The exclusive PGA Cars World of Supercars gathered some of the Philippines’ best Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley models at the Clark International Speedway for a three-day festival of automotive passion and driving thrills. Held last February 2 to 4, the event drew nearly 300 driving participants to the racetrack, where they were professionally coached by race drivers and Porsche-certified instructors from the Porsche Experience Center.
Porsche Experience Centers serve as track-based brand embassies where visitors can indulge in everything Porsche. Situated amid stunning landscape and architecture, these venues feature a handling course, off-road track, restaurant, café, driving simulators, conference rooms, lounges, displays of contemporary and classic Porsche models, and Porsche lifestyle stores.
Differentiating Porsche Experience Centers from the drive experience destinations of other carmakers is that these were purpose-designed and built to be immersive retail experiences for the public. The centers do not sell cars, but work closely with the Porsche network. For example, the centers host groups of customer groups sent by dealers such as when PGA Cars sent its customers to the newly-opened Porsche Experience Center in Japan.
Flying in for the PGA Cars World of Supercars were Benjamin Rouget and Rodolfo Avila who, together with the team of fellow race drivers Georges Ramirez and Louis Ramirez, devised and supervised the immersive racetrack experience. The activities arranged for the participants were slalom, acceleration, and water-wading driving exercises, as well as guided laps around the track. PGA Cars also provided guests the opportunity to test-drive or experience the features of the newest models on roads surrounding the Clark International Speedway.
Frenchman Benjamin Rouget, 38, is a professional race driver with a portfolio spanning two decades, having scored podiums and victories at the China GT and GT Master, CEC China Endurance, GT Asia, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and France, French GT and GT Open, Formula Renault, and Formula 3 race series. He has also been coaching and training drivers in various Porsche track experiences since 2016.
Macanese Rodolfo Avila, 36, counts among his career highlights podiums and wins at Asian Formula Renault, Asian Formula 3, British F3, Asian Supercar Challenge, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia, TCR Asia and China, and China Touring Car Championship. He has been a Porsche China instructor since 2010, and manages race teams in various series.
Following the supervised exercises were the thrilling open-track sessions. Participants were afforded ample time to safely drive their cars on the track and experience the delights these can deliver. The soundtrack produced by the best engine and tire notes supplied the best accompaniment to the visual spectacle of breathtaking machines that transformed the speedway’s paddock, pit lane and parking areas into one huge showcase for supercars, as well as high-performance SUVs and 100 percent electric models.
The resulting sensory overload was further fueled by the participants’ shared and intimate connection for the Porsche, Audi, Lamborghini, and Bentley brands.