HISTORY

The Porsche 917K was developed in the late 1960s to dominate international sports car racing, debuting in 1969 to comply with the newly introduced Sport class regulations. Built in just ten months by Ferdinand Porsche's engineering team, it featured a revolutionary 4.5-litre air-cooled flat-twelve engine producing 580 horsepower, mounted in an ultra-lightweight aluminium tubular frame weighing only 800 kilograms. The K designation referred to its short wheelbase and compact aerodynamic bodywork, optimised for road courses such as Sebring, Brands Hatch, Monza and Spa-Francorchamps. However, Porsche's greatest ambition was Le Mans, and 1970 proved pivotal: the 917K claimed Porsche's first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a dramatic wet-weather race, driven by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood in the iconic Salzburg red-and-white livery. The following year, the 917K won again at Le Mans in 1971, with Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep piloting the victorious Martini Racing entry. Throughout its brief but legendary career, the 917K established Porsche as a dominant force in endurance motorsport.

VEHICLE SPECS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Manufacturer Porsche

Model 917K Kurzheck (Short-tail)

Racing Series International Sports Car Racing, Le Mans 24 Hours

First Raced 1969

Engine 4.5 to 5.0-litre air-cooled flat-twelve

Horsepower 580 hp (early 1970), 630 hp (5-litre variant)

Acceleration 0–62 mph in 2.7 seconds (5-litre spec)

Chassis Aluminium tubular frame

Curb Weight 800 kg (1,764 lbs)

Top Speed 248+ mph (low-drag configuration)

Le Mans Victories 1970 (Herrmann/Attwood), 1971 (Marko/van Lennep)

Overall Wins 16 (across international sports car series)

1970–1971 CAR NOTES

The 917K's flat-twelve engine was a masterpiece of air-cooled engineering, delivering broad power across the rev range whilst maintaining exceptional reliability over 24-hour races. The short-tail bodywork was refined throughout its competition life, with vertical fins added to improve stability and aerodynamic balance at extreme speeds. Porsche constantly enlarged the displacement—from 4.5 litres in early form through to 5.0 litres—pushing power beyond 630 horsepower whilst maintaining the fundamental lightweight philosophy that made the 917K so effective. At Le Mans, the car proved unbeatable in both wet and dry conditions, its balanced chassis and potent engine allowing drivers to manage fuel consumption, tyre wear and competitive strategy across the gruelling 24-hour distance. The 917K remains one of motorsport's greatest achievements: a purpose-built race car that dominated one of the world's toughest competitions and secured Porsche's legacy as a manufacturer of uncompromising performance machines.