock, tick-tock.

And when technology is traveling at the speed of, say, a record-shattering 2018 GT2 RS on the Ring’s Nordschleife (6:47.3!!!), collaboration is in order to come up with solutions, like yesterday.  Bringing in extraordinary outside talent does expedite matters.

To this end, Porsche has teamed up with selected universities and high-tech start-ups in the past.  In this case, Porsche is partnering with GTV (Gesellschaft für Technische Visualistik), a start-up out of Dresden, Germany, about 80 miles southeast of the Porsche Leipzig plant.

Namely, Porsche is working with GTV to tap into augmented reality (AR) as a technical platform for QA / QC.

SgDNA Sidebar

What exactly is augmented reality?

According to Wikipedia, augmented reality (AR) “is a direct or indirect live view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are ‘augmented’ by computer-generated perceptual information, ideally across multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory, and olfactory.

The overlaid sensory information can be constructive (i.e. additive to the natural environment) or destructive (i.e. masking of the natural environment) and is spatial registered with the physical world such that it is perceived as an immersive aspect of the real environment.

In this way, Augmented Reality alters one’s current perception of a real-world environment, whereas virtual reality replaces the real-world environment with a simulated one.  Augmented Reality is related to two largely synonymous terms:  mixed reality and computer-mediated reality.”

 

Above I alluded to the “AR look and feel test.”  Let’s further explore the details of that concept as it relates to augmented reality.

The GTV and Fraunhofer Society Collaborative on Augmented Reality

Another ally working with Porsche and GTV on this futuristic innovation is the Fraunhofer Society, headquartered in Munich, Germany.

Teaming up with GTV to further develop AR in this instance, the Fraunhofer Society was tasked with crafting a tablet app that documents the flaws revealed during the look and feel test.  That process superimposes those exact imperfections over an image of the automobile depicting each and every incremental phase of the production process.

Porsche Inno-Space quality-control program: An example of the Inno-Space tecnology; a tablet is held over a B-pillar window to detect any flaws. Credit: Porsche AGHere’s the progression of the look and feel test process:

  • At the start, the unique CAD (computer-aided design) data assigned to the subject vehicle from the fully detailed database is read into the app
  • Then the tablet’s camera is poised over the module or subsection under study
  • That CAD image is superimposed on and over the actual pictured component
  • This “look and feel” juxtaposition almost magically visualizes any and all flaws or deviations on screen instantaneously

Real-World Applications of Augmented Reality and Look and Feel Testing

Moreover, this at-the-moment technology paves the way for collaboration across various networks, as well as across all disciplines.  Testing and verification can be streamed in real time from plant to plant, and, probably more important, to any OEM partners and vendors.

As such, the aforementioned visualized flaws can be uploaded into the factory’s central database and shared worldwide, on a need-to-know basis, of course.

“This feature means that we benefit from numerous advantages that reach well beyond merely the testing process,” says Andreas Schmidt, Head of Quality at the Porsche plant in Leipzig.

Porsche Inno-Space quality-control program: A demonstration of how Inno-Space can be uploaded into the factory’s central database and shared worldwide. Credit: Porsche AGMr. Schmidt is liaison in the implementation of the augmented-reality project between the various start-ups and universities.  He continues:  “The fact that the tablet is networked allows us to do things like quality audits with our suppliers via video conference at short notice.”

But what Porsche hasn’t revealed to us yet is whether or not this emerging technology will or will not be immune to hacking.  I don’t know about you, but to me that streaming thing seems highly vulnerable to industrial and technological espionage, not to mention international intellectual-property grand theft.

Porsche Quality Assurance and Quality Control:  There is No Substitute

Be that as it may, what’re the prospects in the 21st century for this innovative process?

“Top quality is an essential part of our brand identity at Porsche and is expected by our customers,” asserts Frank Moser, Head of Corporate Quality at Porsche.

“The quality that Porsche delivers is the result of hard work driven by scrupulous precision and the passion to create the perfect sports car during all project phases and in all areas,” continues Mr. Moser.  “When it comes to quality, we get to the very heart of every little detail – this is the approach that characterizes the Porsche brand.”

Porsche’s relentless commitment to German excellence and exquisite over engineering ever since the inception of Porsche No. 1 just may still keep the Porsche Supervising Board in business, and continuing to thrive indefinitely, as discussed at the top of this piece.

So as Porsche AG rightly points out, the last 70 years have been witness to Porsche sports-car construction as the gold standard – with close to two thirds of all Porsche automobiles produced still motoring down the road – to the delight of their happy-camper owners.

