The Perfect Choice
The 911 Dakar was the first Porsche ever to participate in the notorious Rally dos Sertões. The Piotto Vogts even drove it all the way to the starting line and used the roof tent as a mobile hotel.
The wild vegetation opens up, providing an unobstructed view of a river – Susele Piotto Vogt applies the brakes. For the Brazilian, this drive is anything but usual. She and her husband Fredy are taking part in the Expedition category of the 33rd edition of the Rally dos Sertões – an annual off-road adventure in Brazil that was launched in 1993 and has earned a reputation as the toughest race in South America. Motorcycles, quads, and utility task vehicles (UTVs) are some of the special off-road vehicles that participate in the competition. But it’s Susele’s vehicle – a 911 Dakar and the first Porsche ever to take part in this rally – that’s turning heads left, right, and center.
Concern begins to spread as more and more participants bring their vehicles to a stop alongside the riverbank. A guide recommends checking the depth of the water. But without thinking twice, Susele applies the gas and crosses the river with confidence. Once she reaches the other side, tension gives way to surprise. “Was that it?”
All-arounder:
The Dakar made short work of obstacles like rivers.
Flair:
The 911 Dakar almost looks like a model car next to the Brazilian araucaria trees, which can reach a height of up to 50 meters and measure more than two meters in trunk diameter.That’s how the Piotto Vogts recall it a few months later. It was not just a defining moment right at the start of the tour, but a validation of having chosen the perfect vehicle – the Dakar. Having already competed in the rally four times in UTVs, they were again covering 3,482 kilometers of Brazilian wilderness – this time in the 911 Dakar and in an SUV. Susele and Fredy alternated between the two vehicles, with their son João Pedro having his choice between the two. The Expedition category does not count in the official classification, meaning participants have the chance to embark on an off-road adventure in parallel to the official race. In any case, the Piotto Vogts’ journey was much longer than the official route of the rally, having traveled almost 1,200 kilometers from their hometown of Campo Largo in southeastern Brazil to Goiânia, southwest of the capital city, Brasília, where the rally began. And after crossing the finish line in Marechal Deodoro on the Alagoas coast, they had to make their way back home in the same cars. All in all, they covered a distance of 7,440 kilometers over a period of two weeks – unbridled passion on four wheels.
The atmosphere of the rally stands in stark contrast to the peace and quiet of Campo Largo, where we get together with the couple and their son, João Pedro, their dog, Trovão, and their cat, Tina. The small city near Curitiba, with its traditional wooden houses and araucaria forests, radiates classic Brazilian charm. The spacious, single-story house features an even larger garage, with the 911 Dakar the crowning glory of the collection, making it plain for all to see that the family shares a passion. The garage also houses a variety of classic cars, including a Chevrolet Opala and a Fiat 147, as well as a dirt bike and several UTVs.
And next door there’s a collector’s paradise with hundreds of pieces of automotive memorabilia, from racing helmets and model cars to Porsche Club banners. Automotive passion in its purest form that rubbed off on João Pedro long ago. Even though his parents always take turns driving, the 14-year-old has clear plans: “When I’m 18, I’m going to be the one driving,” he says, smiling, before looking at the 911 wistfully.
The Piotto Vogt family:
Susele and Fredy Piotto Vogt have owned 19 Porsche models over the years. They drove the 911 Dakar in this year’s Rally dos Sertões in Brazil – one of the toughest races in South America.Fredy and Susele have always shared a love of cars. Fredy, who’s 56 years old, manages a factory for dental and neurosurgical implants and used to race dragsters in his youth. Susele, aged 49, runs a home improvement store and has the same passion. Their Porsche story began even before the birth of their son. “We desperately wanted a sports car,” recalls Fredy. “But when we found out that Susele was pregnant, we said, ‘Let’s get an SUV with sports car genes instead.’ So we went for a Cayenne.”
The range of models in the Piotto Vogts’ garage has been growing ever since – they’ve owned 19 Porsche vehicles over the years. “Cayman, Macan, Taycan, Panamera E‑Hybrid, several 911 generations, 718 Boxster, Cayenne: We’ve tried out just about every new model,” says Fredy. “We’re basically a Porsche family.” They don’t hold on to all of the vehicles. Whenever they buy a new one, they usually have to let one go. “That can be hard sometimes,” admits Fredy. “As a collector, you want to keep them all. But every new model offers a fresh experience.” He’s particularly impressed with the Taycan. “It delivers enormous performance and responds instantly.” For him, the Panamera E‑Hybrid was a turning point. “It arrived during a nationwide truck strike, when gasoline was in short supply. I drove 1,800 kilometers on a single tank – that was a brand-new feeling.”
Porsche has also long been a part of Susele’s everyday life. “I use the 911 every day – for shopping, to get to work, and sometimes even to transport materials,” she says. Fredy adds, “We buy cars to drive them. It’s about the dynamism, the feeling, and the experience of driving a Porsche to work in the morning.”
Willpower:
Susele Piotto Vogt and her husband Fredy drove the 911 Dakar through the Brazilian wilderness.
Adventurers:
The Piotto Vogts competed in the rally’s Expedition category – it’s like the 911 Dakar was made for it.Family life for the Piotto Vogts is all about harmony and their shared passion. It’s only when choosing music for their trips that differences emerge. “My musical taste is influenced by my father: AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple,” says João Pedro. “Now I’m introducing him to hip-hop. But my mother prefers to listen to Brazilian music.” “Which is why I sometimes prefer to drive alone,” Susele says, laughing. But what they have in common outweighs everything else when they’re on the road. Their first trip in the 911 Dakar took them to Praia do Cassino – at 220 kilometers, the longest beach in the world – in Rio Grande do Sul, and from there, on to Chui in Uruguay. “It’s a destination that should be on everybody’s list,” recommends Fredy. The family regularly travels to Porsche Club Brasil activities, track days, and events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, the Porsche Club Ice Experience in Finland, and the 911 Camp in Namibia. “We love the sense of connection with the brand. It feels like we’re part of something special,” says Fredy. Porsche began selling sports cars in Brazil in 1997 and founded the subsidiary Porsche Brasil in 2015. Business took off, and the Piotto Vogts were a part of it from the very start.
Their most recent highlight was participating in the Rally dos Sertões – the first team to do so in a Porsche. “To start with, we weren’t sure if the Porsche would be able to handle the route,” admits Susele. “But those concerns evaporated the moment we crossed the river. The Dakar also served as our hotel. We slept in the roof tent in the heart of the wilderness. All in all, it was an unforgettable experience.”
