He was born in Turin, but lived much of his life in Lyon, Rhône.

Porporato is mentioned in automobile press articles from 28 January 1906,[citation needed] where he is listed as a mechanic of the racing driver Paul Bablot on the occasion of the endurance record in a Berliet 16 to 22 horsepower (12 to 16 kW) car on the route from Salon to Arles.

Paul Bablot (1873–1932), the Berliet agent at Marseille, was the named driver for the Berliet marque in competition from 1904 (Mont Ventoux race, France) until 1906 with the Targa Florio and the Tourist Trophy, and one more time in 1908 with a victory in the Boulevard Michelet Hillclimb of Marseille.

Porporato, as fine-tuner and driver, drove Berliet cars in competition from 1907 until 1911.

In 1923 and 1924, he drove La Buire cars, notably at the French Grand Prix in Lyon in 1924.