When it comes to Porsche, there is no substitute for superlative quality management, assurance and control.  Forward-looking programs like the Porsche Inno-Space quality-control program may indeed bankrupt all of those aforementioned conventional fortune tellers – along with any passive and/or not-so-aggressively innovative automobile manufacturers.

*            *            *

Let me know in the LEAVE A REPLY section below what you think about the goals and chances of success for Porsche’s Inno-Space program.

Also, how do you compare Porsche’s original 1950s goals of making sure there is no substitute for superior quality, in contrast with Porsche AG’s twenty-first century pursuit of that same incomparable quality assurance / quality control?

Porsche wins 2018 Sebring 12 Hours GTLM Class

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The StuttgartDNA Team
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Porsche wins 2018 Sebring 12 Hours GTLM Class: Seen celebrating their 1st and 3rd place wins, respectively, are Frédéric Makowiecki, Nick Tandy, Patrick Pilet, Laurens Vanthoor, Earl Bamber and Gianmaria Bruni (l-r). Credit: Porsche AG
Frédéric Makowiecki, Nick Tandy, Patrick Pilet, Laurens Vanthoor, Earl Bamber and Gianmaria Bruni (l-r). Credit: Porsche AG

After a grueling 12 hours and 328 laps, a Porsche 911 RSR wins 2018 Sebring 12 Hours GT Class.  The No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR, piloted by Patrick Pilet (France), Nick Tandy (Great Britain) and Frédéric Makowiecki (France), won the 66th running of the grueling 12-hour classic.

Contested at the notoriously bumpy and treacherous Sebring International Raceway in Florida, the 12 Hours of Sebring is the oldest and roughest sports-car endurance race in the United States.   For that reason, it is all the more sweet that this is the first victory for Porsche for the IMSA SportsCar Championship season in GTLM Class.

If that wasn’t sweet enough, the other GT Factory 911 RSR Porsche finished on the podium.  The No. 912 Porsche 911 RSR, driven by Earl Bamber (New Zealand), Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium) and Gianmaria Bruni (Italy) endured too, racing under the checkers in third place.

It’s crucial that both Factory GT 911s wound up on the podium, as both thus scored points toward the North American Endurance Cup.

Despite its bumpy, washboard-like course – consisting of original U.S. airbase runways for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft from 1941 to 1946 – Sebring International Raceway is hallowed ground for Porsche.  In 1960, Porsche commenced its historic run as the most successful sports-car racing marque on the raceway by chalking up 18 outright victories and now 71 class wins.

Both Porsche 911 RSR race cars gradually made up positions from their sixth (Vanthoor in the No. 912) and seventh (Tandy in the No. 911) place starting positions on the grid.

Despite taking a little off-course excursion which ripped off its entire rear bumper, wing and diffuser, the No. 911 spent precious little time in the pits and continued making up lost time to get closer to the front.

And then it happened.  Patrick Pilet in his No. 911 took the lead for the first time in the 279th lap after 10 hours and 10 minutes.  After the driver change, Nick Tandy took over and then took the checkered flag for the spectacular GTLM Class win.  This places Tandy, Pilet and Makowiecki in second place in the driver’s championship.

“This win was missing from my collection.  It was a great team effort,” praised Pilet.  “The pit crew didn’t make one mistake and our strategy was perfect. To celebrate this achievement with my friends Nick and Fred is incredible.”

Having enjoyed the thrill of taking the checkers in first place before all of the BMWs, Chevrolets, Ferraris and Fords, Tandy picks up on that thought:  “They say that the best victories come from the toughest races.  Today was such a race.  We didn’t have the slightest problem over the entire distance and that was the key to our success.  My last two stints were incredibly intense, especially the duels with the Ferrari and the BMW.  We switched to new tires during the last pit stop – after that, nothing could hold us back.”

Long Beach, California, hosts the next race, Round Three of the IMSA SportsCar Championship, on April 14, 2018.

