Our Story
Established in Grey Lynn in 2003, Motorscience combines race-level precision with a people-first approach, giving clients direct access to the technician working on their Porsche. The workshop was founded by Peter Booth, whose career spans New Zealand and international motorsport, where he developed deep expertise in Porsche and a strong global supplier network.
It was the summers spent trackside at Pukekohe Park Raceway with his father that first set the direction for Motorscience founder Peter Booth. Within a few years, he had secured an apprenticeship at Ford South Auckland Motors while also crewing on Formula Ford cars at Timaru International Motor Raceway. It was there that Alan Ladyman, a well-regarded figure in New Zealand motorsport, offered him an opportunity that would shape his career: a paid role with a race preparation team in Long Island, New York.
At 21, apprenticeship complete, Pete left Papatoetoe for the United States to begin work in Formula Ford race preparation. Based in Locust Valley, he was immersed in a fast-paced environment that balanced workshop precision with trackside demands, offering occasional glimpses of New York City life, including visits to venues such as Studio 54. The move marked a significant step up — refining his technical discipline while exposing him to the standards and intensity of international motorsport. Throughout, he remained focused on building the depth of experience he would one day bring back to New Zealand.
A defining moment came during testing at Bridgehampton Race Circuit. When a driver failed to return, Pete promptly headed out onto the track in the driver’s own Porsche 930 to locate him. The driver was found safely, but the experience of driving a Porsche left a lasting impression. It was there that Pete’s focus shifted decisively.
From that point on, his career became increasingly Porsche-specialised. He worked with Continental Cars in Auckland, as well as Scuderia Veloce in Sydney and then with AFN London in the UK, gaining Porsche experience in highly demanding workshop and endurance racing environments.
Across New York, Auckland, Sydney, and London, Pete developed not only technical expertise but a strong international network of Porsche specialist suppliers and manufacturers. These relationships — formed in the pressure of competition, including major events such as the Le Mans and Daytona — remain an important part of how Motorscience operates today.
Over the years, Pete had built a reputation as a highly capable race technician — someone grounded in Porsche’s engineering principles, yet practical and solutions-focused when it mattered most. Returning to Auckland, he established his first workshop: Peter Booth Auto Technics. The business focused on building race cars for the likes of the Bridgestone Porsche Series, supported by the international supplier relationships he had cultivated throughout his career. From the outset, it operated with a level of technical capability and access that set it apart.
The workshop soon secured work with Parr Motorsport, including the build of Bill Farmer’s Porsche 993 GT2 engine. That engine went on to compete at Le Mans in 1996 and later at Daytona the same year — an achievement that reflected both the quality of the work and the strength of Pete’s global connections.
What began as a modest workshop — established through a Porsche Club connection — grew into a successful operation and was eventually acquired by the Giltrap Group. Pete remained on, helping to develop a high-efficiency Porsche service operation focused on road cars. While he valued the experience and the team, he increasingly missed the direct connection with clients and the hands-on involvement that had defined his earlier work. And so, Pete chose to return to an independent model.
In 2003, Motorscience opened its doors in Grey Lynn as an exclusive Porsche-only workshop, initially more focused on race cars. Early projects reflected the same technical depth and willingness to take on complex challenges, including Racing Ray William’s 1996 land speed record car "The Ivory Beast", a 1983 Porsche 930 Turbo 3.3L — alongside a range of bespoke race engineering builds.
Over time, the precision and discipline required in race engineering translated naturally into servicing and maintaining Porsche road cars. By 2006, with investment in factory diagnostic equipment, Motorscience expanded to cover the Porsche road range.
Central to the workshop’s approach is a clear philosophy: a commitment to both technical excellence and strong client relationships. Clients work directly with the technician responsible for their vehicle—ensuring clear communication, accountability, and a high standard of workmanship throughout. It’s an approach shaped by Pete’s experience in international motorsport, where trust, precision, and clarity are essential.
Today, more than 25 years on, Motorscience has grown into a close-knit team of senior mechanics, many with factory-trained Porsche experience. Pete’s eldest son, Max, now plays an integral role in managing workflow and client relationships, continuing the values the business was built on.
Backed by decades of international experience, a well-established international and local network of Porsche specialists, and a reputation for careful, considered work, Motorscience remains grounded in its original purpose: delivering high-quality, specialised Porsche engineering with a direct, personal approach.