Following on from last year’s monumental celebration at Das Treffen 8 was no easy feat — after all, it saw the 75th anniversary of Porsche, 60 years of the 911, and 30 years of Porsche Thailand, all rolled into one — but if any man can do it, it’s the event’s mastermind Sihabutr Xoomsai, fondly known as “Tenn” by his friends, especially with the help of Porsche Asia Pacific and Porsche Thailand. Having spoken with Tenn ahead of the celebration, this year’s theme of “Limited Edition” had us waiting with baited breath to see which automotive jewels attended, and Das Treffen 9 certainly did not disappoint with a cornucopia of unicorns on display at Impact Speedpark karting circuit at Muang Thong Thani in Bangkok, Thailand.
Continuing the trend from previous years, Das Treffen 9 welcomed a record turnout of 625 Porsches and 3,050 visitors arriving from across Asia, including enthusiasts from Singapore and Vietnam. Without a doubt, the most impressive display was located right at the centre of the karting circuit, which showcased an array of ultra-low-production Porsches. A uniquely-specced 991-generation 911 R sat opposite its spiritual successor, the 992-generation 911 S/T, while other ultra-rare rides like the 997-generation 911 GT3 RS 4.0, of which just 600 exist, and the iconic Carrera GT gave visitors plenty to admire. However, perhaps the most limited car in attendance was the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport 25, of which just 30 were ever built.
Any true Porsche fanatic knows that beyond the special editions, the most illusive and desirable of all of Stuttgart’s creations come from the Sonderwunsch department, who proudly displayed their latest masterpiece at Das Treffen 9: the Taycan Turbo S Celestial Jade. Designed to pay tribute to the vibrant heritage, innovation, and forward-looking spirit of the Southeast Asian region, this one-off Taycan Turbo S boasts Porsche’s first-ever blend of two Chromaflair effect paints – Urban Bamboo and Shifting Carbon — a finish that took over 80 hours of meticulous hand-painting.
Like previous editions, nobody wanted to miss an opportunity to snap a pic with their ride in front of the Das Treffen 9 photo wall, which featured a huge artwork inspired by the turbochargers that helped cement Porsche’s dominance in the sports car space, both on and off the racetrack.
For those keen to explore Asia’s best roads after the event, the Curvistan stand was not to be missed, where guests could discover the location of Asian’s tarmac-clad hidden gems in the pages of Curves magazine’s greatest editions.
As you may be aware, Das Treffen simply translates to “the gathering”, a reference to the event’s humble beginnings as a simple yet intimate car meeting between like-minded Porsche enthusiasts. Now a full-scale festival, it was interesting to hear Tenn reflect on the success of Das Treffen: “The record turnout at Das Treffen 9 proves once again that Southeast Asia has one of the most vibrant and passionate Porsche communities in the world – and this is what makes our brand truly unique. We are grateful to the many owners that made long trips from our neighbouring countries to be part of this ninth edition of our gathering.”
And while the displays organised by Tenn and his team definitely captivated our imagination, we’re always blown away by the incredible cars driven to the event. This year, favourites include a RWB-inspired wide-body 987-generation Cayman, complete with an assortment of presents and even a Christmas tree, held in place by its enormous wing. Elsewhere, a Jägermeister-liveried 957 Cayenne reinvigorated our mild obsession with early examples of Porsche’s first SUV.
Das Treffen 9 closed a remarkable 2024 with a bang for Porsche in Thailand. It’s been a huge year, one that saw the first regionally-assembled Cayenne S E-Hybrid Coupé roll out into the world, the opening of Curvistan Bangkok — where we were honoured to participate in the grand opening — and the announcement of the Porsche Design Tower being constructed by fellow Porscheholic Chanond Ruangkritya, whose Carrera GT was turning heads across the event.
It’s clear to see that the Southeast Asian Porsche scene’s engines are just warming up, and we can’t wait to find out what 2025 holds for this fascinating cultural hub. Let’s not forget: next year will mark the 10 year anniversary of Das Treffen, but for now we’ll be reliving this incredible event through Stefan Bogner’s fantastic images!
Photos by Stefan Bogner / Das Treffen Magazine
