992 Register South Wales Weekend - July 2026

Members travelled from every corner of the country—Lancashire, Cheshire, Surrey, Sussex, the Thames Valley, the Cotswolds, the Midlands and, of course, a handful of local Welsh members—to enjoy a weekend that combined superb driving roads, spectacular scenery, excellent food, beautiful weather and, perhaps most importantly, great company.

Many arrived at the magnificent Celtic Manor Resort on Friday afternoon, where the anticipation for the weekend was almost as palpable as the gleaming collection of 992s occupying the car park. Friday evening was deliberately relaxed, with ten members enjoying dinner at Rafters Restaurant. The resort shuttle made the short trip effortless, allowing everyone to settle into the weekend and renew acquaintances over good food and plenty of Porsche conversation. Unsurprisingly, discussions ranged from favourite driving routes and tyre choices to that age-old debate: “Which colour looks best on a 992?” As always, there was no definitive answer.

Saturday dawned under another cloudless sky following an exceptionally warm week. South Wales looked magnificent, and the weather gods clearly have excellent taste in sports cars.

The morning rendezvous was at the impressive new Porsche Centre Newport, now operating as Porsche’s innovative Destination Centre concept. Covering more than 7,000 square metres, the facility provided the perfect backdrop for the start of the day’s adventure. Members enjoyed coffee while exploring one of the most impressive Porsche showrooms in the UK. Unsurprisingly, the latest generation 911s attracted plenty of attention, with more than one owner heard muttering, “I’m only looking…”—words familiar to anyone who’s ever wandered into a Porsche showroom.

With everyone assembled, engines fired into life and 27 beautifully presented Porsches departed in convoy. Even before reaching the more interesting roads, the sight of so many 992s travelling together attracted admiring glances from passing motorists.

The route began sensibly enough along the A48 before joining the M4 westbound. This efficient opening section quickly gave way to increasingly engaging roads as the convoy exited at Junction 34 and headed north through Llantrisant and Tonypandy. The scenery steadily transformed from urban landscapes into the rolling hills of the Welsh Valleys, while the roads became progressively more entertaining.

From Tonypandy the drive really came alive. The A4058 and B4223 led the group towards one of Wales’ finest driving roads—the legendary A4061 over the Rhigos Mountain Road.

If Porsche engineers ever needed a road to demonstrate the balance and precision of the 992 chassis, this would surely be it. Fast flowing bends, dramatic climbs, perfectly cambered corners and breathtaking panoramic views unfolded around every turn. The convoy climbed effortlessly towards Rhigos Viewpoint, where everyone stopped to absorb the scenery stretching across the Brecon Beacons and the South Wales Valleys. Cameras appeared almost as quickly as the cars had parked, with members capturing photographs that scarcely did justice to the remarkable landscape.

The drive continued through quieter roads via the A4109, A4221 and A4067, showcasing the tranquil beauty of rural mid-Wales. The second planned stop at the Cray Reservoir proved equally successful. Fortune smiled upon the group as the exceptionally long lay-by was completely empty on arrival, allowing all 27 cars to line up together in an impressive display. It was one of those moments that simply couldn’t have been choreographed better.

The inevitable conversations followed. Bonnets remained firmly closed—these are Porsches after all—but comparisons were made, routes discussed, photographs exchanged and plenty of appreciative comments offered by passing motorists wondering what special event had arrived beside the reservoir.

Running just fifteen minutes behind schedule—something of a triumph considering the size of the convoy—the group reached the elegant Llangoed Hall Hotel near Brecon. Once again, the cars created quite a spectacle, neatly arranged around the circular entrance in front of the beautiful country house.

Lunch was served exclusively for the Register in the hotel’s delightful Garden Room. A superb buffet offered lemon and dill salmon with Béarnaise sauce, Welsh cheddar and leek tart, vegan alternatives, minted new potatoes and Italian pasta salad. It proved to be exactly the right balance of quality and simplicity after a rewarding morning’s drive.

The glorious sunshine encouraged many members to wander through Llangoed Hall’s immaculate gardens before setting off once more. It also provided an opportunity to stretch legs that had become rather accustomed to supportive Porsche sports seats.

The afternoon route offered a contrasting but equally enjoyable driving experience. Leaving Llangoed Hall, the convoy joined the wonderfully flowing A479 before connecting with the A40 towards Abergavenny. Near Crickhowell the roads became narrower and more intimate as the route crossed the River Usk before joining the delightful A4077 through the picturesque Usk Valley.

This stretch quickly became another favourite of the day. Twisting alongside the valley, the road rewarded smooth driving and showcased the 992’s remarkable combination of composure, agility and grand touring comfort. Every bend seemed to lead naturally into the next, making the miles disappear all too quickly.

The final stages via the A465, A40 and A449 allowed the cars to stretch their legs on faster roads before returning through Caerleon to the Celtic Manor Resort. The 48-mile afternoon drive perfectly complemented the morning’s adventure, combining technical sections with effortless high-speed cruising that demonstrated exactly why the 992 is regarded as one of the world’s finest all-round sports cars.

Back at Celtic Manor, members gathered once more in Merlin’s Bar for a well-earned coffee—or something slightly stronger for those no longer driving. The conversation flowed just as freely as it had throughout the day, with everyone reflecting on memorable roads, favourite viewpoints and the simple pleasure of sharing the experience with fellow enthusiasts.

Twenty-seven members remained at Celtic Manor for Saturday evening. After freshening up, the group reconvened in the hotel lobby before taking the shuttle to The Grill Restaurant for the pre-arranged dinner. What initially seemed an unusually early dining time turned out to be inspired planning, albeit entirely accidental. The meal concluded perfectly in time for everyone to return to Merlin’s Bar and watch England’s World Cup Quarter Final against Norway together. England’s entertaining 2–1 victory provided the perfect finale to an already outstanding day, with football supporters and non-supporters alike caught up in the atmosphere.

Sunday morning brought one final breakfast, a few last photographs, plenty of farewells and the inevitable promise of “We’ll see you at the next Register event.” One by one, the Porsches departed for journeys home across Britain, leaving behind only tyre tracks, happy memories and phones full of photographs.

The South Wales weekend demonstrated everything that makes Porsche Club GB Register events so successful. Yes, the roads were exceptional. The scenery was breathtaking. The venues were first class, and the weather could hardly have been better.

But ultimately, weekends like this are about people. They are about friendships old and new, conversations that continue from one event to the next, shared enthusiasm for remarkable cars, and the simple pleasure of enjoying them exactly as they were designed to be enjoyed—driven.

South Wales delivered all of that in abundance. It was a weekend of outstanding roads, spectacular scenery, excellent hospitality and wonderful camaraderie. Judging by the smiles throughout the weekend—and the reluctance to head home on Sunday morning—it’s safe to say this one will remain firmly in the memory until the next adventure calls.


David Wood - 992 Register Secretary

All images will be uploaded to the Register Gallery - Link HERE