“I always find it exciting to experience new things without knowing what to expect,” said the Stuttgart resident in a video that is available in the Porsche Press Database and in the Newsroom. “It’s not something I have in tennis. I always know what to expect and can prepare for it. All the more reason to look forward to the day at the Porsche Experience Center. It was a great experience.”
Analogue to the “Pilot Program” for every Porsche fan, Laura Siegemund’s day began in the heart of the legendary Hockenheimring with a briefing conducted by a professional instructress. She communicated the most important essentials that have to similarly observed both on the roads and the race track: How do I control the speed? When do I brake for optimal cornering? When do I accelerate again?
The program shows all the participants how they can get the most out of their Porsches to be rewarded with no-holds-barred driving pleasure. After the theoretical first serve, Laura Siegemund was able to get behind the wheel of a 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet herself and explore the highly demanding 2.8-kilometre handling track – always in the slipstream of the instructress showing her the racing line.
Laura Siegemund and the 911 Carrera 4S Cabriolet
“The straight-line power is something I know about from my 911. It wasn’t as if I was that surprised,” says Laura Siegemund, who plays the final of the German Ladies’ Series presented by Porsche this week in Versmold. “But what was new was the handling around corners. I was completely gobsmacked at how quickly you can take bends in the car and how safe and cool it sits on the road.”
After the special warm-up, the tennis star climbed into the new Taycan Turbo S, the first fully-electric sports car heralding the start of new era with its powerful system performance and its range.
Laura Siegemund and the Taycan Turbo S
Next up on the program after completing a few laps behind the instructress, was the day’s highlight – accelerating down the straights. The Taycan Turbo S takes just 2.8 seconds from 0 to 100 km/h (Taycan Turbo S: electricity consumption combined 28.5 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined 0 g/km (as of 08/2020)) and experiencing it behind the wheel releases emotions that even took a hard-nosed professional athlete like Laura Siegemund aback. “It’s awesome. You put the foot right down, don’t hear anything, and then suddenly the car takes off like a bat out of hell,” said the thrilled tennis player afterwards. Still a little out of breath, she sweetly and simply sums up the intensive encounter with the electric athlete by saying: “That was mega.”
The Porsche Experience Center Hockenheimring wants to make the brand tangible for drivers and fans and accelerate emotions. The around 170,000 square metre premises at the heart of the race circuit houses a Customer Experience Centre, a handling course as well as an off-road track. Listening to Laura Siegemund’s enthusiastic comments it is clear she has taken away so much drive from her visit that she can quite likely profit from it at the final of the German Ladies’ Series presented by Porsche.
