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/2020

October

THE NEED FOR SPEED

Courtney Prince

Exciting New Porsche 911 Turbo S

Cabriolet & Coupe

06 The New 911 pg

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Porsche 911 Turbo S, Cabriolet & Coupe models â€“ LEARN this is Porsche O LEARN O LEARN at the top of itsTOgame. ET ET E RE MO

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Robert GATTEREDER CEO, PM Group

Porsche Centre Brighton

hope that this latest edition of Turbo magazine finds you and your family in good health. As you know, our daily lives and routines have changed significantly. As much of these are now conducted online, we have decided to release this edition as a digital-only version. Like all business, we have been adversely impacted by this situation. Very early in the pandemic, we implemented additional safety and contact tracing procedures. Our team is working in split shifts, now mostly remotely. As a Porsche Centre, we have been fortunate that our team has remained healthy during this time. While these processes have limited our ability to provide you with every element of the excellent service you are accustomed to, we appreciate your understanding and ongoing support during this time.

Robert GATTEREDER

855 Nepean Highway Brighton VIC 3186 P: 03 9536 1911 W: www.porschebrighton.com.au

We now welcome the next generation 911 Turbo and Turbo S models in this edition of our aptly named magazine. The original Porsche Turbo 3.0, known to insiders as ‘930’, was introduced to the public in October 1974 at the Paris Motor Show.

The meaning of the term ‘turbo’ has evolved in the Porsche world over the past 45 years, having now expanded to become the name applied to the ultimate performance models in the range. Over more than four decades, numerous innovative benchmarks have been set by our ‘turbo’ vehicles. In this edition, we focus not only on our amazing products, but also on the talent and effort of many people who make up our world at Porsche Centre Brighton. We cover new racetrack and e-series racing talent, speak with those who undertake incredible treks and champion organisations bringing dignity to some of our society’s most challenged, and profile those who combine their passion for people with a talent for musical expression. We all look forward to welcoming you back to Porsche Centre Brighton very soon. We salute the spirit of our team, our customers, and all things Porsche. Stay safe and healthy and look after your loved ones. Sportliche Gruesse Robert GATTEREDER

CONTENTS

06 Exciting new additions to the Porsche 911 range

Porsche 911 Turbo S, Cabriolet & Coupe – this is Porsche at the top of its game

10 A driven woman – Robbyn Macdonald

Porsche lover, hiker and community volunteer, Robbyn Macdonald is a multi-faceted woman of many interests and pursuits. She shares the unique story of what drives her.

14 Another boutique for Brighton

An extensive list of items is available from glassware to soundbars, from special Porsche books to backpacks, and even a range for the kids with plush toys and model cars.

15 Dynamic duo

Two new Cayenne models – the GTS and GTS Coupé – supplement the Porsche SUV lineup, offering performance integral to the GTS badge with a 4.0 litre V8 bi-turbo engine.

16 The need for speed

One of the only legal ways to feed the need is to go racing … which is exactly what a very young Courtney Prince did.

18 Exclusively yours

Owning a Porsche was not on Jim McCarthy’s radar … that is until he was asked to look after one for a month while his friend was away overseas. He fell in love.

20 A love of music and a passion for Customer Service

Tina is Porsche Centre Brighton’s Service Concierge, liaising with clients on vehicle servicing needs and welcoming customers to the recently expanded dealership.

22 Virtual racing

Porsche Cars Australia recognised the need to keep the drivers up to speed, in every sense of the word. With this in mind, the company created the Porsche PAYCE and MICHELIN Virtual Cup.

911TURBO New 911 Turbo S, Turbo Cabriolet, Turbo Coupe

New 911 Turbo S

hrilling acceleration combined with effortless torque grounded through all four wheels, the new Porsche 911 Turbo S is the quintessential sports car. Packed with everyday useability, brimming with luxury and individuality, and boasting a performance legacy stretching back 45 years.

