Having had a passion for technology and innovation from childhood, Ferdinand Porsche developed the world’s first all-wheel-drive race car when he was 24. In 1931 he founded his own design and engineering studio, where the concept of achieving maximum output with a minimum of resources became so closely associated with him that it became known as the Porsche Principle. This simple ideology has remained both a guiding standard of the company and the aspiration of its racing department from the onset.

Within weeks of its debut in 1948, the very first Porsche (356-001) achieved a class victory at the first race to be held in Austria after World War II. Since that time, the Porsche name has been a fixture in racing circles, and the firm now has over 30,000 races and championships to its credit, including an unequaled 19 overall victories at the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race. Crucially, the knowledge gained by pushing cars to and beyond their limits on the track has had a profound influence in the development of Porsche products throughout its history, leading to innovations in turbocharging, aerodynamics, power delivery, braking, and numerous other aspects of vehicle design. In 1971 Porsche affirmed its commitment to innovation by constructing the Weissach Development Center, an innovative engineering facility and test track. The Center enables Porsche to develop both its race and road cars from concept to completion in one central location. It has expanded steadily over the years and now includes a design studio, wind tunnel, and electronics integration center.