GT Race Results for the 2018 66th 12 Hours of Sebring:

GTLM Class

  1. Tandy/Pilet/Makowiecki (GB/F/F), Porsche 911 RSR, 328 laps
  2. Sims/de Phillippi/Auberlen (GB/USA/USA), BMW M8, 328
  3. Vanthoor/Bamber/Bruni (B/NZ/I), Porsche 911 RSR, 328
  4. Westbrook/Briscoe/Dixon (GB/USA/NZL), Ford GT, 328
  5. Vilander/Pier Guidi/Calado (SF/I/I), Ferrari 488, 327
  6. Gavin/Milner/Fässler (GB/USA/CH), Chevrolet Corvette, 327
  7. Krohn/Edwards/Catsburg (SF/USA/NL), BMW M8, 296
  8. Magnussen/Garcia/Rockenfeller (DK/E/D), Chevrolet Corvette, 283
  9. Hand/Müller/Bourdais (USA/D/F), Ford GT, 277

GTD Class

  1. Sellers/Snow/Lewis (USA/USA/USA), Lamborghini, 321 laps
  2. Balzan/McNeil/Jeannette (I/USA/USA), Ferrari 488, 321
  3. Keating/Bleekemolen/Stolz (USA/NL/D), Mercedes, 321
  4. Long/Nielsen/Jaminet/Renauer (USA/DK/F/D), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 321
  5. Bergmeister/Lindsey/Pappas (D/USA/A/USA), Porsche 911 GT3 R, 321

Who are Porsche AG’s 2018 Motorsport Works drivers?

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The StuttgartDNA Team
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Who are Porsche AG’s 2018 Motorsport Works Drivers?: Pictured here are all of the 2018 Porsche Works Drivers in a group photo at the December 2017 Night of Champions gala event. Credit: Porsche AG
Can you name each and every one of the pictured Porsche Works Drivers for 2018? Credit: Porsche AG

You’re may be asking, “Who are Porsche AG’s 2018 Motorsport Works Drivers?”  At the recent annual Night of Champions event feted by Porsche AG’s Motorsport division, the 2018 Works Drivers were announced.

Continue

Porsche Team Germany wins Minsk 2018 Tennis Fed Cup

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The StuttgartDNA Team
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Porsche Team Germany wins Minsk 2018 Tennis Fed Cup: Porsche Team Germany group photo at Minsk. Antonia Lottner, Anna-Lena Grönefeld, Team Coach Jens Gerlach, Tatjana Maria, Anna-Lena Friedsam (l-r) Credit: Porsche AG
Porsche Team Germany's Antonia Lottner, Anna-Lena Grönefeld, Team Coach Jens Gerlach, Tatjana Maria, Anna-Lena Friedsam (l-r). Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche Team Germany kicked off the 2018 Fed Cup tennis season by defeating Belarus in Minsk.  National team coach Jens Gerlach guided the team to triumph in the exciting, fiercely contested first round match 3-2 against Belarus, last year’s runners up and season favorites.

Porsche Team Germany wins Minsk 2018 Tennis Fed Cup: Seen here are Grönefeld in b.g. and Maria in f.g. at 2018 Minsk Fed Cup, battling it out for Porsche on the tennis court. Credit: Porsche AG
Grönefeld in b.g. (l) and Maria in f.g. (r) at 2018 Minsk Fed Cup, battling it out for Porsche on the tennis court. Credit: Porsche AG

Anna-Lena Grönefeld and Tatjana Maria won in decisive doubles in a thrilling tennis nail biter.  The match stretched out over two and a half hours in the standing-room-only Chizhovka-Arena on Sunday, February 11.  Grönefeld and Maria defeated Aryna Sabalenka and Lidziya Marozava 6-7, 7-5, 6-4.

“It’s why one plays tennis.  For one’s country, for such matches,” asserted Anna-Lena Grönefeld.  Tatjana Maria enthused, “We had a fantastic team this weekend and deserved to win.”

The season opener was as challenging as Porsche Team Germany and everyone else in the tennis world assumed it would be.  The singles matches proved the point.  The match was tied 2-2 after the singles.  Tatjana Maria came out strong at first.  But on Saturday Maria dropped her opening singles 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 against Aryna Sabalenka.

Porsche Team Germany wins Minsk 2018 Tennis Fed Cup: Porsche Team Germany's Antonia Lottner on 2018 Minsk court. Credit: Porsche AG
Porsche Team Germany’s Antonia Lottner on 2018 Minsk court. Credit: Porsche AG

Fed Cup debutant Antonia Lottner surprised everyone, gratefully.  The 21-year-old rookie impressed all in attendance by upsetting No. 1 Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-5, 6-4.

Nonetheless, scores were all tied up to that point.  Thus matters began to look even bleaker than ever because of the absence of Porsche Team Germany top players Angelique Kerber, Julia Görges and Carina Witthöft.

But then on Sunday, Porsche Team Germany turned the corner for the first time.  The Team snatched the lead at last.  Tatjana Maria defeated Vera Lapko 6-4, 5-7, 6-0.