Power to the wheels from the car’s six-cylinder boxer engine is via an eight-speed gearbox, pushed through symmetrical VTG turbochargers with electrically controlled bypass valves.

Porsche 911 Turbo S – this is Porsche at the top of its game.

Due to its redesigned charge air cooling system and piezo injectors, responsiveness, performance and torque are enhanced as is its ability to rev freely.

An increase in horsepower means these new Porsche 911s will dip under the magic three second 0–100km/h mark, surpassing the previous generation 911 Turbo S.

The slightly wider chassis enables even more precise steering, and the braking system’s increased power is designated by the Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) with Yellow calipers.

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High quality features include 18-way Adaptive sports seats Plus, LED matrix headlights, the Sport Chrono package, a GT sports steering wheel with shift paddles, multifunction and mode switches, and a powerful Bose Surround Sound system. RE MO

No one can mistake the design of a 911. This turbo version is even more muscular, with a widened stance and striking swage lines, featuring a large active front spoiler and larger variable rear spoiler.

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The innovation in a 911 Turbo S goes far beyond its appearance and mechanical superiority. The innovations extend to an interior O LEARN O LEARN O LEARN ET ET ET reminiscent of previous 911s, but with refinements such as the Porsche Advanced Cockpit and Direct Touch Controls. RE MO

Two chassis variants are new: the standard PASM chassis offers a greater spread between sportiness and comfort, while the significantly firmer and lower sports suspension enhances dynamics while providing enhanced high-speed stability – perfect for race circuit use.

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For the first time, options such as the sports chassis and sports exhaust system are available for the 911 Turbo S. As a result, customers will be able to adapt their vehicle even more to their individual tastes.

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Numerous options are available such as adaptive cruise control, Night Vision Assist and the Burmester High-End Surround Sound g System.

Porsche 911 Turbo S increased power, output, speed . Itâ€™s in our DNA

New 911 Turbo Cabriolet & Coupe Porsche’s seventh generation 911 Turbo range has added more strings to its bow by introducing the new 911 Turbo Coupe and Cabriolet. As with all iterations of the 911 range, these cars perfectly balance design, driving pleasure, dynamics and sporty performance.

Inside the standard equipment includes full leather with carbon trim and light silver accents. The 18-way Adaptive sports seats feature stitching that pays homage to the first 911 Turbo (type 930).

A new boxer engine with two VTG turbochargers is the beating heart of these cars, it delivers 51kW more power than before and is now mated to a Turbo specific eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung gearbox.

The centre screen of the PCM is now 10.9 inches and can be operated quickly without distraction. Other standard features are the GT sports steering wheel, Sport Chrono package with newly integrated Porsche Track Precision app and BOSE Surround Sound system.

This new engine features a completely new charge air cooling system, new larger turbochargers with electrically adjustable wastegate flaps and piezo injectors.

Additional Australian-specific standard equipment also includes ParkAssist with Surround View, Lane Change Assist (blind-spot monitoring), Comfort Access and digital radio.

The cars’ redesigned front sports wider air intakes and maintains that characteristic Turbo look now incorporating a pneumatically extendable front spoiler and larger rear wing. The look of the rear is completed with rectangular tailpipes in high gloss black.

Lightweight Design and Sports packages will become available in 2021, with the new 911 Turbo and Turbo S arriving shortly.

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A Driven Woman Robbyn Macdonald

Porsche lover, hiker and community volunteer, Robbyn Macdonald is a multi-faceted woman of many interests and pursuits. She shares the unique story of what drives her.

orsche lover, hiker and community volunteer, Robbyn Macdonald is a multi-faceted woman of many interests and pursuits. She shares the unique story of what drives her. Robbyn supports her husband Stuart and two sons Lachlan and Taylor in the family businesses. The first, SMAC Imports, centres on the importation of commercial furniture which is sold through dealers throughout Australia.”We have been very fortunate as a family to travel to many parts of the world sourcing product for sale in Australia. We’ve built up an extensive range from suppliers in Turkey, Italy, Portugal, China and Lithuania, which sell through our dealers,” she said. This enterprising couple’s other venture, Simply Wines, started importing Spanish wine over 10 years ago after several trips to Spain. What started as a fun hobby has now turned into even more fun, specialising in high-end boutique Australian producers.

