Porsche Experience Center Atlanta Announces Second Track, Opening This April

The 1.3-mile track features corners inspired by Laguna Seca, Daytona, and the Nürburgring.

Porsche on Monday announced the opening date of its latest track experience. The German company broke ground on a second, 1.3-mile (2.1-kilometer) track at its Porsche Experience Center Atlanta location late last year. Now we know it will open to the public on April 1.

The new track is once again designed by Tilke Engineers & Architects, the company responsible for the existing track (and many F1 circuits). The addition draws inspiration from numerous tracks, including American icons like Laguna Seca’s corkscrew. There’s also a series of S-bends Porsche says pay homage to the Tail of the Dragon. Of course, this wouldn’t be a Porsche experience without some level of Nürburgring influence. For that, there’s a high-banked corner similar to the Green Hell’s Carousel.

In addition to the main track, the addition also includes a low-friction circle and ice hill. Both areas feature a polished surface and water jets to simulate cold-weather scenarios. This will allow drivers to experience and learn from these situations in a safe, controlled environment. A large paved area also allows for autocross setups.

As before, the PEC Atlanta will be open to the public, and not just Porsche owners. Experiences can include 90-minute driving sessions, complete with a driving coach riding shotgun. A Porsche rep told AutoGuide that the company will soon offer both the 718 Cayman GT4 RS and 911 GT3 RS at the location.

“We’re thrilled to expand our U.S. headquarters with a new track that delivers exhilarating driving experiences in Porsche sports cars,” said Kjell Gruner, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “We have called Atlanta home for 25 years and this ribbon cutting will help mark that anniversary in the most exciting way possible, underlining our continued investment in Atlanta and the local community.”

In the accompanying press release, Porsche stated that PEC Atlanta has had over 400,000 visitors since it first opened in June 2015. In addition, the location is ideal: it’s within a stone’s throw of the world’s busiest airport, meaning roughly 80 percent of the US population can travel there within 150 minutes of flying. There is a gallery, retail shop, and restaurant on-site, with a hotel next door.