From July 3 to 6 a rally took place on legendary sports cars Porsche Carrera 911 on autobahns of Germany. Cars were driven by the partners of MERLION having won in the campaign of АРС by Schneider Electric.
Campaign “Summer Adventures with Porsche” took place from March 28 to May 31, 2011. MERLION’s partners purchased equipment of the global brand АРС by Schneider Electric,in addition to that they were able to plan their purchases with consideration for the conditions of the campaign, always kept their finger on the pulse, followed changes taking place in tournament schedule. And all this for the purpose of getting possibility of competing for grand prize – unforgettable trip on the roads of Germany on just produced Porsche Carrera 911 – legendary supercars which were presented to the world for the first time in 1963 at Frankfurt Motor Show.
In June, the campaign “Summer Adventures with Porsche” was summarized and winners were determined who became participants of the exciting rally on the route Berlin – Leipzig – Meissen – Dresden. Eleven chic Porsche 911, hundreds of kilometers – each of twenty participants of the rally was a pilot of a legendary sports car. So, let’s go!
The visit to Germany started from Berlin where participants of the rally saw around main sights: Reichstag building; majestic Brandenburg Gate; memorial of victims of Holocaust; Checkpoint Charlie which, together with the Berlin Wall, is one of the symbols of the Cold War. In the Tiergarten Park, with the Victory column in the very centre, near the Soviet War Memorial, the partners honoured memory of compatriots having died in battles of the Second World War.
The next objective of the group was Porsche Plant in Leipzig – the automaker concern manufacturing de-luxe products was founded by Ferdinand Porsche in 1931. Till now, the Porsche family is the principal shareholder of the company. The company is the most profitable in automobile business and produces the most reliable cars. The partners of MERLION were given an opportunity to see cars assembly lines, to estimate technical equipment of some premises and to visit the Porsche museum where there is an exposition of that very legendary cars from the “Dakar Rally”, the first road car Porsche 356 as well as cars in section – for detailed acquaintance with technical equipment of sports cars. Than a culmination moment came in the program – test drive of cars Cayman, Cayenne, Panamera and Carrera 911. Pilots get familiar with the cars, the last preparations to an extreme trip on the track through shroud of rain come to the end, cars are “in steam”, instructors of Porsche give the last directions and the action starts! Each of participants of the event felt a storm of emotions, plunged in a clear power of speed, compared running and ergonomical characteristics of all four models!
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By the next morning, cars Carrera 911 were prepared at the plant for a rush to Dersden through an ancient city of Meissen. The road ran in the most picturesque surroundings, among historical monuments and agricultural land. Upon arrival to Meissen, to the motherland of the finest German porcelain, the participants went to the riverside of Elba quietly flowing its waters along these surroundings. It is right here that a historical photo of the group was made named “Meeting of the APC by Schneider Electric and MERLION at Elba”.
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Diner in Meissen for rally participants was served in a genuine restaurant which is owned by the fifth generation of knights. On the way from splendid, comfortable Meissen, pilots passed by one of the antique hunting castles situated on the side of a picturesque lake. This part of the road was passed by the motorcade on country roads surrounded by hills, vineyards, tiny villages, houses buried in geranium and smiling inhabitants of these hospitable places. Upon arrival to Dresden the whole motorcade lined up at the main square of the city attracting many admiring looks. It should be noted that other part of the road from Meissen to Dresden ran on autobahn where the speed reached 280 km/h. Here, as well as some days ago on the track, participants were captivated by delight of feeling speed, wind force and breathtaking admiration because of driving sports cars.
But let’s get back to Dresden – city full of legends, filled with refined architecture monuments, special appeal which is justly considered to be Dresden Art Gallery. Rally participants enjoyed this splendour under summer sun of Germany.
Return to Leipzig from Dresden started on a serpentine road among forests with crystal clear air. Then pilots were waited for by a 120-kilometres section of road on autobahn, and once again there were emotions, speed and inexpressible drive! By this moment, all the team was so close and actions were so adjusted and precise that the group earned the highest appreciations of the Porsche instructors. And it is on this section that the most foolhardy pilots developed maximum speed. And it only remains to guess what participants on passenger seat felt at that time :-).
Upon coming back to Leipzig all crews returned the Porsche Carrera 911 cars, shared impressions and deserved the highest appreciations on the part of the concern’s representatives. A special mention was made that concerned the unity of the group, discipline, friendliness and openness in all the matters!
We hope sincerely that this event being fantastic by the intensity of emotions, high-class by style, arranged as per the German standards and, at the same time, culturally rich will be repeated many times! We thank our partners as well as the APC by Schneider Electric and Porsche!
