(June 29, 2019) ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — When you are halfway around the world, it’s wonderful to not only have friends — but family. And for endurance rally racer Renee Brinkerhoff of Valkyrie Racing, one of only four women and 110 total rallyists in the 36-day 2019 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge, which covers a distance of nearly 10,000 miles — the family that came through was Porsche, with dealerships worldwide offering their services and facilities to the Colorado-based racer and philanthropist, with open doors.

This past week, after 26 days through countries including China, Mongolia, Russia and Kazakhstan — and another nine days to go — Renee and her 1956 Porsche 356A, have together blazed a trail ranging from the bone rattling desert paths of Mongolia, ice covered passes, treacherous river crossing, and the shock breaking Russian road that not only touched all areas of topography ranging from roads to swamps.



But more importantly offered the grounds to share the mission she’s been on to help defeat "child trafficking" bringing the important social issue to the forefront at every stop along the way.

Most recently in St. Petersburg, following an engine issue that required an all-new engine to be put together and placed inside her 356, the Primorskry Porsche dealership held a press conference in her honor and offered a facility with standing room only to greet Renee and her newly serviced vehicle. 

Porsche dealerships from Ulaanbaatar, Novosibirsk, Ufa and now St. Petersburg stepped up during each of the rally’s rest days and offered shelter and service for her weary vehicle.

According to Renee, after Mongolian dirt filled the carburetors, her engine needed to be rebuilt in Novosibirsk — no small task when you are local — but on a global trek, it takes a dedicated international team to keep things running. “We’re extremely thankful that Francis Tuthill was able to bring a new engine all the way from the UK in his luggage,” said Renee.

However, the baggage check-in at the UK airport required Tuthill (of Tuthill Porsche) to dismantle the engine because it was 8 pounds overweight and it took 11 hours to put back together before being placed inside Renee’s 356 once in Russia. 

All from one Porsche service center to another — working as a team to keep Renee’s Project 356 World Rally Tour on track.