9WERKS Radio : The Porsche and Car Podcast

What happens when a late-night browse on Collecting Cars goes “wrong”? In this episode, the 9WERKS team – Lee Sibley and Andy Brookes – sit down with former co-host Max Newman to hear the unbelievable story of how he accidentally became the next custodian of James May’s 2010 Porsche 997.2 Carrera S.

From the “fussy” cleaning brush included in the sale to the nerve-wracking moment the hammer fell, Max reveals the reality of buying a celebrity-owned 911, the “purist” spec that tempted him, and why this particular Carrera White 997.2 might just be the perfect daily-driver 911.

Key Discussion Points

• The “Accidental” Bid: Max walks us through the auction process and the moment he realized he was the high bidder on a piece of Top Gear and The Grand Tour history.
• The James May Spec: Why “Captain Slow” chose a manual gearbox, Carrara White paint, and a rare limited-slip differential (LSD).
• Provenance & Detail: A look at the car’s impeccable service history at Porsche Centre West London and why James May included his famous cleaning brush in the sale.
• 997.2 vs. The World: Why the Gen 2 997 remains a “sweet spot” for enthusiasts, blending analog feel with modern DFI engine reliability.
• Living with a Legend: Max’s plans for the car—will it be a “garage queen” or stay true to the 9WERKS “Driven Not Hidden” mantra?

The Car: 2010 Porsche 911 (997.2) Carrera S

• Engine: 3.8L Naturally Aspirated Flat-Six (DFI)
• Power: 380 hp / 310 lb-ft
• Transmission: 6-Speed Manual (with optional LSD)
• Exterior: Carrara White
• Interior: Ocean Blue Extended Leather
• Key Options: 19-inch Carrera Classic wheels, PASM, BOSE Sound System, and PCM 3.0 with Extended Navigation.

Links & Resources

• Find your next Porsche: 9WERKS Marketplace
• Follow Max Newman: @maxripcor
• Follow 9WERKS: @9.werks
• Sponsor: Special thanks to Heritage Parts Centre. Use code 9WERKS10 for 10% off your order.

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is there really an "off-season" for Porsche owners? We don’t think so.

In this episode of 9WERKS Radio, Lee and Andy are joined by a powerhouse panel from the Driven Not Hidden Collective (DNHC) —Ben, Paul, Saquib, and Mark — to recount their recent winter adventure. We dive into the grit, the salt, and the pure joy of tackling a winter road trip when most Porsches are tucked away under covers.

We also bring you the highlights from our first event of 2026: 9WERKS at the Warehouse. Despite freezing temperatures, the DNHC descended on Heritage Parts Centre for a morning of coffee, Porsche chat, and indoor Wiggle Car racing.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Winter Road Trip: Why an "off-season" tour offers a unique (and quieter) driving experience.
• Winter Prep: How the panel readies their air-cooled and water-cooled 911s for the cold.
• Heritage HQ Highlights: A look back at our first major DNHC gathering of the year.
• Porsche Factory Trivia: We reveal exactly how many Porsche 911s are produced at Zuffenhausen in a single day (Hint: It’s more than you think!).

Whether you’re planning your own winter escape or just want to hear about the reality of year-round 911 ownership, this episode is for you.

To see pictures of the Heritage event visit Heritage Parts Centre’s website.

Find your dream Porsche on the 9WERKS Marketplace: 9werks.co.uk/marketplace

Thanks to our friends heritagepartscentre.com for sponsoring this podcast, get up to 10% off your basket by entering the code ‘9WERKS10’ at the checkout on heritagepartscentre.com

‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.

The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, and 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy and Lee are joined by Paul Pressland from the Driven Not Hidden Collective to review and reflect on their Porsche adventures in 2025. What’s been the biggest surprise? Which car has been crowned Porsche Of The Year? And what’s in store for 2026?!

Thanks for all your support in 2025.

Find your dream Porsche on the 9WERKS Marketplace: 9werks.co.uk/marketplace

Thanks to our friends heritagepartscentre.com for sponsoring this podcast, get up to 10% off your basket by entering the code ‘9WERKS10’ at the checkout on heritagepartscentre.com

‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.

The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, and 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Porsche Motorsport legend Alwin Springer reflects on his decades-long career in racing in this 2025 interview with 9WERKS

Alwin Springer is a true living legend in Porsche circles. Springer has been called “The O.G.” and “Mr Motorsport” by Porsche executives and historians thanks to a 60-year career of high success with both road and racing Porsches all over the US. Alwin’s incredible, decades-long Porsche story starts in the late 1960s, working on Porsches in Toronto, Canada, before learning the race trade at Vasek Polak in California. From here, Springer helped form the world-famous Andial with two friends, before leading Porsche Motorsport North America and rebuilding it front the ground up.

This is a fascinating episode covering nearly 60 years of Alwin’s life-long success racing Porsche cars, and improving road-going variants.

Find your dream Porsche on the 9WERKS Marketplace: 9werks.co.uk/marketplace

Thanks to our friends heritagepartscentre.com for sponsoring this podcast, get up to 10% off your basket by entering the code ‘9WERKS10’ at the checkout on heritagepartscentre.com

‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.

