Atlanta’s Porsche Experience Center Draws Global Enthusiasts to America’s Premier Sports Car Destination
When it comes to chasers of adrenaline, some have discovered that one of the best ways to get the drug of choice is not by bike or kayak or board, but by high-performance automotive driving. I’ve known a few of this ilk over the years. And on any given day at the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta, Georgia, the parking lot is full of license plates from across North America and beyond, luring enthusiasts who have traveled hundreds or thousands of miles for the opportunity to drive some of the world’s most celebrated sports cars, on one of America’s most sophisticated private circuits. Porsche lovers in particular flock to the place like it’s Shangri La. And I welcomed the chance to experience the thrill of driving race-ready Porsches while doing a stint at an artist’s fellowship in Atlanta this spring.
Since opening in 2015, the PEC facility has evolved into something unprecedented, that I know of, in the automotive world—a destination where everyday drivers can experience the precision engineering that has defined Porsche for more than seven decades, on legendary twists and turns borrowed from the world’s greatest race tracks.
The Atlanta facility is part of a global network that now includes ten Porsche Experience Centers worldwide, with locations spanning Leipzig and Hockenheim in Germany, Silverstone in England, Le Mans in France, Shanghai in China, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Franciacorta in Italy. Each facility offers unique elements while maintaining what Porsche calls “Intelligent Performance.” The brand’s culture has been shaped significantly by American racing and motorsports heritage and lifestyle, which influences how these centers operate.
The Atlanta location’s distinction lies in its combination of technical sophistication and accessibility. Unlike traditional racing schools that focus primarily on competitive driving, the Porsche Experience Center serves as both education and inspiration, welcoming everyone from curious automotive enthusiasts to seasoned track veterans. With 200 Porsche centers and studios across the US, and as the official car of Laguna Seca with the most wins in sportscar racing, the brand has deep roots in American motorsports.
The facility has also gained recognition beyond automotive circles, serving as a filming location and architectural landmark. Its combination of cutting-edge design, premium dining at Restaurant 356 (with German food on site), and proximity to Atlanta’s airport has established it as a destination that transcends traditional automotive boundaries.
Tour of Racing History in One Lap
The West Track’s 1.3-mile circuit, built in 2023, is essentially a carefully curated journey through motorsport history. Designed by Hermann Tilke, whose firm has shaped Formula One’s most challenging modern circuits, the track condenses the essence of legendary racing venues into something you can drive without needing a racing license or decades of experience.
Michelle Rainey, Director of Porsche Experience Centers, developed the business case for the facility from the beginning. The goal was to showcase the vehicles and their design through a driver development course, inspired by favorite race tracks from around the globe, recreating the turns and features and integrating them into the circuit. If you’re not already a fan of auto racing when you get there, you will definitely leave as one.
The centerpiece is what they call a faithful recreation of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife’s famous Carousel, the banked turn that has challenged drivers since 1927. Here, you experience the unique sensation of banking that loads a vehicle’s suspension in ways impossible on public roads, teaching lessons about weight transfer and commitment that drivers have learned for nearly a century. It’s a strange feeling the first time, like physics is working differently than it should, combined with the shocking reality of how high tech these cars really are.
The track flows into elements borrowed from Daytona International Speedway’s Bus Stop chicane, where rapid direction changes and precise braking points demand line discipline that separates amateurs from professionals. From there, you encounter Laguna Seca’s legendary Corkscrew—a blind, plunging sequence that drops 25 feet while climbing 30 feet, creating what some describe as automotive free fall. It’s as disorienting as it sounds.
“These aren’t simplified versions,” explains Rainey, Director of Porsche Experience Centers, who has overseen the facility’s evolution since it opened. “Tilke’s team studied the originals to understand what makes these corners legendary. The result teaches the same lessons about commitment, precision, and vehicle dynamics that have challenged the greatest drivers in motorsport history.”
A Global Draw
The facility attracts people from all over the world, as well as from all of the region. The goal is to be an inclusive brand, which is a huge part of opening these experience locations, according to Rainey. The combination of professional instruction, world-class facilities, and access to Porsche’s full model range creates something pretty unique in the automotive landscape. The facility now employs 400 people and has become more accessible than traditional racing instruction.
With the new center in Toronto (making it the 10th worldwide), Singapore planned for 2027, and existing facilities across Europe and Asia, Porsche has created a global network that attracts serious enthusiasts who view these experiences as essential education.
The Atlanta facility’s location near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—the world’s largest airport—makes this international draw work logistically. Porsche moved their North American operations from Reno to Atlanta in 1997 specifically to attract top employees, take advantage of direct flights from Europe, and position themselves alongside other iconic Atlanta brands like Delta and Coke. You can combine business travel or vacation plans with world-class driving.
