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 dwelling base. That is due to not simply many Porsche sports activities automobile victories on the observe over the a long time but additionally its latest position 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 received a bit extra actual, as Porsche Vehicles North America officers introduced on Might 5 that its storied marque is now The Official Automotive of the raceway, which is itself experiencing a renaissance in management and path.
Now you’ll be able to 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 embrace a Porsche (no phrase on which mannequin, however I would vote for a 911 GT3 RS) serving because the official security automobile for the TireRack.com Monterey Sportscar Championship IMSA race weekend, Might 9/11. The race will probably 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 affords homeowners and would-be homeowners alike a number of driving faculty choices that vary from ideas for teen drivers to hardcore on-track tutorials from professionals. The prevailing PDE areas are on the firm’s HQ in Atlanta as properly at its Porsche Driving Expertise Los Angeles observe in Carson.
For longtime Porsche racer, restorer and observe board member Bruce Canepa, the partnership is a pure
“Most of the biggest moments in motorsport historical past have occurred at Laguna Seca,” Timo Resch, President and CEO of PCNA, stated in a press release. “We’re excited to be a component within the observe’s thrilling plans for the longer term and to permit the following era of lovers to get behind the wheel of a Porsche.”
The partnership little question was inked with the deft stewardship of ex-racer, famous traditional automobile 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 at the moment is the only real distributor for Kalmar, a high-end Porsche restomod (suppose Singer, however from Europe).
“We’re thrilled to welcome Porsche because the official automobile of Laguna Seca,” stated Canepa, who additionally serves as a Pals of Laguna Seca board member. “I’ve been a fan and proprietor of their vehicles for 5 a long time. 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 by means of 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 yr Porsche notched it is 600th and 601st IMSA victories on the observe, whereas final February a Taycan Turbo GT grew to become 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 understand 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 intention the nostril of your automobile not at a cone however reasonably a hillside tree, so steep is the dropoff. And so enjoyable.
When you’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.
