Diane: 991.2 GT3 RS
Current Porsche Cars:
2019 GT3 RS, 2022 Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid Coupe
Future Car Plans:
I would like a GT3 with manual transmission and a Taycan Turbo S some day.
Hi Diane, to get started, please tell me about yourself:
I was born and raised in San Jose, CA. I’m a car enthusiast and an animal lover. Watching rally, IndyCar, F1, and GT racing fueled my imagination and interest in motorsports. The Initial D anime series also made an impact on me and introduced me to touge racing. From my first experience go-karting to obtaining my driver’s license immediately at 16, I knew that motorsports were going to be my lifelong passion.
Blessed with an incredible backdrop, I spent years driving California’s scenic coastal and redwood backroads–occasionally even as a passenger. Beyond that, I dreamt of going to local race tracks like Laguna Seca with my own car to experience the limits and hone my own skills. I joined the Porsche Club of America in 2021 and fell in love with the community. I’ve since volunteered during touring drives as a safety and sweep driver and have recently begun dipping my toes into HPDE days. My mission is to support women and young girls to follow their dreams in motorsports. I am also working on creating awareness and breaking the stigma of mental health issues especially in Asian cultures by sharing my healing journey with others.
How did you get introduced to the Porsche brand of cars?
As a young girl I played with hot wheels and a toy Porsche Carrera stands out vividly in my memory. My obsession with the GT3 RS, in particular, began with the 996 driven by Paul Walker in the movie Fast Five.
How do you enjoy your Porsche?
Owning my GT3 RS has been a healing experience from a long battle against depression and anxiety. I love driving my GT3 RS on the scenic routes of Northern California to work through my mental health. I recently tracked the GT3 RS on Laguna Seca and the experience has helped me to learn more about myself and love my car more. I’ve met so many new lifelong friends in the Porsche community that have been supportive in my journey for peace and happiness.
Thank you for sharing this personal story with us, Diane. Your story shines a light on a very important topic of mental health that impacts so many of us. I am glad to know you found driving as a method to help you personally with your own mental health. And perhaps some readers of this interview will give it a try as well in hopes that it helps them too.
In addition to being a car enthusiast, you are also a gamer, is that right?
Yes. I have been playing video games since I was 8 years old. I played a lot of Warcraft, Diablo and Doom growing up. I am a long time World of Warcraft and League of Legends player. Currently I am playing Baldur's Gate 3, Battlefield 2042 and Call of Duty MW3.
Are there any similarities between cars and gaming as your two hobbies?
Playing racing video games made me love motorsports more alongside watching professional athletes race. My most memorable racing game growing up was The Need for Speed II and The Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit. I also enjoy rally games like WRC. Currently, we have a Next Level Racing set up with a Fanatec racing wheel for Gran Turismo 7 and Assetto Corsa. We enjoy sim racing to help us learn the track before a track weekend.
Why do you think there are so few women driving Porsche cars, especially the 911 and 718 sports car models? What do you think Porsche or the community can do to invite women to join in on the Porsche fun?
I personally think that we are moving in the right direction to promote and encourage women in the Porsche community. I think there are a lot of women that would love to drive a 911 and 718 with more exposure and influence. I hope to see Porsche dealerships spend more time promoting 911 and 718 as fun and safe cars for women at events. And your work, Zhanna, of creating "Her Porsche" is making a huge difference allowing women like us to be able to express ourselves and why we love our Porsche cars lifestyle.
Thank you for the kind words, Diane! It was a pleasure getting to know you better and thank you again for sharing your story.
