Under unseasonably hot conditions for late September, the 88th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours is finally a reality. Postponed from its traditional mid-June date, the world famous endurance race fell victim to the global Corona virus pandemic, but at least we have a date for the race, and so its all systems go at Le Mans. In many ways, this running of the 24-hour race … [Read more...]
Arno Bohn – The Porsche Outsider
Arno Bohn was managing director of Porsche from 1990-92. An outsider who came from the computer industry, he arrived at a company seared by falling sales and riven by internal division about future direction. He left a Porsche which though still weak, had a new 911, the 993, in the wings and had conceived the 986/996 platform, a strategy which would be the beginning of its … [Read more...]
The many lives of the 935 K3/80 Red Baron
In the mid-70s, Porsche developed the 935 model, a race car homologated on the 930 road car and aimed at the Group 5 ‘silhouette’ series created by the FIA for the 1976 season. As the records will show, the 935 was a formidable race car and it quickly dominated the Group 5 class, becoming the weapon of choice for numerous privateer teams. Because of the flexibility of … [Read more...]
Porsche Museum and Archive – Then and Now
Have you ever been to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen? If not, you would do well to plan a visit to this modern and welcoming facility in the heart of Porsche-land. As a Porsche driver or just an enthusiast, your eyes will be out on stalks as you explore the halls of this heritage rich site. My first trip to the Porsche Museum and Archive was back in 2004, … [Read more...]
Twice Around the Clock: The Yanks at Le Mans
Over the years, there has been a lot written on the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours, a race which has earned the reputation as one of the most challenging endurance races on the international motorsport calendar. The 24 Heures du Mans enjoys the reputation as the world’s oldest active sports car race in endurance racing, and has been held annually since 1923, with the … [Read more...]
Vamos empuje! (Come on push!)
For some Porsche enthusiasts, the road to ownership follows a course which perhaps starts as an interest back as a young child, followed by increasing interest through those teenage years and early adulthood, ending in ownership at some later point. Others simply splash out later in life and buy a Porsche in what is generally termed a ‘mid-life crisis’. But there is always one … [Read more...]
Pic of the Week – Porsche 917 #025 at the 2018 Le Mans Classic
Last weekend, we would have been at the Le Mans Classic had the coronavirus pandemic not intervened. Now, thanks to this global medical crisis, all sports and major events involving large public gatherings have had to be either cancelled or postponed. One of our favourite historic race car meetings, the Le Mans Classic, fell victim to this pandemic and instead of taking place … [Read more...]
MADMAX ‘Sand Racer’ Porsche 911 Turbo S
Few people outside of the UK would have noticed that last year, a new land speed record was set on the famous Pendine Sands beach. Pendine Sands is a flat seven-mile stretch of beach on the shores of Carmarthen Bay on the south coast of Wales. It stretches west to east from Gilman Point to Laugharne Sands, the village of Laugharne being the home of the famous Welsh poet and … [Read more...]
911 GT2 RS – A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing
The GT2 has been Porsche’s top performing roadgoing turbo model since ‘95, but the addition of the ‘RS’ lifts this special model into a class of its own. Every now and then you come across a car that just stands out from the crowd. When that car is one of a limited production run, you would expect it to be kept in good nick, and looked after in a rather special way. But when … [Read more...]
Hans Mezger: 1929 to 2020
It was with great sadness that the motoring and motorsport world learned last week of the passing of Hans Mezger, Porsche engineer extraordinaire. He died at the age of 90 years, having grown up and lived near Stuttgart all of his life. His contribution to Porsche’s engineering prowess was nothing short of exceptional. Hans Mezger was born on 18 November 1929 in … [Read more...]
