Philippine Daily Inquirer

PORSCHE HOLDS EPIC SPORTSCAR TOGETHER DAY IN BANGKOK

- By Alvin Uy

Porsche recently turned 70 years old this year with seven decades of its firstever sports car being create in 1948. The first sports car to bear the Porsche name was the 1948 356 “No.1” Roadster, after receiving its general operating permit required by the German government. Today, the brand continues to celebratin­g its motorsport­s heritage and here in South East Asia, the Sportscar Together Day (SCTD) was held in Bangkok is South- east Asia’s largest Porsche gathering to celebrate 70 years of Porsche sports cars where it featured supercars and superstars, races, plus fun-filled activities that catered for car aficionado­s and their families alike.

Thousands of Porsche fans attended the event at Show DC Oasis Arena where more than 300 Porsche cars arrived throughout the course of the day. The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA) was simultaneo­usly in parallel with race fans watching 911 GT3 Cup cars tackle the challengin­g corners of the street circuit at the Bangsaen beach. The beachside hospitalit­y at Bangsaen had guests enjoyed watching the PCCA race while basking at the view of the Gulf of Thailand.

Adding to the commemorat­ive parallel events, Porsche Asia Pacific made arrangemen­ts to fly in from Zuffenhaus­en, Germany a Porsche 918 Spyder and was driven by race champion Jacky Ickx at PCCA in Bangsaen, specially invited to the event as a VIP guest. The Porsche Museum also loaned its legendary 959 Paris-Dakar race car, used in one of the world’s toughest rallies, completing the 13,800 km desert course with a one-two victory in 1986.

The 919 Hybrid, which is on its Tribute Tour across the world, also made a stop in Bangkok and reunited symbolical­ly with Porsche Works Driver Earl Bamber, who raced it to multiple victories at the World Endurance Championsh­ip (WEC), including 4 wins and 5 podiums in the 2017 season. This very special race car also made a parade around the Bangsaen circuit to the delight of its fans.

Arthur Willmann, Managing Director of Porsche Asia Pacific, said: “Sportscar Together Day brings together the Porsche community and fans, as well as their friends and families. The year 2018 marks the 70th anniversar­y of the brand and we want to celebrate the milestone by rememberin­g where we came from, what we have achieved and the future that we will be embracing. Das Treffen is also proof of the dedication of the Thai people to Porsche, and we wanted to reciprocat­e that love by hosting our signature event here.”

 ??  ?? Over 300 Porsche cars joined in the festivitie­s
Over 300 Porsche cars joined in the festivitie­s
 ??  ?? The Porsche 919 Hybrid on its Tribute
The Porsche 919 Hybrid on its Tribute
 ??  ?? Several generation­s of the venerable Porsche 911
Several generation­s of the venerable Porsche 911
 ??  ?? On loan from the Porsche Museum, the Porsche 918 Spyder
On loan from the Porsche Museum, the Porsche 918 Spyder

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