This year, 2013, marks the half-century of the Porsche 911. Some specimens from the museum of the German marque were present at the Paris Retromobile show, which closed on Sunday the 10th of February. Its characteristic shape has also entered the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The 911 is the most iconic and enduring example of a singular automotive architecture, the brainchild of founder Ferdinand Porsche before the start of the Second World War. The rear mounted air-cooled flat engine had already featured on the Volkswagen Beetle, as well as the Porsche 356, which was replaced by the 911. Today, it is inseparable from the image of Porsche: What other manufacturer can boast such an immediately identifiable and memorable shape? But the glory of the 911 also extends to racing circuits around the world, and of course at Le Mans. 

In 1974, the 911 Carrera RSR Turbo of Gijs van Lennep (double winner of the 24 Hours) and Herbert Müller finished second, only six laps behind the winning Matra prototype of Henri Pescarolo and Gerard Larrousse. This version, equipped with a flat 6-cylinder turbo engine, prefigured the 935, based on the “silhouette” technical regulation (Group 5) which applied in 1976 in the World Championship of Makes. The 935 quickly became a competitive success and won at Le Mans in 1979, Klaus Ludwig with brothers Bill and Don Whittington raced through the rain after the rout of the prototypes. Then, in 1998, it was a 911, available in GT1 version, which gave Porsche the sixteenth and final victory at Le Mans to date, with Laurent Aiello, Stéphane Ortelli and Allan McNish. A deserved victory for this paragon of sports cars. no doubt its outline will remain just as modern when Porsche celebrates its centenary!

Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo: CIRCUIT OF 24 HOURS (LE MANS, SARTHE) 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 6 & 7 June 1998. Fifteen years ago, the Porsche 911 ended the top two places at the 24 Hours: Winners Aiello, McNish, Ortelli (No. 26) ahead of their team mates Uwe Alzen, Jörg Müller and Bob Wollek.