Rare sports cars highlight Philippines exhibit

Philstar.com

A pair of automotive unicorns, a silver Porsche 993 GT2 and a yellow Porsche 991 GT2 RS were recently showcased on Philippine soil.

The sought-after variants of iconic models served as the centerpiece of an exhibit held at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) in Pasig City.

The special session was led by Professor Minoru Goko of the Nihon Automobile College in Japan.

Adding to the allure of the German luxury sports car is a little-known fact: a Filipino had a hand in the creation of the second-generation Porsche 911.

“Most people are not aware that the Porsche 964 — the generation preceding the 993 — benefited from the design work of Benjamin Dimson, a Filipino. His contribution reminds us that world-class engineering talent can and does emerge from our shores,” said UA&P president Atty. Philip Yeung.

“We hope to raise expectations, elevate competencies, and prepare future Filipino engineers to build products that can compete on the world stage.”

James Deakin, Filipino automotive journalist and transport advocate, and Alfredo Roa, an alumnus and owner of Karrera Kafe, also served as panelists.

Less than 200 Porsche 993 GT2s were produced globally, while the 911 GT2 RS was limited to around 1,000 units.

“The Porsche display moved the discussion from the theoretical textbook to tangible engineering excellence,” said Noemi Barcial-Torre, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Sciences, Engineering, and Technology.

“It perfectly illustrates how passion for engineering can intersect with real-world innovation. We are grateful to the Karrera team for making this exceptional learning experience possible.”