Unfortunately, though, young Antonia Lottner came up short in the end, losing to Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.  Despite this, the win was secured.

“Playing in front of such a crowd is absolutely incredible,” Lottner emoted. “I enjoyed every minute out on court and am so happy at being given the chance to be here and making a contribution to the fantastic win.”

For the semifinals, Porsche Team Germany will face the five-time Fed Cup winners the Czech Republic on April 21 and 22 at a yet-to-be-decided venue in a virtual rematch of the 2014 final.

Porsche announces 2018 Rennsport Reunion VI

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The StuttgartDNA Team
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Porsche announces 2018 Rennsport Reunion VI: Shown here on the lower Laguna Seca straightaway between Turns 3 and 4 is the 2015 Porsche Rennsport Reunion V family portrait showing a diverse sampling of Porsche race cars. The grouping spans from the No. 46 356 SL Gmund Coupe to the present-day 919 Hybrid, both Le Mans winners in their respective heydays. Credit: Porsche AG
Rennsport Reunion V: 2015 Porsche Rennsport Reunion V Family Portrait. Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche announces 2018 Rennsport Reunion VI to be held at Laguna Seca Raceway September 27-30, 2018.  This is the next highly anticipated iteration of the ultimate Porschephiles’ motorsport bacchanal celebrating all racing things Porsche.

To the ecstatic delight of all of us grateful revelers, the 2018 Rennsport Reunion VI will be extended to an unprecedented four days, instead of the usual 3 days during past Reunions.

Porsche announces 2018 Rennsport Reunion VI: Pictured here at Porsche Rennsport Rennsport V is an aerial view of the Laguna Seca grandstand straight and paddock filled with parked racecars in diagonal formation and thongs of spectators. Credit: Porsche AG
Porsche Rennsport Rennsport V:  Laguna Seca Raceway’s front grandstand straightaway and paddock.  Credit: Porsche AG

Laguna Seca Raceway Hosts the Porsche Family Reunion of Racecars Once Again

This is the third time that the world-famous Central California USA Raceway will be the host venue for the Porsche Family Reunion of racecars.

Just a modest scenic drive east from the breathtakingly beautiful Monterey Peninsula, Laguna Seca first hosted Rennsport Reunion IV in October 2011 and then Rennsport Reunion V in September 2015.

Right after Rennsport Reunion V, more than a few of us feared we wouldn’t see Porsche Rennsport Reunion back at Laguna Seca for many, many years to come.  There were some mutterings that the Reunions might move permanently back East.  But finally this week those fears were put to rest.  For now.

Porsche announces 2018 Rennsport Reunion VI: Seen here is a portrait of the late, great Porsche Cars North America PR man Bob Carlson in a hat with a hanging leather strap. Credit: LAT Photographic
The late, great Porsche Cars North America PR man Bob Carlson. Remember him whenever you attend a Rennsport Reunion — and don’t forget Bob’s wife, Debbie, who stood by and cared tirelessly for Bob throughout his long struggle with cancer, until he finally succumbed to it in 2008. Credit: LAT Photographic

Rennsport Reunion Origins and History

A beloved PR man at Porsche Cars North America started it all.  The late, great Bob Carlson was the mastermind behind the first Rennsport Reunion.  It took place in 2001 at Lime Rock and was a resounding success.

The next two Reunions were held in 2004 and 2007 at Daytona International Speedway, the final ones orchestrated by Bob.

Rennsport Reunion V: The Le Mans-winning 919 on display at the last event. Credit: Porsche AG
Rennsport Reunion V: The Le Mans-winning 919 Hybrid on display at the last event. Credit: Porsche AG

Just as Bob had initially planned and crafted the original concept, the common thread running through all Reunions has become the tradition of bringing together an extraordinary gathering of priceless Porsche racecars.

As an added bonus, the Reunions attract the international motorsport giants behind those racecars in their heyday – the designers, engineers and drivers who teamed up to shepherd these winningest racecars to victory in motorsport competitions all around the world.

Porsche announces 2018 Rennsport Reunion VI: Rennsport Reunion V: Legends of Le Mans in the flesh posing in pre-Rennsport activities. From left to right are Richard Attwood, Gerard Larousse, Vic Elford, Jochen Mass, Jacky Ickx, Hans Herrmann, Jürgen Barth, Hurley Haywood, Derick Bell, Gijs van Lennep, current Factory driver Nick Tandy, and Hans-Joachim Stuck. Credit: PAG
Rennsport Reunion V: The attending Legends of Le Mans in the flesh are, from left to right, Richard Attwood, Gerard Larousse, Vic Elford, Jochen Mass, Jacky Ickx, Hans Herrmann, Jürgen Barth, Hurley Haywood, Derek Bell, Gijs van Lennep, current Factory driver Nick Tandy, and Hans-Joachim Stuck. Credit: Porsche AG

Activities at and Features of the 2018 Rennsport Reunion VI

Once again, you’ll even be able to meet and get autographs from past and present race-winning Porsche Factory drivers, including many past Le Mans winners.

