Porsche 917 History

GULF PORSCHE TEAM
CHASSIS NO: 917:015
WINNER, 1970 DAYTONA 24 HOURS

917 HISTORY

In 1967 the Comission Sportive International (CSI), the independent competition arm of the FIA, decided to change the regulations for Group 6 prototypes competing for the Internationak Championship of Makes. In prior years the engine capacity was unlimited resulting in cars such as the 7 liter Ford MK IV and 4 liter V12 Ferrari. For 1968 the CSI announced that the championship would be run for 3 liter prototypes. Well aware that few manufacturers were ready to take up the challenge, the CSI also allowed 5 liter Group 5 Sports Cars, of which a minimum of 50 units had to be manufactured (later reduced to 25) to participate. This allowed existing cars like the aging Ford GT40 Mk. 1 and the newer Lola T70 coupe to compete.
Starting in July 1968, Porsche made a surprising and very expensive effort to take advantage of the Group 5 rule. Under the leadership of Ferdinand Piech, the Porsche racing department designed and built the 917 in just nine months. On April 20 Piech displayed 25 917's parked in front of the Porsche factory to stunned CSI inspectors.

The car was built around a very light space frame (92 lbs.) and powered by an air-cooled 4.5 liter (later increased to 5.0 liters) flat-12 engine mated to a 4 soeed transaxle. It was capable of hitting 220 MPH on the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans!

John Wyer's team J.W. Automotive become Porsche's "Werks" team for 1970. They secured sponsorship from Gulf Oil and created a new wedge shape tail for the 917. The new tail transformed the car and the Gulf Porsche team dominated in 1970 and 1971 winning the World Championship.

SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE: 5.0 liter, 12 cylinder
2 valves cylinder, DOHC
630 horsepower @ 8400 RPM
415 ft lbs of torque @ 6400 rpm
TRANSMISSION: Porsche 4-speed, synchromesh, magnesium case.
CHASSIS: Aluminum tube space frame with bonded fiberglass panels. Fiberglass body.
SUSPENSION: unequal upper and lower arms, coil springs, Bilstein shocks front and rear.
BRAKES: ventilated and cross drilled discs, 4 piston calipers front and rear
WEIGHT: 1750 lbs.
TOP SPEED: 220 MPH

RACE HISTORY

1970
Daytona 24 hours, 1st Overall
Pedro Rodriguez, Leo Kinnunen, Brian Redman
724 Laps, 2759 Miles

Watkins Glan Can Am
Brian Redman

1971
Converted to Spyder by the Porsche Factory

Winner 1971 Interserie Championship
Imola, 3d, Leo Kinnunen
Zolder, 2nd, Leo Kinnunen
Hockenhiem, 2nd, Leo Kinnunen
Norisring, 17th, Leo Kinnunen
Imola, 1st, Leo Kinnunen
Imola, 14th Leo Kinnunen
Montlhery, 2nd, Leo Kinnunen




June 7, 2012, 7:58 am