Porsche's Official Response: Dear Jim, Imagine our surprise to discover our former employee, now the head of Mini, has challenged us to a head-to-head race. As you surely know, Porsche has a long history of racing success, with more than 28,000 wins over the last 60 years. In our early days, we pitted ourselves against the giants, so we've been in your shoes. But as you also know, Porsche doesn't race for fame, stunts or publicity. We race to challenge ourselves; we race to push sports car technology; we race to translate every win on the track to our cars on the road. If you need a reminder of our intent, please take a look at this short video: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh3A1ERsvY4&feature=player_embedded]YouTube - Racing. Not posing.[/ame] While your challenge seems like a fun and lighthearted campaign, we'll stick to racing the way we have over the decades. We welcome you at Sebring, Le Mans, Daytona or any other sanctioned race where there is more at stake than T-shirts and valet parking spaces. We also invite you to any of the thousands of tracks around the world where Porsche owners compete each weekend. Good luck with your race at Road Atlanta on June 21; we hope you enjoy the day. Sincerely, Detlev Von Platen President and CEO, Porsche Cars North America
Hmm, Detlev seem like a very serious person. Dear Jim, I can meet you at Road Atlanta on the 21st. Please send gas money.
If you ask me, and you didn't, but I will speak my mind anyway. The response from Porsche is dignified but arrogant. Very much like the spoiled rich kid that has the cool toys and refuses to share with the other kids who's toys are not deemed sufficient enough to play with. 10 Years ago Porsche could get away with this arrogance, but the automotive landscape has changed.
Well, wow. Dear Detlev, If you need any help getting that stick dislodged from your rectum, we will hook it to a MINI tow hitch and pull it out. Oh, and CHICKEN! Cluck cluck cluck... So much for Porsche NOT wimping out. jg
Sounds like MINI needs to build a kick butt Works GT2 car and stifle the arrogance... and prove that even the great and powerful Porsche can be b*tch slapped.
Not surprised by their response, typical Porsche speak and attitude. But in their defense, they had absolutely nothing to gain and a lot to loose. A wise man once told me to never gamble in game where your opponent sets the rules.... Besides, now Mini can say that Porsche is afraid to race them head to head.... Brilliant! Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk
If they are so sure of their heritage and abilities, they had nothing to lose and a huge fan-base to gain. Now, they just look nervous...
Not necessarily. But the respect level would have shot through the roof, it would have shown that Porsche is not nearly the bunch of stuck up a$$hats they came off being with this response, and would have been a great way to play nice and have some fun with the other kids. Kind of sad. I was looking forward to the fun that could have been had.
The whole situation is really a no win for Porsche. It reminds me of when the woman's basketball team would play pickup games with the us (the men's team) in undergrad. If I had a chance to dunk on a woman, and didn't, she'd get mad and accuse me of not playing hard against her b/c she was a woman. If I did dunk on her, then she'd give me the old "oh, so you think you're cool b/c you can dunk on a girl" line. Do I think it would've have been cool if Porsche would've played along. Absolutely. Do I think any differently/less of them b/c they won't? Absolutely not.
Don't get me wrong. I am still a fan of the big P. But I definitely think a good nose rubbing is in order...
That is exactly what I was thinking when I saw the rally shots in the video. When MINI enters the WRC, if they beat the P-car, then then justice is served. Jim