In May, Formula E Notebook’s Sam Smith and Andy Stobart embarked on a memorable journey from Monaco to Spa.
Two of the most iconic race tracks in the world, and two of the least iconic motorsport professionals, were combined by one exceptional all-electric SUV – the Porsche Macan.
The idea for the trip started at Jeddah in February when a furtive glance at the International racing calendar aligned some stars that would see a desire to embrace and review racing manufacturers hardware. With both Smith and Stobart working in each of the Formula E and FIA WEC paddocks, the opportunity seemed too good to pass up.
Porsche, via the ever diligent and quietly effective communications guru, Yannick Bitzer, made it happen. We are truly grateful because the Porsche Macan imbued Monaco to Spa odyssey was an absolute delight.
Monaco to Burgundy (in Lavender)
Such are the personal degradation levels felt after a Formula E double header, especially one at the hustle, toil and bustle of Monaco, that a late start on the Monday following the races felt inevitable.
So it was that Monsieur Stobart, Formula E Notebooks cultural and commercial attaché, collected the Porsche Macan from harbourside at Monaco and serenely graced it back to Beaulieu-Sur-Mer, the bolthole of choice for Team Formula E Notebook.
Via the wondrously helpful Louise Beckett, pit lane reporter and communications guru extraordinaire et par excellence, we parked the Macan in a secure location for the evening, while plans formed over a thimble of Pastis.
The first leg of the journey took in an East to West jaunt from Beaulieu-Sur -Mer after a hastily arranged breakfast at the bucolic wonder of Café de Beaulieu, whose art deco interior and wonderful ambience was a kind of home-from-home for the Formula E Notebook team across the four days of the Monaco EPrix.
The Macan silently swooped through Nice Ville and on to the A8 passing occasional Formula E test track Le Luc. Despite resisting the temptation to join a local trackday there the Macan was well in the groove and made its way up to Burgundy country where the vineyards and the chateaus tick down almost every kilometre.
This leg of the journey was completed with the Macan’s excellent sound system ablaze via choice cuts of vintage Pink Floyd, JJ Cale and 18th Floor Elevators because well, a car this cool deserves a decent anthem range.
With the glorious Macan accelerating from 0 – 60 mph (with launch control) in just over five seconds, negotiating traffic and getting from here to there was impressively pacy.
The comfort of the Macan was also very appealing with a spacious driving area and a remarkably quiet driving experience which initially was a bit unnerving but soon became second nature.
The blend of efficiency and controlled acceleration meant that the 333 – 398 miles range was perfect for our journey in which a roadside café south of Lyon was a pleasant stop off for some FEN news updates to be uploaded and for the latest Antonio Felix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein quotes to be transcribed.
Our stop off point for the evening was on the outskirts of Savigny-Les-Beaune at the Cité des Vins by IHG, where naturally we enjoyed local fair at the marvellous local Korean restaurant. Retiring to the bar for a glass of delectable Volnay and a sniff of the very potent local liqueur, a very pleasant evening was had by all.
