Porsche completed a respectable double-finish for both its cars in the Madrid E-Prix last month, ensuring Pascal Wehrlein’s retention of the Formula E title lead. But what many won’t know is it also helped achieve something for a cause far bigger than motorsport.
Wehrlein finished third at the city’s inaugural E-Prix, giving the German a continued lead in the Drivers’ Championship, as he seeks to become only the second man in the all-electric championship’s history to take a second title.
But the result, with teammate Nico Mueller taking eighth place, clocked several more Euros for Porsche’s ‘Racing for Charity’ scheme.
Porsche has already commenced a monumental fundraising drive through this scheme, with €2.4 million raised across the last few years.
Originally, ‘Racing for Charity’ was solely based upon donating money for every lap its 963 cars – under the Porsche Penske Motorsport moniker – completed at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
But Porsche decided to extend the drive into its Formula E team, pledging to donate €400 for every lap its 99X Electric machines complete across Season 12.
And whilst its track team aims to give Wehrlein his second title, as well as a Teams’ and Manufacturers’ Championship triumph, Dr Michael Steiner – its Deputy Chairman and Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development – is hoping that it maximises its charitable goals.
“Our works team is not only competing for world championship titles this season, but also for the highest possible donation amount,” he said.
“Porsche has always embraced its social responsibility. With Racing for Charity, we continue our support for seriously ill children worldwide – now for the fourth time.
“We are delighted to bring the initiative to Formula E as well.”
Kinderherzen retten e.V., Interplast Germany e.V., and the Ferry Porsche Foundation are the three charities that Porsche has opted to split the total profits to, and with over half the season still remaining, they are in for a handsome sum each.
With Wehrlein and Mueller making the chequered flag at the Circuito del Jarama, the funds raised now stand at €155,200 for the season so far.
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