Back in early November it was announced that Canada would be receiving a Porsche Experience Centre. To those who are aware of what a Porsche Experience Centre (PEC) is, this is very exciting news. For those who may not know what a PEC is, the news might not be as exciting as it should be.
So, what is a Porsche Experience Centre? A PEC is the ultimate destination for Porsche enthusiasm. There is always a driving circuit, and other areas for dynamic driving activities like a skid pad. You can choose your Porsche Driving Experience based on the model you want to experience, and professional instructors will help you learn the capability of a Porsche on the road. Inside of a PEC, you will find a restaurant named after a historic Porsche model, along with garage areas for technical presentations and driving simulators for virtual track experiences. Each PEC offers a slightly different experience, ensuring those who visit multiple locations will always have a unique experience.
PEC’s are a Mecca for any Porsche enthusiast. Before, Canadians would have to make their pilgrimage to either Los Angeles, Atlanta, or overseas. Come 2024, Canadians won’t even need to cross the border. The Porsche Experience Centre Toronto will be the 10th PEC worldwide, and the third one in North America. The actual location will be in Pickering Ontario, a suburb of Toronto. This PEC will be housed in the Durham Live development, a location that boasts a luxury hotel, concert space, and casino - making visiting even easier. PEC Toronto will have a 2km long circuit along with all the usual PEC attractions mentioned above. Being the newest PEC, PEC Toronto will have a focus on sustainability and electrification. The site build and design will focus on leaving an environmentally responsible footprint, and the PEC will incorporate Porsche’s destination charging network.
Excited now? We are. PECs offer an incredibly unique experience that no other motorsports circuit or car brand can offer. In 2024, Canadians will have access to this facility in their own backyard. Canada is the smallest market to receive a PEC. The other locations are in Germany, Italy, China, Japan, France, the UK, and the US. For such a small market to receive a PEC speaks to the enthusiasm for Porsche vehicles within Canada. That being said, this location will also help serve the eastern seaboard of the United States. Porsche now has Experience Centres in 3 of the 4 corners of North America; SouthWest, SouthEast, and NorthEast. All that is missing now is NorthWest, right where we are. We hope that one day Porsche will decide to give the NorthWest a PEC, and when we do they hope that they consider Vancouver. Porsche enthusiasm is immense here, and all year round driving is possible with the exception of a few snowy weeks. Until then, we are thankful to have the opportunity to visit a PEC without the use of our passport in 2024.