"Genius on wheels" - under this title, the Porsche Museum is dedicating an exhibition to rally legend Walter Röhrl in Zuffenhausen to mark his 70th birthday.
From March 14 to May 14, 2017, the museum is showing numerous vehicles with which the two-time world rally champion established and consolidated his reputation as the most versatile and world's best racing driver of his time. The focus is on his long-standing collaboration with Porsche.
Röhrl has been active as a brand ambassador and test driver for the Stuttgart-based sports car manufacturer since 1993. A bend in the Porsche proving ground on the Weissach Development Center site will bear his name in future. To kick off the special exhibition, Röhrl and his long-time co-driver Christian Geistdörfer will be giving an autograph session on March 14 from 11 am.
A friend of the Porsche brand
Walter Röhrl, born in Regensburg on March 7, 1947, was closely associated with his favorite brand, Porsche, throughout his life. His first car was a Porsche 356 B Coupé with 75 hp. He bought the car without the engine and saved the purchase price from his mouth. Even as a works driver for Ford, Opel, Fiat, Lancia and Audi, Röhrl cultivated his relationship with Porsche, including rallying in a private 911.
Porsche signed the then two-time world champion as a works driver in 1981. Röhrl initially competed in the German Rally Championship in a Porsche 911 SC at the World Rally Championship round in San Remo.
Successes in various disciplines
Walter Röhrl is one of the few drivers in motorsport history to win world championship races in both rallying and racing. He has also won in every class and series - whether TransAm, IMSA, hill climb (Pikes Peak) or in the German Touring Car Championship.
With his driving talent and ability to explain driving behavior precisely and simply, Walter Röhrl continues to influence the set-up and technology of Porsche road sports cars to this day. Röhrl embodies the Porsche philosophy of Intelligent Performance like no other.
The developments of the Porsche 959, Porsche Carrera GT and Porsche 918 Spyder super sports cars also bear his signature.
An Audi in the Porsche Museum too!
The special exhibition at the Porsche Museum features a 365 B Coupé, the 924 Carrera GTS Rallye, the 911 SC San Remo and the 924 GTP Le Mans from 1981, as well as a 911 Carrera 2 Cup and the legendary Carrera GT. Röhrl's rally career is demonstrated by a car on loan from the Audi Museum: for Röhrl, the Audi S1 Group B was the "most brutal machine of my rally career".
The special exhibition in honor of Walter Röhrl can be visited until May 14, 2017. Further information can be found on the Porsche Museum website.
