Porsche apprentices transform 718 Boxster S into track-ready camera car

Nine apprentices from Porsche Leipzig converted a 718 Boxster S into a camera car for on-track filming, blending precision engineering with real-world training experience.

At the Porsche Leipzig training center, nine apprentices brought to life a project that has quietly become part of the plant’s legacy. In 2017, they transformed a standard Porsche 718 Boxster S into a highly specialized camera car built for dynamic film work at the Porsche Experience Center Leipzig.

The idea took shape when the previous “buggy,” an older Boxster used for filming, could no longer keep up with newer models on track. The challenge of building a successor was handed to the apprentices, under the guidance of training supervisor Carsten Pohle, an instructor focused on mechatronics and hybrid technology.

As part of their second-year training, the team stripped the soft top, reinforced the structure with a robust roll bar, and finished the body in matte black to reduce glare during filming. Steel tube mounts were fitted to the front, rear, and sides for flexible camera setups, while the roll bar served as a high mounting point for overhead angles.

Safety was a key priority. Both luggage compartments were padded and fitted with harness systems, and a standing platform between the seats and rear trunk allowed operators to shoot from different positions with secure PPE harnesses. Inside, the car was wired for direct laptop and camera connection, and an inverter supplied power for all electronic equipment.

The 718 Boxster S, powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 350 hp, proved to be an ideal foundation. Its precision handling and power allowed it to match the pace of on-track vehicles while carrying sensitive filming gear.

Since completion, the camera car has been used frequently on the Leipzig circuit and by external production teams, including Motor Presse Stuttgart. Even rally legend Walter Röhrl has been filmed with it. Most recently, the Boxster camera car took part in the Tutto Bene Hillclimb near Lake Maggiore, capturing dynamic uphill runs in Italy.

More than just a training project, this car has become a symbol of how Porsche’s apprenticeship program combines technical education with real-world experience—turning learning into lasting achievement.