Porsche and Laguna Seca, like peanut butter and jelly
For a lot of Porsche followers, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on the Monterey Peninsula in California has basically served because the German automaker’s unofficial residence base. That is due to not simply many Porsche sports activities automotive victories on the observe over the many years but in addition its current function as host for a number of editions of Porsche’s haloed Rennsport Reunion, multi-day gatherings of rabid Porsche followers and astounding Porsche vehicles from across the globe.
Nicely, that unofficial marriage simply obtained a bit extra actual, as Porsche Vehicles North America officers introduced on Might 5 that its storied marque is now The Official Automobile of the raceway, which is itself experiencing a renaissance in management and path.
Now you may wring out a brand new Porsche at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
So what does this all truly imply? For one, it hyperlinks Porsche to the raceway in a extra formal sponsorship partnership, which can embody a Porsche (no phrase on which mannequin, however I might vote for a 911 GT3 RS) serving because the official security automotive for the TireRack.com Monterey Sportscar Championship IMSA race weekend, Might Sep 11. The race shall be broadcast stay on Sunday, Might 11, at midday PDT/3 p.m. EDT on NBC.
However actually much more thrilling for Porsche-philes is phrase that the observe will play host to a different location for the automaker’s thrill-a-minute Porsche Driving Expertise, which gives homeowners and would-be homeowners alike a number of driving faculty choices that vary from suggestions for teen drivers to hardcore on-track tutorials from execs. The present PDE places are on the firm’s HQ in Atlanta as effectively at its Porsche Driving Expertise Los Angeles observe in Carson.
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For longtime Porsche racer, restorer and observe board member Bruce Canepa, the partnership is a pure
“Most of the best moments in motorsport historical past have occurred at Laguna Seca,” Timo Resch, President and CEO of PCNA, mentioned in a press release. “We’re excited to be an element within the observe’s thrilling plans for the longer term and to permit the subsequent technology of fanatics to get behind the wheel of a Porsche.”
The partnership little question was inked with the deft stewardship of ex-racer, famous basic automotive restoration store proprietor and Porsche devotee Bruce Canepa, who helped Invoice Gates and others with the importation of Porsche’s rest-of-the-world supercar, the 959, and presently is the only distributor for Kalmar, a high-end Porsche restomod (suppose Singer, however from Europe).
“We’re thrilled to welcome Porsche because the official automotive of Laguna Seca,” mentioned Canepa, who additionally serves as a Pals of Laguna Seca board member. “I’ve been a fan and proprietor of their vehicles for 5 many years. This partnership brings collectively two iconic manufacturers, and we’re excited to rejoice our collective histories and race into the longer term collectively.”
Ever heard of The Corkscrew? There’s nothing fairly prefer it in North America
Porsche’s legacy is in depth at this historic observe, which opened in 1957 as a proper location for races that beforehand had wound via the Del Monte forests close to Pebble Seashore. WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has to date hosted 4 Rennsport Reunions relationship again 15 years.
In 2023, Rennsport Reunion 7 featured historic and new Porsches, prime Porsche firm officers, and 91,000 followers throughout the four-day occasion. As well as, final 12 months Porsche notched it is 600th and 601st IMSA victories on the observe, whereas final February a Taycan Turbo GT turned the quickest series-production EV to lap Laguna with a time of 1:27.87.
For these of you who’ve been to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, you recognize all about The Corkscrew, a sinuous left into a tough proper that drops precipitously on the bottom of the observe, a well-known flip that requires you to goal the nostril of your automotive not at a cone however quite a hillside tree, so steep is the dropoff. And so enjoyable.
For those who’ve by no means skilled it, Porsche’s new driving faculty at Laguna Seca will treatment that pronto. This system is slated to open up in 2026. Get in line now.
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