The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy and obsessive Porsche enthusiast & magazine junkie Max Newman @maxripcor, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee & Andy are joined by Rob Kavanagh, fresh from an enthralling adventure racing his Porsche 981 GT4 Clubsport across Mexico in the 2025 Carrera Panamericana.

Rob’s fascinating story tells how he, his co-driver and his GT4 Clubsport - prepared in the UK by Williams Crawford - covered in excess of 3,000 fast kilometres… in just one week!

Featuring an incident which threatened to ruin the whole adventure on day two, Rob reveals all from his Mexican adventure at one of the world’s toughest races.

Elsewhere, the 9WERKS team discuss their respective winter project ideas.

Find your dream Porsche on the 9WERKS Marketplace: 9werks.co.uk/marketplace

Thanks to our friends heritagepartscentre.com for sponsoring this podcast, get up to 10% off your basket by entering the code ‘9WERKS10’ at the checkout on heritagepartscentre.com

‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.

The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, and 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy & Lee are joined by Steve from the Driven Not Hidden Collective to dissect the key differences between the manual & PDK transmissions available in Porsche’s 911 GT3.

Steve has owned both manual and PDK versions of the 991.2 GT3 with an otherwise near identical spec, and has driven both on road and track, so is best placed to offer you an owner’s perspective on the question facing anybody in the market for a GT3.

Find your dream Porsche on the 9WERKS Marketplace: 9werks.co.uk/marketplace

Thanks to our friends heritagepartscentre.com for sponsoring this podcast, get up to 10% off your basket by entering the code ‘9WERKS10’ at the checkout on heritagepartscentre.com

‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.

The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, and 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Through four generations from 986 to 718, the Boxster has been a huge success – we gathered a group of Boxster owners at Paragon Porsche to share memories of when the roadster with a boxer engine was first released, before discussing how the concept has evolved and what lies ahead as the Boxster adopts EV tech.

Thank you to Mark, Jamie, Jason and the Paragon team for hosting us and laying on what has become an annual tradition of curry, cars and podcast conversation.

Find your dream Porsche on the 9WERKS Marketplace: 9werks.co.uk/marketplace

Thanks to our friends heritagepartscentre.com for sponsoring this podcast, get up to 10% off your basket by entering the code ‘9WERKS10’ at the checkout on heritagepartscentre.com

‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.

The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, and 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Team 9WERKS discuss the new 992.2 Touring after some seat time in the new flat-backed GT3, before answering some specific questions posed by members of the Driven Not Hidden Collective.

9WERKS’ new Partnerships supreme Jeevan also joins the boys to talk about the many miles covered in his 991.1 GTS, and what could be in store next…

Find your dream Porsche on the 9WERKS Marketplace: 9werks.co.uk/marketplace

Thanks to our friends heritagepartscentre.com for sponsoring this podcast, get up to 10% off your basket by entering the code ‘9WERKS10’ at the checkout on heritagepartscentre.com

‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.

The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, and 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Strap in and buckle up, this is your ultimate deep-dive into the early Porsche 911 GT3s in the 996.1 and 996.2!

Lee and Andy discuss the differences between the .1 and .2, before going around the industry to bring you full insight in these thrilling GT 911s.

Philip Raby reminds us of their reception when both were launched, Greig from RPM Technik provides technical insight to both generations, before John, Andy and Toby from the Driven Not Hidden Collective give invaluable owner insight on what they’re like to maintain.

Finally, we join Lee at the Harbour Cars showroom on collection day for his 996.2 GT3, sourced via the 9WERKS Marketplace.

Find your dream Porsche on the 9WERKS Marketplace: 9werks.co.uk/marketplace

Thanks to our friends heritagepartscentre.com for sponsoring this podcast, get up to 10% off your basket by entering the code ‘9WERKS10’ at the checkout on heritagepartscentre.com

This episode is also sponsored by Roadtrip Tribes, the app that keeps your group connected and on track. With real-time synchronized navigation, a built-in walkie-talkie, and the Radar function to locate your tribe while driving, Roadtrip Tribes ensures your convoy stays together and never deviates from the planned route. No one gets lost, no one gets left behind—just epic road trips.

‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.

The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, and 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lee & Andy are in Somerset visiting Cameron Sports Cars, where owner Simon explains how his personal Porsche passion lead to a dream job buying and selling special sports cars.

Elsewhere, the team talk through the importance (and likely ramifications) of Porsche’s new CEO announcement, as well as a new W18 engine patent – plus Lee reveals which car he’s just bought from the 9WERKS Marketplace.

Find your dream Porsche on the 9WERKS Marketplace: 9werks.co.uk/marketplace

Thanks to our friends heritagepartscentre.com for sponsoring this podcast, get up to 10% off your basket by entering the code ‘9WERKS10’ at the checkout on heritagepartscentre.com

‘9WERKS Radio’ @9werks.radio is your dedicated Porsche and car podcast, taking you closer than ever to the world’s finest sports cars and the culture and history behind them.

The show is brought to you by 9werks.co.uk, the innovative online platform for Porsche enthusiasts. Hosted by Porsche Journalist Lee Sibley @9werks_lee, and 911 owner and engineer Andy Brookes @993andy, with special input from friends and experts around the industry, including you, our valued listeners.

If you enjoy the podcast and would like to support us by joining the 9WERKS Driven Not Hidden Collective you can do so by hitting the link below, your support would be greatly appreciated.

Support the show

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.