It was 2019 when Porsche announced the birth of the Porsche Experience Center Franciacorta, underlining the importance of Italy within the Porsche world. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the times were respected and on an iconic date for the brand (11 September: 9 as September and 11, or 911) the eighth and largest Porsche Experience Center ever built was inaugurated by Porsche Italia . Born thanks to an investment of over 28 million euros, the Pec di Franciacorta presents a series of spaces capable of involving all types of public, from customers to enthusiasts and from companies to families. In fact, the structure offers a long list of activities, which we had the opportunity to preview, starting with the possibility of driving the entire Porsche range on the track to challenging friends at the wheel of fast electric karts. The Pec Franciacorta will be the location of the Porsche Festival 2021, scheduled for 2 and 3 October.
The inauguration
The inauguration ceremony took place on 11 September – a symbolic day for Porsche and for all fans of the brand in the presence, among others, of Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Porsche Ag, Detlev von Platen, Member of the Porsche Ag Sales and Marketing Board of Directors and Mark Webber, Porsche Brand Ambassador and former Formula 1 driver. “We are really proud to have a Porsche Experience Center in our country – says Pietro Innocenti, CEO of Porsche Italy. “In Italy there are already many circuits but the Pec Franciacorta is a radically different structure because it is designed to best express the values of our brand and offer a unique and engaging experience”. In response to a direct question from Sole 24 Ore, Innocenti underlined the importance of the project both for fans but above all for the territory: “we expect over 20,000 visitors a year, who will be able to live a unique experience within the Pec and also the opportunity to discover the territory of Franciacorta ”.
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Pec Franciacorta, how it is made
The plant is divided into two main areas: Customer Center and Paddock. The first is the gateway to all experiences aimed at customers and enthusiasts. The Customer Center measures 5,600 square meters and consists of a central agora from which various services are accessed: briefing rooms for theoretical sessions, a showroom for the configuration of the cars where it is possible to request the delivery of one’s Porsche ordered at the dealership, a panoramic restaurant overhanging the racetrack, a shop, a children’s area, a bar and a large panoramic terrace, suitable for enjoying the spectacle of the circuit thanks to a privileged view of the entire complex. There is also a Business Center with a capacity of up to 140 seats and a room for business meetings, both bookable on request, to meet the needs of companies wishing to organize their events at Pec Franciacorta. The Paddock, including 29 boxes, is the area dedicated to hosting major motoring events, starting with the Porsche Carrera Cup Italia one-make championship. The offer is also expanded with two other proposals, designed for those who want to experiment with alternative driving modes: a Simulation Lab dedicated to virtual reality and Esports, with eight latest generation simulators, and an electric Go-Kart track with 3 maps. of power, the only one of the eight Porsche Experience Centers in the world.
The circuit and the off road area
The heart of the plant, the circuit, includes three different operating areas. The track, a very technical 2.5 km track with FIA type 2 homologation, unfolds in a succession of curves of various radii and chicanes, perfect for fine-tuning the driving technique. The safe driving area includes a low-grip track where you can experiment with skids, oversteer and pendulums, an irrigable ring in polished concrete, perfect for refining the overhead and understeer control technique, and a large section where you can test the efficiency of the braking systems and the stability of the car in emergency maneuvers. There is also an Off Road route with ramps, twists and dirt roads, able to highlight the off-road performance of the Cayenne and Macan SUVs. The new Porsche Italia Training Center, dedicated to training the dealer network, will also be completed by the end of the year. In this structure there is a large window to allow the most curious visitors to attend the training sessions by observing the technicians at work from a privileged position.
Porsche Experience Center Franciacorta, where it is located
The plant is located in Castrezzato in the province of Brescia, in one of the most fascinating regions of northern Italy, both for its position, a stone’s throw from the shores of Lake Iseo and central to the three airports of Milan, Bergamo and Verona, both for the morphological characteristics, hills cultivated with precious vines that make wine production and the Franciacorta brand an excellence appreciated all over the world.