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Porsche 917 – Building a Racing Empire Part VIII

Le Mans 24-Hours, 14-15 June 1969: By 02h00 on Sunday morning the No. 12 917 LH Coupé of Vic Elford/Richard Attwood was four laps clear of the second placed 908 of Mitter/Schütz and well ahead of the rest of the field and was therefore able to throttle back slightly to preserve the car. But a fairytale win on debut was scuppered with a cracked bell housing. © Corporate Archives Porsche AG

Porsche 917 Factory Racing In 1969

Porsche’s new 917 was never intended to be ready for the two Florida races, Daytona and Sebring, at the beginning of the 1969 season. As it happened, the 917 also missed the first two European races of the Championship for Manufacturers, namely Brands Hatch and Monza, as the car had not yet received its homologation papers.

Although the car was legally ready for the Spa 1000 Kilometres on 11 May 1969, most of the drivers were reluctant to take it out on the circuit. The factory drivers opted instead for the tried and tested 908 LH, but Porsche was desperate to let the car be tested in competition, and for the public to see it for themselves.

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