Porsche’s flagship performance moniker serendipitously shares an anniversary with one of the world’s best roads.
One of the challenges of being an automotive enthusiast is responsibly obtaining a truly engaging driving experience on the road. For many, daily commutes consist of long stretches of highways and city blocks, which themselves are all too often packed with mind-numbing traffic. However, there are some truly incredible driving roads in the world, places where dramatic elevation changes and tight corners make for a challenging winding road and an unforgettable driving experience behind the wheel of your favorite driver’s car, without even having to drive at speed.
Often regarded as the greatest of these roads in the world is the Transfăgărășan Highway. Nestled in Romania’s Carpathian Mountains, the legendary road is just under 57 miles long, connecting Transylvania and Muntenia for the military. Carved in the mountains, its four years of construction used over 6,000 tons of dynamite. While it obviously wasn’t purpose-built for the pleasure of automotive enthusiasts, its contours, which exist out of necessity for cars to scale the steep mountain, create what is virtually the perfect road for a spirited drive.
The now-legendary road first opened in 1974 and turns 50 years old this year. Serendipitously, the Porsche 911 Turbo, and Porsche’s longstanding Turbo legacy, was also introduced first in 1974 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary. With the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest driving cars and one of the greatest driving roads in the world coinciding, Porsche put together a celebration of both during one of the best times in the year to drive on the Transfăgărășan Highway.
The nearly 200-mile drive’s participants included cars from Porsche’s contemporary Turbo lineup, like the Panamera Turbo E-Hybrid, the Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid with GT Package, and the 992-generation 911 Turbo S, and the Porsche Museum also brought classic Turbo examples along for the fun. For 10 days, Hotel Castlenor became the “House of Turbo,” featuring a display of the 991 Porsche 911 Turbo S Exclusive Series and other Porsche Museum exhibits. Combining the drive of a lifetime with one of the greatest legacies of driver’s cars ever, both celebrating their 50th anniversary is an event where the stars of the automotive world align.
Image Source: Porsche