Porsche announces 2018 Rennsport Reunion VI: Rennsport Reunion V: Pictured here is one of the many driver autograph sessions. Credit: Porsche AG
Rennsport Reunion V: One of the many driver autograph sessions. Credit: Porsche AG

According to organizing host Porsche Cars North America, the on-track competition will be supplemented for the first time next year by a Concours d’Elegance.  This new feature will be on offer to all race invitees so they can also participate in Concours competition, if desired.

(Click here to see the official poster for Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI.)

Here are some links that you need to bookmark to stay up to date on the latest developments about Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI:

The official Parade Lap registration link (to purchase Parade Laps which went on sale on July 11, 2018, at noon EDT — supplies are severely limited and can be purchased only if you have already pre-purchased a PCA Corral Pass).

The official Laguna Seca Raceway website (to learn more about the event directly from the Raceway and to obtain tickets to the event).

The official Porsche website about all Porsche Rennsport Reunions (to learn about Reunions past, present and future).

The official Porsche Club of America website (to get the latest updates on PCA’s plans for and activities at Rennsport Reunion VI)

The official StuttgartDNA website (to learn about the latest general developments on Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI).

California — A Major Porsche Regional Sales Market with a Large Concentration of Porsche Enthusiasts

Ever since the end of World War II, the state of California has become one of the biggest — if not the biggest — markets for Porsche automobiles in the United States.

So it was only natural for Porsche Rennsport Reunion to gravitate out West from the right coast.  Out here on the left coast, we’re considered to be some of the most fanatical Porschephiles on the planet.

Consequently, Laguna Seca Raceway on California’s Central Coast is a perfect fit for Porsche’s Family Reunion of racecars out West.

Porsche announces 2018 Rennsport Reunion VI: From Rennsport-Reunion V: Pictured here are 3 Legends of Le Mans racecars among the throng of thrilled spectators. Credit: PAG
Rennsport Reunion V:  3 Legends of Le Mans racecars among the throng of thrilled spectators. Credit: Porsche AG

“Choosing the Monterey Peninsula once again for our unique Porsche family reunion builds upon what we learned from previous Rennsport Reunions,” said Klaus Zellmer, President and CEO of Porsche Cars North America.

“We had close to 60,000 fans, enthusiasts and owners come through the gates of Laguna Seca to celebrate with us in 2015,” continued Mr. Zellmer.  “And California’s picturesque Central Coast provides an ideal backdrop.  The Golden State as a whole has always been like a second home to Porsche.”

Rennsport Reunion V: We see here Porsche Gulf-liveried 917s and other Porsche racecars winding down Laguna Seca's famed Corkscrew. Credit: Porsche AG
Rennsport Reunion V:  Gulf-liveried Porsche 917s and other Porsche racecars winding down Laguna Seca’s famed Corkscrew. Credit: Porsche AG

“We are honored to have been selected once again as the host circuit for Porsche Rennsport Reunion,” said Gill Campbell of Laguna Seca Raceway.  “This prestigious event has created a tremendous impact on motorsports around the world in the past, and we are eager to bring it back to life again in partnership with Porsche.  It is truly the most rewarding event I have ever had the pleasure of being involved in.”

Porsche Club of America (PCA) Joins Rennsport Reunion VI Again

Once again, the Porsche Club of America (PCA) will be a key coordinating participant as it has in the past.

For example, during the last 2015 Rennsport Reunion V, PCA member-owned cars numbered over 1,300 Porsche automobiles carpeting the Laguna Seca model-specific car corrals and general-parking lots to overflow capacity.

Rennsport Reunion V: Here's a shot of bumper-to-bumper PCA lunchtime attendee parade laps. Credit: Porsche AG
Rennsport Reunion V: Porsche Club of America lunchtime attendee parade laps. Credit: Porsche AG

The multiple Porsche-only parade laps on the Raceway’s world-renown track were a sight to behold.

According to the PCA website, “PCA will provide a hospitality tent with refreshments and presentations by Porsche insiders for members in attendance.  More information will become available in the near future.”

