![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
De OPThe Porsche 917 gave Porsche its first overall wins at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971. Powered by the Type 912 flat-12 engine of 4.5, 4.9, or 5 litres, the long-tailed version was capable of a 0-62mph time of less than 2.5 seconds and a top speed of over 248 mph (394 km/h).
In the 1973 CanAm series, the turbocharged version Porsche 917/30 developed over 1100 bhp.
The 917 is one of the most iconographic sports racing cars of all time and was even made into a movie star by Steve McQueen in his film Le Mans.
As the new rules for the 3-litre prototypes were not favourable to their existing low-weight, low-power Porsche 908, Porsche decided against developing a new high power engine that could keep up with the F1 designs of the competitions - at least in naturally aspirated form. Years later they would return with the turbocharged Porsche 936 sportscars after the engines were tested in Porsche 911 versions.
After their successes with the 917 mainly in Europe, Porsche instead decided to focus on the North American markets and the CanAm challenge. For that series, larger and more powerful engines were needed. A 16-cylinder with about 750hp was tested, but a turbocharged 12-cylinder had initially the same power, with more to come.
The turbocharged 850hp 917/10 entered by Penske racing won the 1972 series with George Follmer. The new evolution of the 917, the 917/30 with an even stronger 5.4 litre engine with up to 1300 horsepower won the 1973 edition winning all races but one. Most of the opposition was made of private 917/10 as McLaren had already concentrated on F1. The 917's domination, the oil crisis and fiery tragedies like Roger Williamson's in Zandvoort pushed the SCCA to introduce a 3 miles per US gallon maximum fuel consumption rule for 1973. Due to this, the factory 917/30 competed in only one race in 1974, and some customers retro-fitted their 917/10 with naturally aspirated engines.
The 917/30 was the most powerful sports car racer ever built and raced. The 5.4 litre 12 cylinder could produce 1500 bhp with twin turbochargers run up to full boost, a simply astonishing 39 p.s.i, though it usually raced with around 1100bhp to preserve the engine. The 917/30 dominated in the CanAm series during the early seventies. The 917/30 could go from 0-60 mph in 1.9 seconds, 0-100 in 3.9 seconds and 0-200 in 10.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 245 mph+. In 9th August 1975, Porsche and Penske would give the Can-Am car its final send off in style when they took their 917/30 to Talladega to break the FIA speed record on a closed circuit with Donohue driving, the speed reached was 245 mph. As well as being the last official outing for the 917, it became the last drive for Donohue at any motorsport events before his fatal accident in the Austrian Grand Prix a week later. The record would stand for the next twenty two years.
Also, several 917 coupés as well as 917/10 (powered by turbos or NA engines), were run in Europe's Interserie until the mid-1970s.
Many of the 917 leftover parts, especially chassis parts, would be used to build the Porsche 936 in 1976.
In 1981, German team Kremer would give the 917 its final fare-well, with a coupé especially built for the Group 6 category and mechanicals sourced from the factory. It was competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans before retiring with mechanicals troubles.
![]()
![]()
![]()
vorige deeltjes
http://ptaslowchat.tk
De code voor de op is hier te vindenChat on