24 Hours of Le Mans 1970-2015 - 45 Porsche stories (9)
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24 Hours of Le Mans 1970-2015 - 45 Porsche stories (9)

Since the first win in 1970, the lineage of Porsche prototypes sometimes gave rise to beautiful private initiatives, like the K8 Spyder prototype, decorated in the legendary blue and orange of the 917s from the early 1970s.

Reputable Porsche preparers - development designers for the 935, called K3, victorious at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979 with Klaus Ludwig and the Whittington brothers - the Erwin brothers (1939-2006) and Manfred Kremer presented the K8 Spyder. Powered by a straight 3-liter, 6-cylinder turbocharged engine, it was decorated with the Gulf livery in a blue darker than that of the 1970 and '71 Porsche 917s. Driven by Robin Donovan, Jürgen Lässig and Derek Bell (five wins at Le Mans, including four with Porsche), it finished sixth.

Barely 20 years ago, the Kremer Porsche K8 Spyder won its only international victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. At its wheel was Lässig, along with Italian driver Giovanni Lavaggi as well as a former and future winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, French driver Christophe Bouchut (1992 with Peugeot) and German driver Marco Werner (2006 and 2007 with Audi).

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: Copyright - ARCHIVES ACO

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY & SUNDAY JUNE 18-19 1994, RACE. Exactly 40 years ago, Derek Bell, here at the wheel of the Kremer Porsche K8 Spyder, had led Gulf's sky blue and orange livery to victory in the Mirage-Ford GR8 at the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans, along with Jacky Ickx.
 

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