24h Le Mans
While Porsche prepare for their return to prototypes, they are slowly revealing information on the recruitment of drivers and pictures of the new car. We look back on the genealogy of his fabulous marque in La Sarthe and the winning cars, starting with the first, the 917.
Photo :
After the ever increasing performance of Ford and Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1967, the Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI or ancestor of the current Federation International Automobile) imposed a limitation to three litres engine capacity on prototypes . But also created a parallel "Sport" class for five litre engines, with the obligation of fifty and then twenty-five cars were built. Porsche rose to the challenge, and started on the road to what became a legend, with the 917.
After a triple retirement at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1969 and the death of the British gentleman-driver John Woolfe early in the race, in 1970 and in 1971 the 917 became the first Porsche to win in La Sarthe, breaking all record ... which led to it being banned in 1972 by the CSI, who froze engine capacity at three litres. The 917 took refuge in the Americas, after reaching a level of performance and technology never before seen at Le Mans.
Porsche 917 (1969-70-71)
Victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans : 1970 (Richard Attwood-Hans Herrmann) and 1971 (Helmut Marko-Gijs van Lennep)
Pole positions at the 24 Hours of Le Mans : 1969-70-71
Records : fastest lap (3:13.6) and fastest pole position (3:13.9) at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, distance record in 1971 by Marko-van Lennep (5,335 km at 222 km/h aveage speed)
See also : Porsche 917/30 the missing link (video),
To learn more about Porsche at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, go to the microsite Mission 2014 – Our Return.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO
Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 12th & 13th JUNE 1971. The Porsche 917 of Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep en route to setting a distance record that would stand for nearly 40 years.
