Porsche 908/02 K Spyder (non-Flunder)

Premiere: January 8, 1969, Hockenheimring press event

1969 January 8 Hockenheimring: 908/02 Spyder prototype (note the air intakes known from the 908/01 K Coupé). Drivers Gerhard Mitter, Hans Herrmann, Jo Siffert, Rolf Stommelen, Rico Steinemann, Kurt Ahrens, Udo Schütz, Brian Redman, Richard Attwood, Gérard Larrousse, Pauli Toivonen, Björn Waldegaard. © Porsche

For the 1969 racing season the new rules allowed open cars and Porsche built a lighter 908/02 K Spyder. While the 908/01 were initially built with steel frames and then with aluminium frames, the 908/02 K Spyders were all made with aluminium tube frames. The frames were pressurised and had air pressure gauges. This helped to detect if the frame got any damage during the race. In order to further increase the stability in braking into corners, an anti-blocking system was created and tested, but it was not yet advanced enough to use in racing (would be used for the first time in a 917).

The first race for the 908/02 was Sebring 12H on March 22, 1969. Rolf Stommelen/Joe Buzzetta/Kurt Ahrens Jr. drove the 908/02 K to third place. This was just a start of the 908/02 conquering that was about to come along very soon. The Brands Hatch 6H podium on April 13, 1969 was wiped by 908/02 Ks with Jo Siffert/Brian Redman as the winners.

1969 April 13, Brands Hatch 6H is won by 908/02 K (chassis 908/02-011) #53 Jo Siffert/Brian Redman and followed by two other 908/02 Ks: 2nd #55 Vic Elford/Richard Attwood and 3rd #54 Gerhard Mitter/Udo Schütz © unknown (please inform if you know)

Following the 1-2-3 triumph at Brands Hatch, three weeks later Porsche did a 1-2-3-4 at 1969 Targa Florio. 79 cars had started for the race and 52 finished including 18 Porsches. All the top four Porsches were 908/02 K Spyders and in addition two 907s placed 6th and 7th. Engineer and constructor Ferdinand Piëch was surely about to become the king of the racing world.

1969 May 4, Targa Florio was completely wiped by 908/02 K Spyders: 1. #266 Gerhard Mitter/Udo Schütz, 2. #270 Vic Elford/Umberto Maglioli, 3. #274 Rolf Stommelen/Hans Herrmann, 4. #272 Willy Kauhsen/Karl von Wendt © Porsche

1969 May 4, Targa Florio. Umberto Maglioli, Dick Attwood, Brian Redman, Ferry Porsche, Hans Herrmann, Udo Schütz, Rolf Stommelen (with glasses), Vic Elford, Rudi Lins and Gérard Larrousse. Gerhard Mitter is at the wheel of the Porsche 908/02 K Spyder. The 1969 Targa Florio marked one of Porsche’s greatest successes in motor racing, but there was even more to come. © Porsche

1969 Targa Florio Porsche film

Restored, but the font of ”266” is incorrect © Porsche

Type 918 transmission © James Herne / Stuttcars.com

Following the Porsche 1-2-3 and 1-2-3-4 victories that had started in 1967 and lasted in 1968 and 1969, the 908/02s made it even possible to achieve a 1-2-3-4-5 victory at the Nürburgring 1000 km on June 1, 1969.

1969 June 1, Nürburgring 1000 km winner 908/02 K Spyder (chassis 908/02-006) #1 Jo Siffert/Brian Redman (Redman on the photo, note the car is missing right side front spoiler). 2nd place went to 908/02 K Flunder Spyder #4 Rolf Stommelen/Hans Herrmann, 3rd 908/02 K Spyder #3 Vic Elford/Kurt Ahrens Jr., 4th 908/02 K Spyder #6 Rudi Lins/Richard Attwood and 5th 908/02 K Spyder #5 Willy Kauhsen/Karl von Wendt. © Champion 8/1969

1969 Nürburgring footage

1969 July 6, Vila Real 6H winner 908/02 K Spyder (chassis 908/02-008) #10 David Piper/Chris Craft © unknown (please inform us if you know)

The success of the 908/02 Spyders was endless and they captured around 50 race victories and over 100 podium places in the international races between 1969 and 1972 making the 908/02 one of the most dominating racing machines ever.

Special thanks to Nikola Antelj

Continue to 908 K Flunder Spyder

Anniversaries: Apr, 04 – 44th birthday of the 936 (1976); Apr, 05 – 55th birthday of the 912 (1965); Apr, 07 – 52nd birthday of the 908 (1968); Apr, 09 – 53rd birthday of the 907 (1967); Apr, 17 – 83rd birthday of Ferdinand Piëch (1937)