Author Brian Long needs little introduction to the serious motorsport enthusiast, and in particular, Porsche racing. This title covers Porsche’s motor racing achievements between 1953 and 1975, and is the first of two volumes (the second volume covers 1976 to 2005).
Offering a brief historical look into the company’s origins, Long then skips straight into the 356’s first race at Le Mans in 1951 which is perhaps rather curious as the book’s title indicates that it covers the period from 1953 onwards. However, the account is all the richer for this content as the company’s motorsport involvement started with the little 356 when it finished a highly commendable 20th overall and first in the 1100cc class in the 1951 Le Mans 24-Hours.
The author gives excellent and detailed explanations of the 550 racer, Porsche’s first real purpose-built racer showing some design drawings. Unquestionably the Carrera Panamericana was the race event in which Porsche matured both as a team and a manufacturer, setting the foundations for the continued and rapid growth of the company’s motorsport programme.
Long covers the racing exploits of the Stuttgart company in a year-by-year format, including many black & white contemporary shots, as well as colour photographs in more recent years. Care has been taken in the photo selection as this is not just another example of recycled and well-known photos, as the author has compiled a thoughtful combination of action, still and personality shots. Having read (and written) a lot on the subject of Porsche, this book is certainly a valuable record of Porsche racing during this two-decade period as it covers the company’s exploits in Europe, America as well as Porsche’s F2 years.
Each chapter sets the scene for the new season and includes a technical explanation where necessary, some history as well as results in the different racing series around the world in which Porsche were involved. If there is any criticism to be levelled at the book, it is that by covering such a vast subject that includes Porsche’s total racing programme across many classes and categories, that the author has not been able to go into any great depth at any point.
This volume, which takes the reader up to the mid-1970s, represents the start of the company’s racing exploits and ends with what Long calls, ‘The Big Bangers’, by which he means the mighty 917. The roughly two decades covered here certainly encompasses one of the most explosive periods in motorsport history, and this is perhaps an appropriate place to split the two-volume set as the story hereafter is more concerned with smaller engine capacities and the advent of turbocharging.
The second volume covers the period 1976 to 2005, and it is written in the same clear, concise style as the first volume. This period includes cars such as the 934 and 935, unquestionably the most colourful and charged period in Porsche’s racing heritage up to that point – some will argue that this extends right up to today! The 936, 956/962 and the 924 transaxle racers follow, making this certainly Porsche’s most successful racing period. The 1980s was a period of great diversification into Formula 1, Indy and the Paris-Dakar rally, all of which is covered in detail.
After Porsche withdrew from full factory involvement, it was left to the privateers to campaign the 911s in its various guises. In the late 1990s Porsche was back with the GT1 and in the early to mid-2000s, the RS Spyder was introduced bringing the period covered by these two fine volumes to a close.
Both PORSCHE RACING CARS – 1953 TO 1975 and its sibling PORSCHE RACING CARS – 1976 TO 2005 come highly recommended (the two volumes can be purchased independently). If you are a Porsche motorsport enthusiast, these two volumes would make an enviable addition to your bookshelf.
Title: PORSCHE RACING CARS – 1953 TO 1975
Author: Brian Long
Publisher: Veloce Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 9781904788447
Specification: Hardback, 272 pages, 250 x 250mm, 600 images (233 in colour)
Price: £45.00
Title: PORSCHE RACING CARS – 1976 TO 2005
Author: Brian Long
Publisher: Veloce Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 9781904788454
Specification: Hardback, 272 pages, 250 x 250mm, 629 images (mainly in colour)
Price: £45.00
Written by: Glen Smale
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