The RL Q&A: Ferdi Porsche

Now 30, the trained architect wants to show a younger generation what he’s long found so thrilling. His timing is astute: Auto racing is experiencing a rapid resurgence of interest around the world, as the growing reach of Formula 1 attests. “As soon as there’s the engagement and you know who the driver is, what he stands for, it becomes more interesting,” Ferdi says.

For his part, Ferdi is focused on accessibility, aesthetics, and, most importantly, fun. In 2019, he held the inaugural GP Ice Race in Zell am See, an annual winter festival celebrating all things cars. The vibe is retro and joyful, and any car with spiked tires can qualify. The race, held over the course of one day, consists of six classes competing on a 700-meter-long track made entirely of ice. In its first year, 140 drivers entered the race and 10,000 people attended. “We had the best weather,” he says. “It was crisp, clear skies and super cold. Perfect.” Last year, none other than F1 World Champion Max Verstappen drove his title-winning car—Red Bull Racing’s RB8—around the track.

Here, the auto scion speaks with RL Mag about his legendary family, buying vintage cars, and why racing on ice is the best way to improve your driving skills.

What was your exposure to the auto world like growing up, given your family’s legacy?

The biggest exposure was from the events we’d go to during the summer holidays. For example, we attended the Porsche Parade in the US, I think four or five times, and obviously all the Porsche Classic events. And at one point, I thought, I have to know more about it, because obviously people would always say, “Ah, you and your grandfather and your dad…” And they always knew so much, and I just felt like, okay, I need to get into this now. And obviously always being around it—and just the smell of it, the look of it—it’s easy to get addicted to. 

Did you know your grandfather, Ferry?

Yes, I did. He passed away when I was 6. I have a few great memories of him, though. He was very close with his children and grandchildren and specifically asked my mom to name me Ferdinand. He gave me my first toy cars and my first bicycle. I remember he spent Christmas with us in Zell am See, lying on the floor with me and playing with the toy cars.

Do you remember the first race you attended?

I think it’s probably the Monaco F1. I was 6 years old—there is a picture in my mom’s living room of me in a Ferrari racing suit. That’s when Michael Schumacher was really big and won all the World Championships. I was really into Formula 1 back then. My dad used to watch all the Grands Prix, so Sundays after lunchtime we were either going outside to play soccer or watching F1.

Your father has quite the car collection. Do you have a favorite?

He is into colorful cars; he doesn’t like black cars. Probably my favorite car of his is a Porsche 993 Turbo S. It’s super tiny compared to modern cars, and it was the first car where he drove over 300 kph [about 186 mph] while I was next to him. That’s something I won’t forget.

You ultimately decided to become an architect. How did that come about?

After university, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do and whether I wanted to go more into the economic side of life or do something creative. I decided on architecture, because I did an internship at David Chipperfield, and I really enjoyed the whole vibe of it. So I started studying architecture in Vienna and somehow stayed, and I’m still living in Vienna. I started my own office together with a buddy of mine, and now I have this office here and do the Ice Race. I do it like 50/50, sometimes more with cars and sometimes more with architecture, depending on what’s up. 

Do you think the sense of community is what most draws you to motorsports? 

And the nerdiness! I think it’s nice that everyone is so deeply into whatever car they have. Some of them feel like they’re just taking care of them and tell you about the history, and some of them rebuild the parts or change the color or the seats—they make the cars their own.

Can you tell me a little about your own car collection?

I wouldn’t call it a collection, but I have a few cars. My grandfather gave my mom a car shortly before I was born—she drove it to the hospital when she found out she was pregnant with me—and then she gave it to me when I finished my studies. I try to only drive it when there’s something special happening. I usually like driving my cars as much as possible, but I feel the need to keep that one as perfect as it can be. I want to give it to my son or daughter at some point. It’s a ’91 [Porsche] 964 Carrera 4 in a really cool green called Oak Green Metallic. It’s a color my grandfather had made that he really liked.

So do the cars you purchase for yourself tend to be more functional? What do you typically look for?

I’m more into the general vibe that the car gives me. I’m not going to develop a big collection, because I want to drive them all, so I also try to think of their purpose.

Do you have any advice for first-time vintage car buyers?

For vintage, I would say to go for the one that you like the most, because I think the first vintage car, you always kind of regret. I bought a Corvette once—a ’65 C2 in light blue with a blue interior—and regret buying it the way that I did. It wasn’t in shape, so I had to find someone to help me fix it and then it would never really run properly. I’d also say, do your research, and go through a contact. Also, think German instead of American. It’ll survive longer.