The couple’s eldest son Lachlan is now the main driver of Simply Wines, which has steadily expanded. He runs an Instagram account @simply.wines, which has now amassed nearly 100K followers. “Lachlan’s great sense of humour has helped tap into a market where being wine-savvy and light-hearted are huge advantages,” says Robbyn. “Whenever we travel, we do have a lot of fun with the IG wine account – it’s amazing how many old cellar doors it opens when a video posted on the account can amass over 300,000 views, but the best part is the fun we have together and friendships gained from all over the world.” Robbyn is deeply involved with volunteer work, having worked in the past at Lifeline for 11 years as a crisis telephone counsellor, and in training and supporting new Lifeline trainees. For the last 11 years, she has worked extensively with St Kilda Gatehouse, a not-for-profit organisation providing safe spaces for women involved in street-based sex work

and young women and girls affected by sexual exploitation. Robbyn’s involvement really began when she lived in St Kilda many years ago, when she came to know some of the women on the street in passing. After returning to school as a mature-age student later in life, part of her Diploma included a threemonth Outreach program, for which she applied at the St Kilda Gatehouse. Eleven years later, Robbyn is still there. “St Kilda Gatehouse is an amazing place,” she says. “The Drop-in-Centre is a space of great love and support, warmth and humour, among the harsh reality of life on the street. It is an environment of nonjudgement and support for those tackling complex issues such as childhood trauma, addiction, homelessness, mental illness, poverty, domestic violence, abuse, and social isolation. St Kilda Gatehouse creates a space of belonging and connection, with respect and g unconditional acceptance.”

“We have been very fortunate as a family to travel to many parts of the world sourcing product for sale in Australia. We’ve built up an extensive range from suppliers in Turkey, Italy, Portugal, China and Lithuania which sell through our dealers.”

It’s a lean operation. ”St Kilda Gatehouse is run by a skeleton staff – there is some government funding, local and state, and the organisation also relies on grants and donations,” Robbyn says. “Securing sustainable funding is challenging, particularly since Covid-19. The drop-in centre has been running since 1992, and I feel extremely privileged to be accepted by the women in what is their home.” Robbyn was recently honoured to receive recognition for her charity work. “I was amazed and really chuffed to be nominated for a Pride of Australia Award, which was really very lovely,” she says. “It was great to have recognition of St Kilda Gatehouse, because I think the more St Kilda Gatehouse is talked about in the community, the more people will learn to understand the trauma and complexities women experience, which may help change the public’s general misconceptions and perceptions around street-based sex work.” Robbyn draws attention to one of St Kilda Gatehouse’s current fundraising projects. “There’s a fantastic backpack we supply to women who are sleeping rough, which becomes a waterproof swag shelter to sleep in,” she says. Another of Robbyn’s loves is hiking the Camino.... some might say she’s become a fanatic, having walked numerous Camino routes overseas. Robbyn has walked the Camino de Santiago trail four times, completing her first 900km route back in 2013.

