Porsche World Road Show 2023 – ‘Dreams in Motion’ with more than 10,000 hp!

26 cars, a combined horsepower output of more than 10,000 hp, 5 different driving stations, professional Porsche instructors and the wonderful list can go on. Here’s a recap of Porsche World Road Show (PWRS) 2023 that is the focus event marking the start of the Porsche’s 75th Anniversary festivities for Singapore.

PWRS 2023 was held at Changi Exhibition Centre from 19 to 23 May 2023, with an early preview for the motoring media on 18 May 2023.

Any petrolhead would welcome the opportunity to attend PWRS, where both existing owners and the public could sign-up for the event to have the chance to get behind the wheel of a whole line-up of Porsches. Under the guidance and tutelage of professionals, one could officially and legally push the cars to its limits. It's like an entry-level driving programme in the hierarchy of Porsche driving experiences, where one can literally climb all the way to be a certified racing driver. PWRS is a bit of a starter before the full-course, so to speak, but a loaded one at that.

It was also the perfect event to launch and showcase the latest 992 generation Porsche 911 GT3 RS. We were given the full overview of the latest technologies that had gone into the development and production of the GT3 RS.

Just look at that massive swan neck wing – at 6 ft, it is the largest wing ever fitted to a Porsche and it generates 860 kg of downforce at 285 km/h.

Now, let’s get started with the real highlight of PWRS 2023 – the driving segments.

Segment 1: Handling

We were given the opportunity to test 5 cars on a closed-circuit track. Whilst short, the circuit was demarcated in a way to enable drivers to test the acceleration, braking and handling abilities of each of the models available at the station. 2 long straights, 2 chicanes and 6 hairpin turns.

Car 1: 911 Targa 4 GTS

Car 2: 911 Turbo S

Car 3: 911 GTS

Car 4: Cayman GT4 RS

Car 5: Taycan GTS

It was interesting to be able to feel the differences between each of the cars, especially between the AWD and RWD models and how they handled around the corners. The mid-engine Cayman GT4 RS provided the most memorable drive in a quick poll amongst the drivers in our group at the end of the handling segment.

Precise instructions on when power should be put down for each of the cars were also bellowed through the walkie talkies by our instructor, Stefan. “A Porsche 911 has no weight at the front, put down the power after the car has straightened out, not too early!”

We also had the chance to sit in out-of-bounds 911 GT3 RS that was used by Stefan himself, as the lead car around the track (The glorious soundtrack still lingers in my ears).

Segment 2: Off-Road

We were told that a large majority of 911 owners owned a SUV for the school-run, which made Porsche develop the Cayenne then.

And here we are, trying out the full off-road capabilities of the 3rd generation Cayenne in GTS guise on an obstacle course.

Truth be told, it was odd taking a Cayenne sideways and on the pseudo rock path. As capable as the car is with its differential locks and wheel articulation wizardry, we would be hard pressed to see a Cayenne owner take their SUV off the beaten path.

Segment 3: Acceleration & Braking

Launch control – Check. Full Braking – Check. G-Force experience – Check.

Seemingly easy, this segment started with participants sitting in a Taycan Turbo S Sport Turismo and being shown how to launch the car from rest, take it up to speed, and to slam on the brakes hard to zero.

The actual test was done with the instructor in a 911 Turbo S Cabriolet (top-up, of course). Let’s say it was fun to do it twice, once with and once without launch control to test how the system optimises the 0 to 100 km/h timing. It was also a testament to Porsche’s Carbon Ceramic Brakes (PCCB) that stood up to the torture it was put up to.

Segment 4: Slalom

Stefan, our favourite stern but cheeky Belgian instructor takes centre stage again.

He takes us around the slalom circuit in a white 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 to showcase the handling prowess of the mid-engine convertible.

Each of us then had a go up and down the circuit twice. “Look where you want to go!” in his strong Dutch accent still linger in my head along with the amazing flat-six that was singing right behind my ears. It was an exhilarating experience on the slalom and the perfect weight distribution of the Boxster was rather forgiving for rookies like myself.

Segment 5: Road Test

The last and final segment was a road test of a few models in the Porsche line-up. Now, this segment was to let participants experience the cars on normal roads which led us driving along Changi Coastal Road with a car-change near Changi Prison.

I was a passenger in the Cayenne which was an excellent car to lounge in after a long day on the track.

The return journey saw me as a driver in the Taycan 4S. A great way to mark the end of PWRS 2023 in an EV that is the future of motoring moving forward.

Kudos to Porsche for organising PWRS and making it a truly memorable experience. It is an event that every petrolhead should attend if they have a chance. Immense joy and exhilaration could be seen on everyone’s faces throughout the day, even under the extreme Singapore weather. We definitely left the event happy, but perhaps not so for the tyres on the cars, which explained the tall stacks of replacement tyres within the exhibition centre.

Dreams in Motion!

Photos by New Gen Marketing

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