In addition the PCA website also indicates the following regarding Porsche Rennsport Reunion V:  “PCA Club Racing contributed to the racing with its own run group, named the Sholar-Friedman Cup after PCA founder Bill Sholar and PCA Club Racing founder Allen Friedman.”

Rennsport Reunion VI Welcomes International Porsche Enthusiasts to Laguna Seca

So we get to do it all over again next year.  And it’ll be here before you know it.  So make your plans now.

Rennsport Reunion V: The joint be crawlin' with 718 RS Spyders. Credit: Porsche AG
Rennsport Reunion V:  The joint be crawlin’ with 718 RS Spyders.  Where else are you going to have the pleasure of experiencing such a giddy delight?  Credit: Porsche AG

We at StuttgartDNA hope to see all of you, from across the globe, here in California, at Laguna Seca.

The famed Raceway will once again become the center of the Porsche Universe from the 27th through 30th of September 2018 during Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI.  Don’t miss it for the world. . .

Porsche Classic Centers opening worldwide

By
Larry Domasin
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Porsche Classic Centers opening worldwide: Porsche classics -- from 356s and 911s, to 928s, 944s and Boxsters -- are seen parked on a high plateau overlooking picturesque mountainous terrain in the distance. Credit: Porsche AG

With Porsche Classic Centers opening worldwide, the future looks bright not only for Porsche AG, but also for the more than 70% of all Porsche vehicles that are still on the road across the globe.

Thus the German sports-car manufacturer headquartered in Stuttgart is expanding its market share of maintaining and servicing classic and modern-classic Porsche vehicles round the world.

Porsche Classic Centers opening worldwide — more are planned across the globe

Porsche Classic Centers opening worldwide - Porsche AG opens Son Norway Porsche Classic Center - Seen here is the Norway Classic Center night facade. Credit: Porsche AG
Porsche Classic Center Son, located in southern Norway.  Credit: Porsche AG

Porsche Classic Centers versus Porsche Classic Partners – Is there a difference between the two?

A Porsche Classic Center is a fully self-contained entity specializing in the maintenance, repair and restoration of classic Porsche sports cars and, soon, Porsche SUVs.  The latest example as of this writing is the new Porsche Classic Center Son, located in Norway.

The first three Porsche Classic Centers to open worldwide are as follows (in order of opening):

A Porsche Classic Partner, on the other hand, is different only insofar as it is under the roof of a pre-existing Porsche Center dealership.  Conversely, a Porsche Classic Center is a self-sufficient, stand-alone entity under its own roof.

Click here to access the Porsche Resources Directory listings of Porsche Classic Centers. 

Click here to learn more about Porsche AG’s concept and development of Porsche Classic Partners. 

Click here to access the Porsche Resources Directory listings of Porsche Classic Partners. 

The common bond between Porsche Classic Centers and Porsche Classic Partners is that they both are based on an astonishing statistic:  Greater than 70 percent of all Porsche sports cars ever built are still running on the worldwide highways and byways today.

Porsche Classic Centers opening worldwide - A silver Carrera GT is pictured here at the opening of the Porsche Classic Center Son, in Norway. Credit: Porsche AG
The Grand Opening of the Porsche Classic Center Son. Credit: Porsche AG

So the business model is quite simple, now, isn’t it?  Who better to service, maintain and restore all of these classic cars than an authorized Porsche dealership?  Not to mention who better to also supply them with over 52,000 genuine Porsche and Classic Porsche spare parts?

Porsche Classic Centers and Porsche Classic Partners share one crucial element:  providing superior service and genuine parts

Porsche Classic Centers opening worldwide - Seen here is a classic green 911, its engine lowered from its bay, at the opening of the new Porsche Classic Center Son, Norway. Credit: Porsche AG
Another angle during the Grand Opening of the Porsche Classic Center Son. Credit: Porsche AG

“Alongside the continual expansion of our Classic range of genuine parts, the Porsche Classic Centers and Porsche Classic Partners around the world represent a crucial part of our strategy,” asserts Alexander Fabig, Director of Porsche Classic at Porsche AG.

So it stands to reason that another shared trait between the two entities is that each provides competent service advisors and technicians who combine expert service and consultation for their clients who possess classic, vintage Porsche automobiles.

Consequently, Porsche Classic clientele can expect Porsche to guarantee a uniformly high standard of quality service.  This results from Porsche’s special training program for the employees of all Porsche Classic Centers and Partners, which closely links Porsche tradition with Porsche innovation.

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