Last year, Robbyn walked an impressive 2000km in Europe. This involved a 1600km hike from Le Puy-en-Velay in France and then continuing through to Santiago de Compostela in Spain, prior to her walking the 300km Coast to Coast Route in England. The walking focus stemmed from Robbyn’s charity work. “In 2013, I raised $17,000 for the St Kilda Gatehouse by walking the Camino,” she notes.”If someone had told me I would be back hiking the hills of Europe every year after that, I would never have believed it. All I can say is, it’s a life changing experience and whatever that Camino magic is, it keeps working away on you way after you finish walking it. I now hike overseas every year. To date, I’ve walked the Portuguese route from Lisbon (both coastal and internal), Del Norte right up along the North of Spain, Le Puy-en-Velay, and of course the one that over 300,000 people a year walk, Camino Frances. “I’ve managed to drag some family and friends along over the years but I highly recommend doing it solo,” Robbyn continues. “It’s an incredible experience of living in the moment, really discovering a country (as well as yourself), and making amazing friends from all over the world.” Robbyn and her husband proudly identify as die-hard Porsche fans. “I now drive a Macan GTS after owning a Cayenne for a number of years,” she says. “This runs in the family – shortly before I met my husband, he sold his Saab Turbo and bought a Porsche 928 – possibly the reason I married him, but we won’t tell him that. He was recently fortunate enough to do the Porsche Ice Experience in Lapland, which he recommends every Porsche fanatic should try and do once in their life. He has also recently been accepted to be part of the 2022 Peking to Paris Car Rally; unfortunately, his budget doesn’t run to a Porsche! “What’s not to like about a Porsche? They are amazing – cool, beautiful, and lovely to drive. They are a special car, and I always love slipping into mine and roadtripping … even if it’s just around the block for a coffee! “Apart from driving to the Surf Coast every weekend before the lockdown, we often took the Porsches to the Twelve Apostles,” Robbyn says. “We obviously enjoy taking them both out for spins, because there’s nothing like going around the Great Ocean Road in a Porsche – especially in his 997 Carrera!” As members of an active, community-conscious family who enjoys living life in the (very) fast lane, it’s no wonder Robbyn and her husband see their Porsches as a perfect reward for hard work. To learn more about the St Kilda Gatehouse or to donate to the Swag fundraising project, visit www.stkildagatehouse.org.au and follow the links.

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The St Kilda Gatehouse are currently raising funds to supply waterproof swags to those in need.

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orsche Centre Brighton has added a new boutique to the area’s wide array. While a little different, this new one is equally stylish – the Porsche Driver’s Selection. Despite the name, the new boutique is intended for more than simply Porsche drivers. It’s for anyone and everyone with a passion for the marque. Now at Porsche Centre Brighton, surrounded by the latest Porsches including the signature new Porsche 911 Turbo, lies an array of enticing items that will gain the attention of everyone in the family. Alongside the general apparel that covers you from head (caps) to toe (socks), there’s a range of special Porsche watches and accessories, all making ideal gifts. These include the Chronograph design watch, inspired by the new 911, with a Swiss RONDA movement flanked by 13 jewels; or the classic aviator-style sunglasses, finished in titanium. An extensive list of items is available from glassware to soundbars, from special Porsche books to backpacks, and even a range for the kids with plush toys and model cars (Porsche cars, of course, in pedal or electric). For older kids, there are models of contemporary race and road cars to enjoy. Porsche Centre Brighton is soon to open our online boutique where products can be ordered for delivery. ICK HER CL

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Another boutique for BRIGHTON

DYNAMIC DUO Two new Cayenne models – the GTS and GTS Coupé – supplement the Porsche SUV lineup, offering performance integral to the GTS badge with a 4.0 litre V8 bi-turbo engine.

oth models sprint from 0–100 km/h in 4.5 seconds with the Sport Chrono package, which is optional on Cayenne GTS but standard on Coupé. A lowered performance-oriented chassis, a unique design and enhanced equipment round off the new GTS packages.

High-quality materials such as Alcantara on the roof lining, seat centre panels, centre console armrests and doors, as well as dark-brushed aluminium, adds a sporty flavour to the elegant interior with GTS logos on the doors, sills, dashboard and head restraints.

Paramount importance has been placed on efficiency, greatly enhanced with a Tiptronic S eight-speed automatic transmission, adaptive cylinder control, direct petrol injection with central injector position, and an intelligently designed thermal management system.

