Meet the Porsche Club exploiting its exceptional surroundings
Words: Julian Milnes
Photos: Porsche Club UAE
Dubai city was recently ranked 16 in a list of the most important cities in the world for the ultra-wealthy. Combine this with a good exchange rate, low taxes, low import duties and a climate that, for half the year at least, is near perfect, and you have a recipe for serious high-end car culture. While Porsche Club United Arab Emirates may be somewhat smaller than our own, it’s obvious from the outset that the bar here is set high.
My Club UAE guides, Martin Baerschmidt and his wife Sarah, meet me at the Porsche Centre Dubai. Martin has turned up in his 991 GT3 RS, while Sarah arrives fashionably late in their 996 GT3 – her preferred track car.
Australian-born Martin, Porsche Club UAE’s Motorsport Director, has been a member since the Club was formed in 2004. He recalls its origins: “The first meeting was at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, where we would get together with Porsche Middle East. Back then, UAE sales were modest compared with the four-figure total achieved by this dealership in the same period recently, and you can see the explosion in interest as the country grew in population and infrastructure.”
That casual get-together at the Ritz-Carlton progressed to the Club’s first event: a trackday run alongside the opening of the Dubai Autodrome race circuit in 2004. And as the number of race tracks began to increase, so did the number of Club events.
Martin explains: “We’ve now run 63 track events, real track events, alongside the
Porsche Precision driving events that we also offer. These bring together a great range of drivers, from novices and first-timers, led by a lead car, on to intermediates and masters categories. With the latter, most drivers have international race licences.”
Unlike PCGB, nobody on the Porsche Club UAE team is paid. “This obviously comes
down to numbers,” says Martin. “However, everyone’s enthusiasm for the marque, as
well as the opportunities to drive, delivers its own rewards.”
Martin says that a key factor in the success of the Club is the availability of high-grade tracks in the Middle East region. There’s Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina, along with superb circuits in Bahrain, Qatar and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.
“There has been a 10- to 15-year gestation period that’s seen motorsport really take off in the region. We’re now seeing motorsport teams formed that have evolved from people taking part in trackdays. You’ve also got the Carrera Cup Middle East event,” says Martin.
There’s also a close connection with the Porsche Centre Dubai, which along with Pirelli tyres, are major sponsors of the Club. The Centre has previously arranged Carrera Cup weekends with free tickets for members and offers technical servicing facilities at Club track events. Pirelli also chips in, providing tyre checks before members hit the tracks.
As an international city, Dubai is not a permanent residence for some members. Many come over from Muscat in Oman – a four-hour drive away – while others fly in from Qatar, Saudi and Bahrain for Club events, keeping their cars stored in the city. “They may be here on business, so if there’s an event they’ll extend their visit,” says Martin.
There are usually 100 cars on these events, together with 250 to 300 people. The Club arranges day trips to Hatta in the Fujairah mountains, which is around a 90-minute drive outside the city. “We also do a weekend away to Musandam, crossing over the border into Oman. We stay in a hotel for the night, do a cruise out with the dolphins and have a barbecue in the evening. It’s a great social event,” says Martin.
Club members have also been much further afield. Four years ago, a party of 30 went on the Alpine Tour, travelling from Munich through the Stelvio Pass and the Dolomites. “It was a fabulously organised event, arranged via Porsche themselves,” says Martin. “People were paired up in 15 brand new Porsches that were delivered straight from the factory. It was amazing!”
The sense of community that Porsche Club UAE radiates is exemplified by Sarah, a member since the early days. “I’ve been following along with Martin’s passion from the very start and I enjoy it immensely,” she says. “The Club is a family, full of like-minded, passionate people who share the same values. They’re a really lovely, genuine bunch, and I love driving the cars!” So much so that Sarah has FIA instructor status, occasionally acting as the lead car on trackdays. “My favourite is the 996 GT3. It’s old-school and raw.”
Porsche Club GB members visiting Dubai are welcome to get involved. “We have no problem with like-minded Club members from elsewhere getting in touch – it’s as easy as you connecting with me,” says Martin. “We’ll send an email round the Club and see who’s available – our events are open to anyone who wants to come along. If an event starts at 7pm, we could see if visitors want to come at 6pm for an introduction.” There’s also the option, depending on timings, to be taken out on the track, or even on a road trip. “At the end of the day, we’re all part of the Porsche family.”