To mark magnitude, it is enough to mention that the magazine “Motor Sport Magazine” highlighted it as “The best racing car of all time” after an expert vote. Also, during the 24 Hours of Le Mans (year 2000), a jury composed of specialized press chose Porsche 917 as the “Car of the Century in Le Mans”.
Following the impact of Ford's victories at the F.I.A. World Brand Championship and other issues, Ford announced in 1967 drastic regulatory changes affecting competition teams. The F.I.A. banned engines of more than 5,000 cm3 engine capacity in the Sport category plus the requirement of a minimum production of 50 units.
Meanwhile, the cars of the Sport Prototype category were restricted to 3,000 cm3, leaving more freedom to Gran Turismo cars that could reach up to 7,000 cm3, because these cars were not the main attraction of the championship.
In response to this framework, Porsche would set aside the refinement of its 904, 907, 908 and 910 models to devote itself entirely to the development of a new car for the Sport category: the 917.
One thing to remember is that for the debut, the car was already known as “hard to drive”, so the official drivers of the brand refused to drive it, choosing the reliable Porsche 908. Later, Porsche technicians continued testing and improved maneuverability.
By 1967 Porsche had made the decision to compete with new cars every year. While the development process was very costly, Porsche was more than rebounding because it was more likely to succeed and sold cars at the end of each season.
The Porsche 917 took the development of the 908 engine, although it went from 8 to 12 cylinders. This proven technology optimization ensured the level of reliability needed for endurance racing.
So far, the expected performance of cars such as the Ford GT40 and the 3,000 cm3 prototypes of Porsche and Ferrari was very even. Silently, by the end of 1968 Porsche was progressing rapidly with the design and construction of the 917 and its 4.494 cm3 12-cylinder boxer engine. The Germans would take advantage of the freedoms granted by the regulations of the World Championship of Brands.
For March 1969, Porsche presented its brand new racing car at the Geneva Motor Show: the 917. Its 12-cylinder opposite engine had double overhead camshaft and two valves per cylinder for 540 hp power. Ferrari had the 512 S as an opponent of the Porsche 917. While the Ferrari was progressing, Porsche would always stay one step forward.
While Porsche was preparing the car, the F.I.A. studied the ban on mobile spoilers for some tests accidents. Porsche managers were angry with the F.I.A., claiming that it was not their fault that some rivals did not work at their level and suffered mishaps.
Engineer Helmut Bott, designer of the Porsche 917, claimed that the spoilers commanded by the suspensions were critical to performance and that they had been successfully and reliably used on the previous Porsche 908. Finally those spoilers were banned except for the Le Mans race.
During the 1969 debut season at Porsche 917 he won important victories. While the best result in the first four races was an eighth place at Nurburgring (and the rest added 7 dropouts), the next races saw Porsche's fate change.
The Porsche 917 was led to victory in the 1,000 Km of Austria and the 9 Hr. of Kyalami, while in the competitions of Japan and Hockenheim the results were sixth and third respectively.
In 1970, the real dominance of the Porsche 917 began. As Ferrari approached Porsche at the end of 1969, Porsche modified the engine for the following season, significantly increasing the power. The 12 cylinders reached an engine capacity of 4,907 cm3 and a power of 600 hp at 8,500 rpm. The 917 weighed approximately 800 kilograms, while the Ferrari 512 exceeded 900 kilos.
With a big win in the Daytona 24 Hours 1970 (finishing 1-2), Porsche started a great year. The 12 Hours of Sebring were complicated and 917 reached a worthy fourth place. Then there would be five consecutive victories at Jarama, Thruxton, Brands Hatch (full podium), Monza (1,000 km) and Jarama again.
While other dropouts were recorded, Porsche won eight more wins in the 1,000 Km of SPA, Jarama, the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1st and 2nd), the 6 Hours of Watkins-Glen, the 500 Km of Imola, the Zaandvort Trophy (Holland), the 1,000 Km of Austria and the 9 Hours of Kyalami.
In the farewell year Porsche was triumphant in races all over the world. The Porsche 917 won a total of 9 races in: the 1,000 Km of Buenos Aires, the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, Thruxton, the 1,000 Km of Monza, the 1,000 Km of SPA, the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1st and 2nd), the 1,000 Km of Austria and the 1,000 Km of Paris.
The Porsche 917 officially participated in the World Brand Championship three years in a row, between 1969 and 1971. Out of a total of 21 races played by this Championship, Porsche won 14 and finished 2 in second place. In turn, 917 ranked first in 14 competitions.
Other notable achievements are the record of 397 laps in the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1971 (still in force), the speed record in that race and the maximum speed reached, in that same scenario, of 396 km/h during a night rehearsal in 1971.
To conclude, while there is not much more to say, it is enough to remember that Porsche is one of the most dominant brands in the history of sports motorsport and the most winning in the history of 24 Hours of Le Mans.
© Adrián Blanco 2007 - No full or partial reproduction of text and/or images without explicit written consent of the author. —
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