Porsche celebrates motorsport icon Walter Röhrl’s 70th
‘Genius on wheels’ is the name of the exhibition at the Porsche Museum in Zuffenhausen that honours rally racing legend Walter Röhrl on his 70th birthday. From 14 March to 14 May 2017, the Museum will be displaying numerous vehicles driven by the World Rally Championship winner as he established and cemented his reputation as the best and most versatile racer of his time in the world. The exhibition focuses on his many years of collaboration with Porsche. Röhrl has been a brand ambassador and test driver for the Stuttgart sports car manufacturer since 1993. A bend on the Porsche test track at the Development Centre in Weissach will soon bear his name.
Born on March 7, 1947 in Regensburg, Röhrl has had a strong bond with his favourite brand, Porsche, his entire life. The first car he owned was a Porsche 356 B Coupé with 75bhp. He bought the car without an engine, saving every penny he could. Even as a factory driver with Ford, Opel, Fiat, Lancia and Audi, Röhrl cultivated his relationship with Porsche, including through rally drives with his own 911. Porsche secured the services of Röhrl – already a two-time World Endurance Championship winner – as a factory driver in 1981. Röhrl initially started in the German Rally Championship and drove a 911 at the Rallye San Remo in the World Rally Championship.