On the outside, the Cayenne GTS has a panoramic roof system while the Coupé has a fixed panoramic glass roof. Both feature black RS Spyder Design wheels, dark-tinted LED headlights, front air intakes and dark tinted taillight bars.

Various mechanical, interior and exterior options are available for the Matching the impressive performance is a specially configured sports exhaust delivering a highly emotive rich and sporty sound. Cayenne GTS and GTS Coupé, with order books open for delivery later in 2020. The standard three-chamber adaptive air suspension lowers the GTS by 10 millimetres and includes Porsche Active Suspension O LEARN O LEARN O LEARN O LEARN Management (PASM) for active and intensively sporty damper control. ET ET ET ET ICK HER CL

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THE NEED FOR SPEED I

f you’re born with the ‘need for speed’, it’s simply embedded in your DNA. One of the only legal ways to feed this need is to go racing … so that’s’ exactly what a very young Courtney Prince did. According to Courtney, she began pestering her father to take her racing from age five. He put her off, but not for long, as the need for speed must have been a family trait. As both parents had raced go karts, they knew changing her mind was futile. “I started go-karting when I was eight,” remembers Courtney. “I raced a Tony Kart until I was 14, steadily progressing through each age group.” Her outsize talent was soon apparent. “I won two Australasian titles, two women’s titles and a junior sprint title, just to name a few,” she recalls. “I finally convinced Dad that Formula Ford was a good idea at 14 and completed my first full National Series when I was 15.” At 14

years, Courtney secured a Formula Ford drive with Sonic Motor Racing Services and was the youngest ever female competitor. Courtney moved effortlessly into the new class after this solid grounding in karts. She relished the Formula’s decidedly more competitive nature, which culminates in State and National Championships. “I did the National series, but not the State series,” Courtney says. “There are normally 25 to 30 competitors, with the top ten often within a second of each other.” Although unable to secure a first place during her Formula Ford career, Courtney won several seconds and thirds in her memorable two-year stint with Sonic Motor Racing Services. “We did a test day with Sonic when I started Formula Ford, and I ended up going with them,” Courtney remembers. “We were fully accepted by the Sonic family – it all started from there.”

The determined 18-year-old is now moving into a Porsche 911. “I’m starting with Porsche this year, racing the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge with Sonic again,” Courtney says. “When deciding to go with Porsche this January, I contacted Pike Peters of Porsche Centre Brighton. After our conversation, we attended the Women With Drive ladies’ lunch at the Grand Prix together.” That was precisely the time that the Coronavirus hit with a force that turned everything upside down, including the motor racing world. Just before the Formula One cars were ready to take to the track, the organisers called off the event. Motor racing has been in a holding pattern since. As she’s not a girl who likes to keep still, Courtney is keeping busy training. She strongly emphasises the importance of maintaining

“I feel the whole Porsche environment, the whole Porsche family is really close and it’s a really nice environment to race in and to be around.” her weekly training sessions alongside fitness coach Heath Meldrum, a well-known SuperCar drivers’ trainer. And that’s just her racing ambitions. Courtney also works full-time in the family excavation business, operating all machinery and working on the shovel in the landscape gardening arm.

She is well-aware of the COVID-19 struggle’s serious consequences. “I support the need to isolate,” she affirms. “Though it’s disappointing that the season has been disrupted, our community’s health must be our priority.”

Transitioning from open-wheeler racing to a Porsche can be challenging for some drivers, as the cars behave so differently – but Courtney’s not bothered by the change.

With three test days in her Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Car so far, Courtney has relished each one.

“They’re quite different in speed, grip and downforce,” Courtney notes. “You quickly get a feel for what the car needs you to do; the engineers help you get your head around it.”

Courtney also decided to study to become a personal trainer. Her decision to complete her Master Trainer course at the Australian Institute of Fitness will ensure she’s at her peak when racing finally reopens. Courtney’s debut in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge finished before it had started, and she’s been waiting anxiously to return to the racetrack.

