@VW Group: From pace to peace010415

As a development driver for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, Gabi possesses an exceptionally keen eye for the details, always focused on the numbers, the results – the improvements. It’s an analytical frame of mind, a state of extreme focus that she enters, determined to get the most out of the Porsche 99X Electric.

Shifting driving modes 

As in many professional fields, such high levels of performance can only be sustained when complemented by strategic periods of downtime. Changes of scenery.

This is what brings Gabi to the Dolomites with the Porsche Taycan 4 Cross Turismo – to enjoy the simple, yet deeply rewarding, pleasure of driving on breathtaking roads.

For a long time now, the Dolomites have benefitted from well-established transport infrastructure, but driving winding mountain passes like the Stelvio, Giau, and Sella still gives the enthralling sensation of driving through a real-life testing ground. With sharp curves, dramatic elevation changes, and panoramic views, driving here promises to be thrilling. The Taycan 4 Cross Turismo, with its dual-motor all-wheel drive, instant torque and low centre of gravity, is perfectly suited for this terrain. Sport, Normal, and Range modes adapt the car’s performance and energy usage to suit spirited mountain climbs or relaxed cruising – and everything in between. The immediate acceleration on the exit of tight hairpin corners and the incredibly quiet powertrain heightens the connection between driver and road, making each turn a thrill.

Maintaining grip, staying grounded

Although most of the roads encountered were well-maintained and well-paved, the occasional dirt road was explored too. The height-adjustable air suspension of the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo proved to be ideal for the uneven and steep mountain access roads. And Gabi took full advantage of the ability to raise the car for the rougher terrain and lower it again for enhanced aerodynamics and stability on the smoother winding passes. But whatever the terrain, the adaptive suspension deftly smoothed out the bumps without compromising the car’s driving dynamics.

To always maintain grip – regardless of elevation change, tight curves, unpredictable weather, or the varying road surfaces of rural routes—it’s not only the car’s features that are important but also the tyres. Equipped with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4, the Taycan is the perfect travel companion – whether the going is rough or smooth. The high-performance summer tyres offer excellent contact with the road and a high level of durability, ensured by the special tread pattern reinforced with a hybrid aramid and nylon belt. This car and tyre combination enabled Gabi to get the most of her experience, providing reliability, safety and, crucially, driving engagement – kilometre after kilometre.

Silent power in the peaks

Mountain regions, the Dolomites included, are known for the profound impact they have on the people visiting them, striking awe into even the most well-travelled of tourists. Finding oneself among towering peaks, steep valleys and wide-open alpine skies leads to a virtually unrivalled sense of tranquillity and peacefulness.

To reduce noise and air pollution even further, and to sustain the beauty of the region, many towns implement green policies that include efforts to make EV charging easily and widely accessible. If there has ever been an issue of range anxiety in the Dolomites, it’s certainly a thing of the past.

With charging infrastructure expanding across the Alps and the range of the Taycan 4 Cross Turismo stretching to as much as 613 km* per charge, there’s nothing standing in the way of adventure. Gabi’s journey began with a visit to the Porsche Experience Center in Franciacorta, topping up the battery with their Porsche Destination Charger. All subsequent charging was then conveniently carried out overnight using the charging point at her chosen accommodation, the Michelin Guide destination Floris Green Hotel in Kastelruth. And that has long since become the norm here; many hotels and mountain lodges offer charging facilities, as do most parking locations, which has greatly increased the ease and practicality of motoring for the growing number of EV drivers.

After a couple of days with a change of scenery, outside her normal surroundings, Gabi feels refreshed and restored. With new energy and a clear mind, she is ready to get back on the racetrack, ready once more to perform at the highest level and give it her all.

Fans will see her in the coming days at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where she will tackle the iconic hill climb with a near-production prototype of the Porsche Cayenne Electric. More details will be available soon here in the Porsche Newsroom.