I AM LEGEND

THE PORSCHE 917 IS POSSIBLY THE GREATEST SPORTS-RACING CAR OF ALL TIME. AND ITS STORY BEGAN WITH THIS VERY CAR

- GLEN WADDINGTON

CUT INTO THE Porsche 917 at any point and it will bleed the essence of Ferdinand Piech. While that talismanic leader of men went on to become known for many amazing cars, not least the Audi Quattro and Bugatti Veyron, arguably his more-is-more mantra is best illustrated by this awe inspiring sports-racing car. A car that dominated Le Mans for several seasons and even starred in a film about the race. A racing car that has become a cultural icon. A car so fearsome that in its early days some factory drivers refused to drive it, while those who did faced down the tears of their wives. No doubt about it, this car would make an incredible epitaph come Piech’s day of reckoning.

But the 917 is also known for being a car that evolved into a winner. Glory wasn’t there from the outset, even though the potential always was, thanks to an assembled cast of greats from the world of engineering, design and development driving. Porsche had all this expertise to hand, building reputations that would be cemented by their roles with the 917. Yet if you ask any of them today about the part they played, one aspect (other than modesty) unites them all. They mention Piech. Regularly.

Back in 1968 Piech was Porsche’s chief engineer in charge of motorsport – and, as a nephew of Ferry Porsche himself, it’s fair to say the company was in his blood. As was its racing success. But Piech sought more than the class wins for little 2.0-litre coupes that Porsche was known for. He wanted to win the Le Mans 24 Hours outright. And in order to do so, Porsche would build the most powerful sports car of its era.