“I’ve been able to get used to the car and get comfortable in it. It’s a great car – so much fun. After a while away from racing, I feel very ready to get started. I’ve done some gym work and test days in the car, and have spent significant time with my race engineer, Michael Ritter, going through data and footage in preparation,” she explains.

Courtney enthuses about Porsche’s structured and progressive system in place for its race drivers, both nationally and internationally. “The whole Porsche pyramid is really strong,” she says. “After starting in Australia with the Sprint Challenge and Carrera Cup, I’ll hopefully have a chance to race the Porsche Supercup in Europe.”

“Our first race had been initially scheduled for Sydney Motorsport Park in August,” Courtney says. “This had included Phillip Island, Sandown, The Bend and Sydney Motorsport Park, with the final round at Bathurst, but obviously lockdown put an end to that.” Unfortunately, Courtney’s racing opportunities were scuttled by COVID-19.

Sonic Motor Racing Services will prepare Courtney’s Porsche. They’re very experienced with the marque, having prepared Porsche racing cars since 2005. Sonic is the most successful Porsche team in the country having won eight Australian titles in both Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge,” Courtney says.

Courtney feels incredibly lucky to be involved with such a professional and caring company. “The whole Porsche family is a really nice, close environment to race in and be involved with,” she says. “I’m hoping we’ll be able to work closely with Porsche Centre Brighton well into the future.” We wish Courtney every success in the next exciting stage of her promising racing career.

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EXCLUSIVELY YOURS Owning a Porsche wasn’t on Jim McCarthy’s radar … that is, until he was asked to look after one for a month while his friend was away overseas. While minding the car, he fell in love.

“I was gobsmacked with it,” says Jim.”I thought it was absolutely a fantastic car, and made up my mind after driving it I would buy one,” he says. The car he drove for the month was a Macan S that had gone through the Porsche Exclusive process. Having previously owned Rolls Royces and Bentleys, Jim was already primed for making his vehicle a bespoke car that suited his style down to a T. So, it was an obvious choice for him to decide that would be the case with his new Porsche Macan S and that he would go down the Porsche customization process. “I knew about the customisation of the cars for quite some time … a friend had customised one before, and I saw him go through the process,” Jim says. “It was so easy and enjoyable – the way the website is set up, it’s very easy to do. I was able to select exactly what I wanted. “I thought, ‘I want what I want’, and the terrific thing about the Porsche website is that you can build a car yourself and try out all the various options. I toyed around with the website for three or four weeks.

“It was fun, like a Boys Own Annual time; it’s building a car without the grease and spanners … and no skinned knuckles.” After making some initial decisions about the features that most interested him, Jim headed straight to Porsche Centre Brighton and met up with Richard Catchlove to go through the ordering process. “We spoke to Richard, who was very helpful,” Jim remembers. “Some things on my list were ‘non-negotiable’, like the optional Power Steering Plus package.” Jim then let his imagination guide him through the interior and exterior possibilities.

“I thought – I want what I want – and the terrific thing about the Porsche website is that you can build a car yourself and try out all the various options. I toyed around with the website for three or four weeks.”

“I wanted red leather,” Jim recalls. “You can have a full red leather interior, which is too much – or you can have a half red leather interior with a bit of black, which is what I eventually took. “I had the panoramic roof system fitted, which is fantastic. On a sunny day, you can drive the car like a convertible but it’s still very quiet – there’s no wind rush. “I had the 21” Turbo Classic wheels in body colour and the seat heating. Also, in a nod back to the Rolls Royce and Bentley days, I had the interior package in dark walnut, so I have some nice walnut trim in the car as well. “All of it was terrific.” Since taking delivery of his Macan S in midJune 2020, Jim has been patiently waiting for the current restrictions on travel to lift so he can enjoy stretching the legs of his Macan S on the open road and fully appreciating its extensive options and features. “I have a trip planned across Victoria all the way to McLaren Vale, including the Coonawarra then up to the Barossa Valley. I plan to do some motoring in it!” he says.

