bahrainthismonth.com | AUGUST 2025 MOTORING 78 Porsche. There Is No Substitute. A feeling that connects us, inspires us and keeps us coming back for more. It’s the ignition on the left of the steering wheel, the crest on the bonnet and a heart that races with every green light. It’s the 356 and every iconic Porsche that followed. The distant echo of a childhood dream. The thrill of opening the garage, and knowing what comes next. It’s the passion that turns owners into drivers, drivers into collectors, and collectors into lifelong enthusiasts. In 1975, a journalist captured it perfectly: “A Porsche is like no other car, and if you want one, there’s no substitute.” The line was immortalised in Risky Business in 1983 and became part of culture. In the US especially, it has resurfaced in campaigns, conversations and memories that have defined Porsche for generations. From posters to hashtags, fans have kept those words alive, not as a slogan, but as a mindset. Now, Porsche celebrates the community that’s carried it all along. Because for those who know the feeling, there really is no substitute. Mark Webber: The Thrill Never Fades Few know power and performance like Mark Webber, former Formula 1 driver, 2015 FIA World Endurance Champion and Porsche ambassador. “Formula 1 drivers aren’t easy to please,” he admits. “My first Porsche, my daily, if you like, was a 997 Turbo S. That was the first car I had real affection for. Once I got that bug, there was no turning back.” For Webber, Porsche is about emotion, a feeling that began with a poster of a Porsche 959 on his bedroom wall. “There’s still a little kid inside me … No matter how many cars you’ve driven, no matter how many podiums, there’s no substitute for the Porsche you love.” Orlando Bloom: A Lifelong Passion Drive around Hollywood and you’ll see countless exotic cars, but for Orlando Bloom, Porsche has always been the one. From Carrera sunglasses to his first 911, the brand has marked his milestones. “I did a Porsche GT3 Track Day in Prague,” he recalls. “We drove Taycans, Cayennes and GT3 cars. The handling of the Taycan surprised me, it corners on rails. It sticks to the road so you can really push it.” From racing drivers to collectors, enthusiasts to artists, Porsche proves that when it comes to the pure joy of driving, there is no substitute. To own, drive or admire a Porsche is to be part of something beyond engineering, performance and heritage. It’s a feeling.
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