A Porsche Panamera escaped damage during the accident
Car accidents are always tragic, but they carry special meaning when they serve a purpose. February 13 brought much unwelcome news for everyone in the Porsche world when one of it’s most seasoned test drivers was killed in a road accident during testing of the next generation Porsche 911 convertible.
Apparently the driver lost control of the car at moderate speed on an unregulated portion of the autobahn in Hessen, during damp weather.
Testing locations vary from location to location. Some are on closed-circuit tracks, others are on high-speed ovals, but a lot of testing is “real-world”. Spy shots abound of nearly ever new models that comes out. Some cars are tested more rigorously, but sports cars tend to receive a lot of test time on road and track. Often the test drivers work in shifts, 24 hours per day, and in various locations ranging from the deserts of Arizona, to above the arctic circle in Sweden.
Test centers for various manufacturers include:
| Manufacturer | Test location |
| Porsche | Weissach |
| Opel | Dudenhofen |
| VW | Ehra-Lessien |
Pictures from the accident detailing the car’s position in relation to the guardrail are here.