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All in all, Jim was so pleased with the entire experience of buying his Macan S at Porsche Centre Brighton and using the Porsche customization process that he wishes he had bought one a lot sooner.

A Love of Music and a Passion for Customer Service As Tina Paradisis reveals, people contain a multitude of talents. She delves into what it’s like to work with Porsche Centre Brighton … while exploring a vibrant music career on the side.

ina is Porsche Centre Brighton’s Service Concierge, liaising with clients on vehicle servicing needs and welcoming customers to the recently expanded dealership. She sits directly in front of the glass-walled Porsche garage, where customers have a clear view of all the mechanics at work. “Though there’s been limited foot traffic due to COVID-19 in recent months, the job involves service-focused customer interaction,” she says. “I greet customers and assist our Service Advisors, to ensure exceptional care is taken with every vehicle visiting our facility and customers’ needs are met with every visit.”

Tina’s ability to listen to customers is evident in many aspects of her job. “I’m usually the one who answers the phone in the service department, ready to assist with a query or to make a service booking,” she explains. A self-described lover of people, Tina’s indulgence for staying in luxury hotels and preference for travelling at the ‘pointy end’ of the aircraft has also provided her with a keen appreciation of peerless customer service. “As I’m always looking to contribute to a customer’s Porsche Experience, I never get tired of listening to the feedback from our valued customers and helping people with their service requirements,” she says.

“I can’t thank my team enough for their continued support, teaching me about these amazing vehicles and of course while we evolve our learning in anything we love, we in turn learn more about ourselves.”

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after that scene in The Castle – and we soon started doing gigs for schools, charities and corporate events. RE MO

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One aspect of Tina’s position offers a great deal of personal satisfaction. “My latest pursuit is making killer lattes for customers,” she confides. “A colleague and I take this so seriously that we recently did a barista course one weekend to perfect our technique!”

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“After initially just singing, I learned guitar to accompany myself. Although we started off as all Australians, we gained members from the USA and China as original members moved on. ICK HER CL

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Tina’s relationship with music has evolved over the years. “I considered pursuing a full-time career in music when I was a lot younger – but ended up falling in love, having a family, and travelling overseas instead,” she remembers.

“I can’t thank my team enough for their continued support and teaching me about these amazing vehicles. Of course, while we evolve our learning in anything we love, we in turn learn more about ourselves.”

Musically, everything really started for Tina when she was living in Nanjing, China, with her husband and two girls for her husband’s work. “I really started singing professionally while living in Nanjing,” she says. “I formed a band with other expats – named ‘The Vibe’

Tina and Nelson’s story shows how a congenial workplace can harbour unexpected creative opportunities. Keep an eye out for Tina and Nelson performing near you – and don’t forget to look up ‘BeNice’ on Spotify.

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The entire team working for Porsche Centre Brighton has a passion O LEARN O LEARN O LEARN O LEARN ET ET ET ET for the brand. “I’ve loved the marque for a long time, as well as “Towards the end of my stay in Nanjing, I started moving away from having enormous respect for the team I work with and the depth of covers and commenced writing my own songs,” says Tina. “I wrote their knowledge,” Tina notes. and recorded eight songs in four months just before leaving China, and have written about 30 songs since then. There’s definitely an Away from her work at Porsche, Tina flexes her creativity as a album in the works – I’ve got two more recorded ready for release singer-songwriter under the stage name ‘BeNice’. She has released on Spotify, and I’m aiming to record another four tracks this year.” three songs on Spotify, ‘Makes Me Weep’, ‘Maybe’, and her newest track, ‘Something For You’. Tina’s musical passion has created an interesting convergence between her art and her work. “I was seeking a guitarist to perform Until recently, Tina regularly performed all over Melbourne. “I’m with,” she reveals, “and then I discovered that my colleague Nelson looking forward to returning to performing when everything returns Florindo (a Parts Interpreter at Porsche Centre Brighton) plays to the new normal,” she says. “All the musicians I know have been guitar. So, naturally, we thought we’d play some music together. coping with the COVID-19 situation by livestreaming their songs, which has been great fun. “We did a couple of gigs together shortly before COVID-19 struck, so we’re looking forward to picking it all up again,” Tina adds. “Since restrictions began, I miss going to open mic nights and gigs “Nelson’s guitar playing brings a unique perspective to the music, so with my friends,” Tina continues. “With no performance outlets open, I’m looking forward to performing as a duo and further developing I especially feel for those depending solely on music for their income.” as musicians.”

