The female Porsche 911 GT3 track driving community
Rhoda Bueno Andrada on her passion for track driving in her 911 GT3 and the female Porsche track driving community she has helped build in northern California
Rhoda Bueno Andrada has been a passionate Porsche owner for over 16 years. The Californian tells us about her 911 GT3 (type 992) – and how she is helping empower other women who love driving on racetracks
Rhoda Bueno Andrada says that she has always been competitive – a trait that’s driven her career as a video game industry executive. Thriving in the fast-paced, demanding world of gaming, it’s no surprise this Hawaii native is also drawn to the thrill of fast cars. Her passion for Porsche led her to start her own online community on Instagram and, in 2019, co-founding FemPowered – a grassroots organisation dedicated to empowering and supporting women in driving both on track and on the road in California’s Bay Area.With a deep love for high-performance sportscars and driving them on the racetrack, Rhoda understands how daunting it can be to step into that world for the very first time – and that’s where FemPowered comes in, helping to disprove the outdated cliché that fast cars aren’t for women.We joined Rhoda as she took her 911 GT3 (type 992) in vibrant Ruby Star paint out on the racetrack to tell us about her love for driving it and why the Porsche community is so special to her.Driving on the track inspired Rhoda Bueno Andrada to start her own Porsche female community in California’s Bay Area to help support and encourage women who share her passion Photo: Kirby Fong @itzkirbWhat is the FemPowered community all about, Rhoda?“When I first started going to the track, it was daunting for a woman to pursue this hobby. At my very first track day I was one of just two women in a sea of over a hundred men. Naturally, I was drawn to the other female driver and we bonded instantly. We identified a gap, got a group of women together and FemPowered was born.“It’s a local, grassroots community for women and female car enthusiasts. Whether it’s getting together for weekend drives through the canyons, social events, tech talks or track days, we’re committed to building a support group for Porsche women here in northern California. And it’s not just women in the community – it’s also men supporting women.”What inspired you to share your Porsche journey on Instagram and nurture this community?“I’ve been a loyal and passionate Porsche owner for over 16 years and have owned pretty much every non-electric Porsche variant – from the Cayman to the Panamera, the Macan to a 911. My passion for the brand runs deep and has only grown stronger over the years.“Eventually I bought a 911 Turbo S with the intention of racing it. I loved it on the track, but then I jumped into my husband’s GT3. I tried it and I thought, wow, the GT cars are just built for the track. That’s why I decided to get the car I have now – a Porsche 992 GT3 in Ruby Star.When driving her 911 GT3 on track Rhoda says that it’s as if the whole world melts away and it’s just her and her car conquering the circuit Photo: Kirby Fong @itzkirb“Starting an Instagram channel was a natural next step for me. I wanted to create a space where I could connect with other car enthusiasts and show the beauty of owning a Porsche. I also wanted to document my journey as a female Porsche owner, because I feel that we are underrepresented – both online and offline.”You are very passionate about track driving. How did you get into this hobby? “I guess you could say I’m an adrenaline junkie. I’m also one half of a Porsche couple. My husband has his own GT car – a GT4 RS in Fjord Green – so we’ve got a sort of ‘his & hers GT car’ situation where we drive on track together quite a bit. I think that shared passion is also something that drives and inspires me.“I’ve been driving on racetracks for over five years now and I do over 20 track days a year. What’s great is that I’ve been able to share my real, authentic journey on Instagram. From starting out as a beginner to becoming an experienced driver and posting my lap times at Laguna Seca, Sonoma and other local tracks here in California. I don’t claim to be the fastest driver, but I do share my true self. No smoke and mirrors. What you see is what you get. And I think that’s what people appreciate about me and my journey.”Rhoda has optimised her 911 GT3 for the track with a roll cage and harnesses, track alignment and cornering compensation, to ‘stickier’ tyres. But that doesn’t stop her from using her car as a daily driver too Photo: Kirby Fong @itzkirbWhy did you choose Porsche colour Ruby Star for your 992 GT3?“I'm a firm believer that Porsche cars are made to be driven and it pains me to see a track-oriented GT car not being out and about or used for that purpose. These cars are at home on the track. And as a racing fanatic, the GT3 was undoubtedly the perfect car for me.“My love affair with Porsche, and indeed the Ruby Star colour, stems from an early memory of seeing a photograph of a 964 RS in Ruby Stone Red in the early 1990s. That photo left such an indelible impression that there was no doubt in my mind that when I got my GT3 – which is a very bold track car – I had to get a bold colour.“I’ve always loved Ruby Star. It’s just so different, but it’s also very polarising. Some people love it, some people don’t. But it’s part of my personal history because it’s the colour that really drew me into the brand. So that’s why I chose it – I have absolutely no regrets!”What does it feel like to drive a 911 GT3 on a racetrack?“Words can hardly describe the experience of driving a GT3 on the track. It’s pure performance and incredible precision engineering at its best. As soon as I get in the driver’s seat, I feel connected to the car in a way that’s both intimate and empowering. The car responds incredibly well. It handles like a dream and with the fantastic rear wing and downforce, you feel like you’re glued to the track. I’d say it’s truly confidence inspiring.In over two and a half years of ownership, Rhoda has clocked up almost 27,000 miles in her Porsche 911 GT3 (type 992), many of them on the racetrack Photo: Kirby Fong @itzkirb“It’s a special feeling to know that I’m out there on the track with the guys and I’m holding my own and doing well. So I think that’s the feeling I’m chasing.”How involved are you in the Porsche community?“My husband and I are incredibly involved in the Porsche community. We’ve made so many friends over the years and have found the Porsche community to be by far the most diverse. We’ve got men, women, children, families, even dogs, all contributing to its warmth.“For me, Porsche transcends cultures and regions and really brings people together. And it’s this community aspect of Porsche that drew me in. Now I get to help foster that growth and share that passion, especially with the women who might not necessarily know anything about the brand or how to connect with other women who share their passion.”
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