The Porsche 917
Lots of automakers like to brag about how their “racing heritage” informs their production vehicles, but none of them can claim nearly the star power of Porsche. They’re the Tom Cruise of automotive racing.
Let’s warm up with some initial stats:
- 16-time winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (more than any other manufacturer)
- More than 50 class wins at Le Mans
- An estimated 28,000 total championships won globally as of 2007
- 275 dedicated race cars produced in 2007 alone (more than any other manufacturer)
Porsche’s philosophy of small cars with high-displacement engines led to their initial nickname in the racing circuit: “giant-killer.” While other automakers tried out V8s, V10s and even V12s, Porsche stuck with their four or six cylinder flat engines and lightweight bodies for a long time.
The first official Porsche racing entrant was the 356 SL in 1951, a custom version of Porsche’s first production car, the 356. At the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Porsche won the under 1100cc category in its first try thanks to its aluminum body.
The Porsche 356 SL
This led to the 550 Spyders in 1953, which will look familiar to anyone has seen a Boxster Spyder in recent years. In 1956, the 550A Spyder won the Targa Florio against competitors from Ferrari, Maserati and Jaguar, which would inspire Porsche to use the Targa name years later. Similarly, a win in the 1953 Carrera Panamerica would encourage Porsche to appropriate those names, too.
Rally racing also proved to be an effective arena for Porsche due to a lesser known vehicle: the 911. The automaker racked up three wins in a row at the Monte Carlo Rally toward the end of the 1960s. Porsche won the International Championship for Manufacturers in 1970, and a range of private drivers using the 911 have had success at rally races over the years.
The Porsche 550A Spyder
In terms of Formula One, we’ve had a more complex relationship. Sometimes Porsche built their own car, like 804 F1 in 1962 at the French Grand Prix. That eight-cylinder single-seat rocket was enough to silence critics who said Porsche could not design a larger engine car. Thereafter, in the 1970s Porsche was content to build custom engines for F1 teams at McLaren and TAG, thus sharing the glory. Still, there are indications that current CEO Matthias Mueller could bring Porsche back into Formula One racing after a decades-long sabbatical.
Finally, it’s impossible to reference Porsche’s wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans without bringing up the 917. Regarded as one of the most iconic racing cars ever, its shape informs the 918 and 919 today, as well as multitudinous imitators. Its 5.0-liter V12 was a masterwork in air-cooled engine design. Its tempestuous power proved difficult for many drivers to control, but once tamed, allowed Porsche to rack up an uninterrupted string of victories. Rule changes in 1971 made the 917 illegal, but it lives on in subsequent derived designs.
For even more of Porsche’s 28,000 championship wins, we would direct you to our Porsche Motorsports page.
The Porsche 804 F1
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