Meet the Legends: Porsche
If ever there was a brand defined by racing, that brand is surely Porsche – and the illustrious German manufacturer is the next subject of the FIA World Endurance Championship’s behind-the-scenes docuseries, ‘Meet the Legends’.
Founded more than 75 years ago back in 1948, Porsche lives and breathes competition, with its culture of excellence and passion for perfection propelling its cars to myriad triumphs over the years – particularly in the endurance racing arena, where its unquenchable thirst for technological breakthroughs and painstaking attention-to-detail are essential attributes.
Synonymous with success at La Sarthe, no other brand can lay claim to more victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans – inarguably one of the sport’s most arduous challenges. Porsche has prevailed in the race an impressive 19 times.
Motorsport is inherent in the manufacturer’s DNA, and that relationship works both ways. There is a core philosophy that every Porsche is made for the racetrack, and in much the same vein, every model that comes off its production line is imbued with the company’s racing spirit.
In ‘Motorsport Legacy Led by Excellence’, there are fascinating interviews with long-time Porsche factory driver André Lotterer – who clinched the Hypercar Drivers’ crown with Porsche Penske Motorsport in FIA WEC this year – and Timo Bernhard, who twice won the world championship with the brand as well as Le Mans in 2017.
Both men share what driving for Porsche means to them, while there are additional insights from Porsche Motorsport Vice-President Thomas Laudenbach, Urs Kuratle – Director of Porsche’s Factory Motorsport LMDh programme – and FIA WEC specialist, Sam Smith.
The recurring theme is one of a hardwired racing mindset that governs everything Porsche does – both on-track and off – and an unflinching commitment to pushing the limits in its quest for glory.
It was just such an uncompromising approach and the pursuit of peak performance that carried Lotterer and his team-mates to world championship honours this season – and despite facing arguably the greatest competition it has ever done in endurance racing’s current golden age, Porsche’s stellar run of success looks unlikely to end anytime soon...
You can watch the episode here.
