Truck terminal at the Porsche Motorsports Centre

PRESS RELEASE:

More than 10,000 square metres for Porsche race cars

Stuttgart. After a construction time of just one year the new motorsport centre of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, located at Weissach, is now completed. With this, the company has created a crucial prerequisite in ensuring the continued competitiveness of its vehicles in racing. The heart of Porsche Motorsports is made up of four buildings, which are connected via a light and transparent arched-roof construction. The facilities include workshops, race vehicle production, logistics centre and a terminal for trucks. A three-story office block for the administration and development departments as well as a car-park complete the new motorsport complex, in which a staff of 210 will work.

Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen: "The further increase in productivity, the highest possible flexibility and the optimisation of all processes determined the design and layout of the new buildings. In the last years the makes cups have grown enormously – in 2006 the series are contested in 18 countries on four continents. We manufacture up to 250 race cars per year here for the Cups as well as Gran Turismo and prototype racing. Now we enjoy an excellent situation and can continue to grow."

The motorsport complex comprises a useable floor space of 10,550 square metres, double the size of the former racing department. Already in the design of the access road the new centre gives a clear indication of its purpose: In the corners are typically cambered kerbs like those found on race circuits, as well as stacks of tyres and brand advertising which lend a real motorsport atmosphere.

The workshop facilities house separate areas for the servicing of Cup and customer race cars, for the successful RS Spyder sportscar prototype, the 911 GT3 RSR as well as for development projects. The composite workshop, the pre-assembly area, the hydraulics room and other special facilities are directly connected. The first floor is home to the engine and transmission departments which have their own area for standard measurements and testing.

In the so-called "manufacture", specialists construct limited numbers of racing sportscars and prototypes. Around 20,000 different parts are stored in the logistics site. Here the dovetailing of standard and motorsport production is clearly reflected. Spare parts, for example, for the new road-going 911 GT3 and the 911 GT3 RS vehicles are supplied from Weissach. At the terminal up to seven articulated lorries can dock at the same time where they are then loaded and equipped with parts for delivery to the race tracks.