Behind the Wheel
I got to drive the new 992.2 GTS 911. My instructor guided me from the passenger seat as I navigated Tilke’s corners, each one teaching lessons about commitment and physics that you simply can’t learn on open roads. The Porsche 992.2 GTS marks a pivotal moment in automotive history as the first hybrid-powered 911, blending cutting-edge electrification with the legendary rear-engine DNA that has defined the 911 for six decades. At its core lies a 3.6-liter flat-six engine paired with an electric turbocharger that spools to 120,000 rpm, eliminating lag while channeling exhaust energy into a compact 400-volt battery system that acts more like racing capacitors than traditional hybrid storage. This motorsport-derived T-Hybrid technology catapults the GTS from 0-62 mph in just 2.9 seconds, with 541 horsepower on tap, yet remarkably adds only 50 kilograms to the chassis while improving fuel efficiency. This feat of engineering preserves the pure 911 driving experience while meeting emissions regulations. The result is a machine that laps the Nürburgring 8.7 seconds faster than its predecessor, proving that electrification can enhance rather than dilute the essence of Stuttgart’s most sacred sports car. The hybrid system adds an electric boost that’s both seamless and startling.
The track’s 24-foot width—narrower than a traditional race track—forces precision. To achieve the highest speeds, each turn demands line discipline that separates confident drivers from hesitant ones, but with professional instruction and runoff areas that let you explore the limits without consequence. This is definitely the most fun I’ve had sitting down in a while. And like any good drug, it left me wanting more.
The track’s specialized modules serve distinct educational purposes. The Low-Friction Circle, measuring over 196 feet in diameter, uses controlled water application and varying surface treatments to teach vehicle dynamics in conditions that would be dangerous on public roads. The Ice Hill, with its 8 percent gradient, computer-controlled water jets, and striated concrete that replicates slick surfaces, provides controlled introduction to situations where physics works against driver input.
What sets the Porsche Experience Center apart from other driving instruction is its approach to high-performance driving education and the experience itself. Every session begins with a classroom briefing from certified instructors, many of whom bring professional racing backgrounds to their teaching. For more intensive training, there’s Porsche’s traditional race track in Birmingham, Alabama, about two hours away.
A Decade of Transformation
Built on the site of Ford Motor Company’s former Atlanta Assembly Plant, which closed in 2006, the Porsche facility has created nearly 800 jobs and attracted over $128 million in investment to an area that had previously struggled. The facility’s 10th anniversary celebration on June 7 this year marked more than just corporate success, but a testament to passion and legacy in motorsports. The West Track expansion represented a $50 million investment in the facility’s future. Combined with sustainable innovations including a solar microgrid that helps power the campus, the expansion demonstrates how high-performance can work alongside environmental responsibility. The Atlanta campus expansion goes beyond driving experiences to encompass automotive preservation and restoration. In January 2023, Porsche opened a dedicated 30,000-square-foot Classic Factory Restoration facility as part of the campus expansion.
The new facility increases restoration capacity from three to 14 dedicated service bays, adding a paint booth, upholstery shop, and body shop that allows full restorations in-house. Previously, certain restoration work required shipping to Porsche’s facility outside Stuttgart, which meant more time and cost for customers. The facility serves what Porsche calls the largest classic Porsche market in the world, with more than 315,000 classic units currently in operation across the 18 models for which Porsche Classic holds responsibility. The restoration center also houses the world’s first classic fitting lounge, offering extensive paint, fabric, and interior finish samples for custom Sonderwunsch (special wishes) projects.
As the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta enters its second decade, it continues to evolve. The recent addition of “The Why?” exhibit in the Heritage Gallery showcases rare and historically significant Porsche vehicles, adding cultural and historical context to the driving experience.
The center’s success helped establish a new model for automotive brand engagement—one that prioritizes experience over traditional sales. For visitors, whether local enthusiasts or international travelers, the facility offers something increasingly rare: the opportunity to experience automotive excellence in its purest form, guided by professionals who understand that the best way to appreciate engineering is from behind the wheel.
For adrenaline junkies, the appeal of technical challenge, skill development, and the pursuit of perfect execution, the Porsche Experience Center Atlanta offers a unique perspective on these familiar themes. Whether your preferred terrain involves snow, rock, water, or asphalt, the fundamental appeal remains constant: the satisfaction of mastering demanding conditions with precision, skill, and respect for technology and environment.
Getting There
For Colorado-based enthusiasts, accessing the PEC is easy. Multiple airlines offer direct flights from Denver to Atlanta (Delta leading with 59 weekly nonstop flights, followed by United’s 26 weekly, Southwest, and Frontier) in less than three hours on average and competitive pricing. The proximity of the Porsche Experience Center to the airport—just minutes from the terminal—makes it possible to fly in, experience world-class automotive performance, and return home the same day, though most visitors prefer to extend their stay to explore Atlanta’s other attractions. They can even pick you up at the airport for your experience in a Porsche.
For more information, visit porschedriving.com. Images courtesy of PEC, the author, and Willis @ TrapLanta.
—Definitely Wild is a column by EO Contributing Editor Aaron Bible. He has been writing for Elevation Outdoors and Blue Ridge Outdoors, among other outdoor publications, for more than two decades, covering cycling, skiing, gear, adventure travel and mountain life. The opinions expressed here are his own. Follow him on Instagram at @DefinitelyWild.
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