Porsche-lover Melissa Randhawa ends all her cellphone numbers with 935. It’s her quirk for the iconic Porsche 935 turbo race car that won the 1976 FiA World Championships and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1976. Her father, part of the Porsche community and an FiA enthusiast, was thrilled to discover that his daughter shares her birthday on June 20 with the FiA (Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile) and he chose her initials MAR to match the first three letters of Martini Racing. Eccentricities like these are the name of the game across the racing world. Here’s the latest on Dubai’s epic Porsche community, arguably one of the most longstanding and popular base of fans and customers across the region.
Porsche Mania
The biggest Porsche gathering that the region has ever seen took place at Dubai Design District, and serves as a precursor to forthcoming events. “With so many customers and fans across the region, there is no other car brand that is more suited to put up such an event”, stated Markus Peter, Marketing Director at Porsche Middle East and Africa.
The free-to-attend event brings sheer optimism to the community and to many more who are in reverence of German-made automobiles. Dr Manfred Bräunl, Chief Executive Officer of Porsche Middle East and Africa FZE commented, “Since 1948, we are not just building luxurious sports cars, we are fulfilling dreams.”
“If you love Porsche, then you’ve gotta be here, announced FiA Certified Race Car Driver and Drifter, Ghaith Al Falasi. As a prominent public figure of the global motoring world, Ghaith was awarded a prestigious invite by ‘Icons of Porsche’. Known for his engaging broadcasts of events, Ghaith added a series of informative videos in English and in Arabic that were uploaded onto Instagram. “You will never see this much Porsche in your life, I think”, stated the awestruck Porsche lover from the UAE. That insightful comment also gave viewers a hopeful indication to expect more dazzling events.
The Porsche 935/78 ‘Moby Dick’, Porsche 917 KH, and the Porsche 919 Street Concept car made a rare appearance at ‘Icons of Porsche’, a new festival-style event that celebrates classic cars, art and culture. Car enthusiast Daniel Price, “It’s great that an iconic brand is trying to step up and create an event for the community. I’d say the whole Porsche event is a very interesting way for a brand to go. It’s creating a community.”
The mega display of rare and classic Porsches celebrates more than 70 years of sports car manufacturing over a two-day festival. “The Porsche event”, added Dan, “is a stand out for the region as this is the first time a brand has tried to do something of this scale. They’ve shipped over many heritage cars from their museum in Stuttgart, Germany. All have been on display at DRVN in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.”
DRVN
A new Dubai café that housed $100 million worth of Porsches, is a pizzeria, restaurant and most notably, a car museum. The homegrown brand called DRVN is on Bluewaters Island and showcases fantastic machines from the “Icons of Porsche” line. Each car is stationed within a dedicated transparent containment, making them super visible to guests and passers by. Moreover, the stylish two-storey café is situated right by Ain Dubai which is adjacent to Madame Tussauds. It’s collaboration with Porsche during the October 2021 launch presented three classics that have never been seen outside Porsche events, namely an original 1948 Porsche 356 “No 1” Roadster, a 1970 Porsche 911 S 2.2 Targa, and a 1978 Porsche 935/78 ‘Moby Dick’.
IMAGES COURTESY: GHAITH AL FALASI
IMAGES COURTESY: DRVN
The good Communities that gather to appreciate art, culture and automobiles
The bad Allowing just one day for car festivals; they’re rarely sufficient especially when a large number of units are on display. Also, hosting events at tedious locations.
The trendy Portraying cars as forms of art in order to preserve their heritage, craftsmanship, fellowship and memorable stories.
Melissa Singh Randhawa is a Dubai-based news editor who loves sailing, art, economics and astronomy. As Brand Ambassador for SheScapes Global and the Delhi Poetry Festival, her network portfolio is rich with diversity. She is a sustainability champ at heart, a spokesperson for the International Fashion Innovation Conclave and works with NGOs for the United Nations. Born and raised in Dubai, she enjoys research writing about the UAE and those who shape the nation (Khaleej Times —Business & Culture). With 27 years as a published journalist, her byline appears in the UK, HK, UAE, USA & the Far East media. New York Times —Dubai: Refined Desire.