For a quarter of a century, the Interserie was the playground for Porsche’s wildest and most unconventional racing creations. Pushing to the limits, these machines left behind a trail of victories, and a legacy that still fascinates Porsche enthusiasts today.
Driving Gesipa's own interpretation of the 917 Spyder, Michel Weber achieved his best result of the season - a second-place finish - at the Preis von Baden-Württemberg, in Hockenheim. Corporate Archives Porsche AG
Starting in 1970, the Interserie established itself on racetracks across Germany and neighboring countries becoming Europe’s answer to the hugely successful Canadian-American Challenge Cup (Can-Am). With exotic prototypes battling wheel-to-wheel, the series developed itself into one of the highlights of the European racing calendar, remaining one of its major attractions from the 1970s well into the 1990s.
During the first incarnation of the Interserie, which spanned 29 seasons from 1970 to 1998, Porsche-powered cars would claim 15 titles, many in commanding fashion. Corporate Archives Porsche AG
The story of this unique championship, however, began in 1969 with the Nordic Challenge Cup (NCC), created by former racing driver and entrepreneur Curt Lincoln. As a shoot-out sports prototype tournament contested over three events at Keimola, Mantorp Park, and Anderstorp, the concept proved an immediate success, attracting an impressive array of teams and drivers. But despite the positive reception, the NCC was destined to remain a one-season experiment. Its Nordic focus limited its reach, while a lack of funding made a return in 1970 impossible; Yet the championship had demonstrated the potential of a European series built around powerful prototype machinery – and its success did not go unnoticed.
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