Seventy-five years is a long time to go racing. Porsche has marked the anniversary of its first international motorsport success with a major new exhibition at its Stuttgart museum, and the scope of it suggests the brand is treating this milestone seriously rather than as a routine calendar event.
The exhibition runs until 17 January 2027 and takes its name, Raceborn – 75 Years of Porsche Motorsport, from the argument at its core: that motorsport did not merely accompany Porsche’s development, but actively shaped what the company became.
Where It All Started
The story begins in 1951, when a works-supported Porsche 356 SL took a class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That result opened a chapter that has since extended across circuits, rallies, hill climbs and endurance classics, in both factory and customer programmes.
Customer racing, in particular, remains a significant part of Porsche Motorsport today. The exhibition treats it as a pillar of the brand’s identity rather than a footnote, which is a fair reflection of how broadly Porsche’s racing presence has spread across amateur and professional categories alike.
Six Perspectives, 31 Vehicles
Rather than presenting a straightforward chronological timeline, the museum has structured the exhibition around six thematic areas: racing classes, diversity, innovations, milestones, people, and regulations. The approach is deliberate. Curator Tanja Schleicher describes the intention as presenting motorsport as an identity-defining mindset rather than a sequence of results.
Thirty-one vehicles form the backbone of the display, but each is positioned within a broader context. The 356 SL represents early international ambition. The Formula E 99X Electric illustrates how the sport adapts under shifting technical rules. The Porsche 963 stands for current prototype and endurance competition, while the Cayman GT4 e-Performance study points toward questions the brand is still working through.
Historical and contemporary cars are placed in direct dialogue throughout, which should make for a more thought-provoking visit than a simple march through the decades.
Design and Accessibility
The exhibition introduces a new design concept for the museum. A red ribbon runs through the building’s architecture, following the lines and inclinations of the structure to guide visitors through each thematic section. The idea is to make speed and dynamism physically present in the space itself, not just in the cars on display.
Supporting elements include a motorsport pyramid explaining the structure of racing categories, a glossary for less familiar visitors, and a lenticular installation exploring how different regulations have shaped vehicle concepts over time. A mini cinema addresses restoration questions: what is preserved, what is renewed, and how technical authenticity is balanced with museum presentation.
A dedicated children’s strand, Raceborn Kids, runs alongside the main exhibition. Interactive elements, sound, tactile experiences and digital applications address questions such as why weight matters in racing and how a team operates across a 24-hour event. It is a practical addition for families, and one that broadens the exhibition’s reach considerably.
Events Programme
On five evenings each year, the museum will host motorsport talks in German, covering topics including historic racing cars, Formula E, and behind-the-scenes work in competition. Tickets and guest details are available through the Porsche Museum website.
For anyone with a serious interest in how racing shapes road car development, the exhibition’s focus on regulations as a driver of innovation rather than a constraint is worth the visit alone. Porsche has spent 75 years proving the point on track; this is the museum’s attempt to explain how and why.