Virtual Racing 855 Nepean Highway Brighton VIC 3186 P: 03 9536 1911 W: www.porschebrighton.com.au TURBO Magazine is published by Jill Johnson Media

Young Australian Mobil Pro driver Cooper Murray, sponsored by Porsche Centre Brighton, convincingly won the Porsche PAYCE & Michelin Virtual Cup. His final winning margin was around 160 points, a highly creditable result for the 19-year-old. “This virtual championship gave us the opportunity to keep racing,” Cooper says. “We had Australian drivers and some invited Porsche factory drivers from Germany, so you get to race people you don’t get to race against in real life. “Overall, it was a good experience. It was good to win it, but it was all about having some fun. It also got my name out there a bit more to people overseas, seeing as I won the virtual cup against Porsche factory drivers.” Racetracks were not just Australian – the event virtually travelled the world starting at Philip Island (Australia), then moving on to Barcelona (Spain), Daytona (USA), Monza (Italy), Le Mans (France) and Silverstone (UK). Cooper’s favourite race was Daytona, which was a night race. LEARN TO

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“You don’t get the field of view that you get in a real race car, where you can turn your head and see where you are. You only have the three screens in the simulator, so you have a limited view,” Cooper says. As for the real racing, it is still on hold. The pause button was pressed again on the Porsche PAYCE Carrera Cup Championship, which was forced to stop once Victoria entered Stage 4 lockdown. Cooper made a clean sweep of the first race meeting in Adelaide, then competed at the AGP where he finished third. “Having such a good first two rounds and coming out as the Championship leader by a good margin, then to have it put on hold, was a bit of a bummer,” Cooper acknowledges. “Hopefully we can get back racing again sometime this year – at the earliest, maybe a race in late September. If all goes well, we’ll be racing at Bathurst in October.”

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Lisa SAAD

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Cooper Murray Photos by Mark HORSBURGH (Edge Photography)

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Here’s hoping Cooper EAR the chance O Lgets N ET to hit the track again soon.

Brigid FRASER

Courtesy of Porsche AG

There are some downsides, though.

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Jill JOHNSON

“I already had a simulator,” Cooper explains. “Most race drivers have a simulator as a necessity to practice, since we don’t get much testing in real life.”

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Tim ROBERTS

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“It would have to be Daytona, the two races there were really good,” he reflects.

Mandy PARRY-JONES

While most of us have played the odd racing game on an X-box or PlayStation, these extremely realistic iRacing simulators are on quite another level.

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Contributors

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Porsche Cars Australia recognised the need to keep the drivers up to speed in every sense of the word, so created the Porsche PAYCE & Michelin Virtual Cup. These fun online races were held on the iRacing platform in a six-round championship split into two classes: Mobil Pro and Pro-Am.

“There was a battle between me, Matt Campbell (a Porsche factory driver), and Matt Payne. We all crossed the finish line together in both races all side by side, and I managed to get the win. It was probably one of the best races in the simulator that I’ve done.”

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n 2020 the Porsche PAYCE Carrera Cup had barely started when it all came to a grinding halt during the eleventh hour at the Australian Grand Prix meeting in Melbourne. Since then, like a car with a faulty battery, it has almost sprung back to life – only to be shut down again by another rush of COVID-19 cases.

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