A Gathering of Historic Racing Porsches

The Goodwood Festival of Speed is currently underway. In recent years, the event has focused on specific brands: Audi in 2009,AudiAlfa Romeo in 2010, Jaguar in 2011, and Lotus in 2012.

This year, the central feature has beenPorsche, and naturally, the car chosen is the "911," celebrating 50 years since its debut in 1963.

Over 820,000 "911s" have been produced, and now, they are gathered at Goodwood. A highlight is the 1973 "911 RSR 2.8," which won the 12 Hours of Sebring and solidified Porsche's reputation in America.

From the Porsche Museum, a rally-spec "911 SC" that competed in the 1978 WRC Safari Rally, and the "Carrera 4x4" that won the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally are also on display.



Also featured are the "911 RS" (Type 964) that competed in the 1993 Porsche Supercup Championship as a race model, and the "911 GT3 RSR" (Type 996) from the 2003 American Le Mans Series.



Speaking of racing cars, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, several Porsche racing cars have been provided by the Porsche Museum. The "911 GT1," developed based on the Type 993 911 for the 1996 24 Hours of Le Mans, competed against the "McLaren F1" that year. The "935/78 'Moby Dick'" is a 1978 racer that produced a maximum output of 950 hp, powered by a 3.2-liter flat-six engine with a turbocharger. Although built to Group 5 regulations, it was an extraordinary machine that exceeded 360 km/h on the straights of Le Mans, even overtaking higher-class Group 6 cars.



Also present are the "962C," which won Le Mans in 1987 and is a familiar sight at Goodwood, and the "936," Porsche's most successful racing car, with three victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1976, 1977, and 1981.



The main attraction is the "917 K" with racing number 23. In 1970, it brought Porsche its first overall victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, enduring rain and fog.





The 1973 "917/30K" was built for the Can-Am (Canadian-American Challenge Cup), with its flat-12 engine enlarged to 5,374cc. Combined with a turbocharger, it produced 1,000 hp. This technology is said to have been incorporated into the "930 Turbo," Porsche's first production turbo model in 1975, and Porsche is exhibiting this "917/30K" to mark the 40th anniversary of its turbo models.930 Turbois said to have been incorporated, and Porsche is exhibiting this 917/30K as the origin of the turbo model's 40th anniversary.

Incidentally, the latest models are also on display, with the911 GT3making its UK debut at this Goodwood. The newPanamerais also making an appearance.

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