Porsche has officially opened its Esports Performance Center, the PEPC, in Cologne, Germany. It will be the home for its esports operations, namely the Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team, moving from the team’s previous headquarters located in Gronau.
The facility marks a significant step forward for the Porsche Racing Team, which now joins Porsche Penske Motorsport and the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team as one of the brand’s three factory-run squads.
“Our new HQ underlines the prominence sim racing enjoys at Porsche,” states Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport.
The 324-square-metre PEPC is equipped with six high-end racing simulators, a dedicated workstation for the team’s performance engineer, as well as open-plan workspaces, a meeting room, a fitness and relaxation zone, and an area to showcase Porsche’s esports show car. Designed in partnership with Trilux, the venue also features lighting tailored to meet the specific demands of digital motorsport.
“Our goal was to create spaces where our team could perform at an even higher level,” explained Nina Braack, Esports Manager at Porsche Motorsport. “Given that the physical side of digital racing is different from ‘tarmac motorsport’, the mental aspect is even more important. Reflections or background noise, for example, can hamper the drivers’ performance.”
The move from Gronau to Cologne was also aimed at supporting the personal development of the team’s young drivers. “Some have moved into their own flats, while others have decided to continue to share an apartment, even though they’re now older. This shows the great spirit within our project,” adds Braack. “What’s more, Cologne is one of the central locations for this industry.”
The Porsche Coanda Esports Racing Team is currently leading the R1 championship and will head to Saudi Arabia this summer to compete in the Esports World Cup.
