24h Le Mans
Tonight in Los Angeles, California, Porsche - winner for the 18th time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year - opened its fifth Porsche Experience Center, at which will be located the German manufacturer's American competitive branch.
Success is still on-going for the Porsche Experience Centers since in 2016 more than 100,000 people have participated in activities in its four facilities, three in Europe (Le Mans, Leipzig and Silverstone) and one in the U.S. (Atlanta). In the wake of this success, the German manufacturer - after winning its second World Endurance Champion title this year - has invested 60 million dollars in the construction of a new centre in Los Angeles, all while development is being pursued for a future centre in Shanghai.
The choices of Los Angeles and Shanghai are not random. China and the U.S. make up Porsche's two main markets with California accounting for nearly a fourth of total vehicle sales. Certain models, particularly in terms of competition, will be on display to the public, including the Porsche 919 Hybrid winner at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, but only at Autostadt park in Wolfsburg, Germany.
Los Angeles is also where Porsche has chosen to unveil its new version of the 911 RSR entered in the LM GTE Pro class in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Indeed, it will be at the Los Angeles Auto Show that the 911 RSR will debut to the word on Wednesday, November 16th at 10:15 a.m. (6:15 p.m. in the U.K.).
Photo (Copyright: Bonardel/ACO): The entrance to the Porsche Experience Center in Los Angeles during its inauguration.
