About Me
From an early age, I was captivated by anything with an engine. I’d spend hours pedalling my red tractor around the back garden, racing to the garden wall to identify the make and model of cars climbing the hill. Before long, I’d mastered the art. It was clear then—petrol flowed through my veins, and my love for all things automotive was born!
I’m Tobias, owner and operator of Kraft Independent Porsche Specialist. After a lifetime immersed in the motor trade, I decided it was time to carve out my own road—delivering a hand-‘krafted’, personal approach to caring for each customer’s Porsche pride and joy.
My journey began at 15, cycling to a local garage on a BMX I’d built from the salvaged parts from my brothers’ broken bikes. I didn’t realise then that the workshop I was pedalling toward would become one of the most respected Porsche specialists in the country—and eventually gain global recognition for pioneering solutions to Porsche engine failure: Hartech Automotive.
After an enthusiastic stint of work experience, I was offered a part-time position working Thursdays nights and Saturday mornings. One of my favourite jobs? Nipping to the shop for pastie barms!
Once school wrapped up, I joined Hartech full-time as an apprentice and studied at Blackburn College, where I passed with distinction and earned “Apprentice of the Year”—a proud moment for me and my mum. Balancing college with hands-on work meant I pulled ahead quickly, and it became clear just how high the standards were at Hartech. I worked my way up from workshop technician to service manager, and eventually—one of the proudest moments of my career—I was offered a directorship.
Along the way, we got involved in motorsport. After earning my trailer licence, I took on the job of transporting the race car to and from events, and I handled between-race maintenance. Eventually, I was named team principal of Hartech Racing during a season when our four-car team clinched the constructors’ championship. The weekends were long, the returns on Sunday nights even longer—but the thrill of seeing our cars win, knowing I had a direct hand in their performance, was worth every minute.
In more recent years, I oversaw daily operations and carried out final quality control checks—personally test-driving most cars to ensure they performed flawlessly. After driving thousands of Porsches, I’ve honed my ability to spot faults quickly and accurately. Now, I use that experience to help others avoid costly mistakes and to pass on my knowledge to the next generation of enthusiasts and technicians.
The name Kraft:
A German word meaning power. It’s a bold, uncompromising name — one that naturally resonates with the world of automobiles, engineering, and performance. Power in motion. Power in unity. Power in purpose. To me, Kraft represents the idea that together we can achieve far more than any individual ever could.
The colour scheme:
Carries its own story. British Racing Green dates back to the early 1900s, when the Gordon Bennett Cup was held in Ireland — then still part of the United Kingdom — because racing on public roads in Great Britain was illegal. Each nation had to choose a unique colour for its cars, and the UK selected green as a gesture of respect to its Irish hosts. That heritage matters to me. My late father was Irish, and choosing this colour felt like the perfect way to honour both him and my lifelong passion for the automotive world.
Kraft, in name and colour, is a fusion of identity, history, and personal meaning — a reminder of where I come from, what I value, and the power that comes from moving forward with purpose.''
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