Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI - Flacht Cup

Clay Koevary in his 2000 Porsche GT3R

As a bit of pleasant relief from the older historic Porsches was a race for more modern Porsches such as the recent GT3 cars.  The newest car was from as recent as 2016 whilst the oldest was from 1991. There were a number of well-known drivers competing from various eras and they included Cooper MacNeil, Kévin Estre, Jorg Bergmeister, Johannes Van Overbeek, Anfdew Davis and Jeff Zwart.  About fifty cars were entered of which about 35 started the main race.  This all led to fast and close racing.  In terms of speed they were as fast as the Porsche 962s.

Porsche GT3 cars at the Corkscrew.

The Porsche Rennsport Reunion is a unique event, that is held once every three or four years, dedicated just to classic and more modern racing Porsches, their drivers and the men and women who made it all possible.    Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI held over four days in September 2018 was again located at Laguna Seca like the last one in 2015.  No surprise as Laguna Seca is in California, which also happens to be the biggest market for Porsche.   This year the event was subtitled The Marque of Champions - a name that speaks for itself.  The event was also part of Porsche's 70th birthday celebrations.

The battle for the lead of the Flacht Cup race.

On the wonderful 2.238 mile Laguna Seca road course, seven groups of Porsche cars raced over the weekend.  The Flacht Cup event was for more modern Porsches such as 964, 993, 996, and 997 GT cars.  Flacht is near Stuttgart and is where Porsche have their Motorsport Centre that produces cars such as these.

Drivers

Kevin Buckler, Kees Nierop, Chad mcQueen, David Murry and Andrew Davis.

A number of Porsche GT drivers from the nineties and after were present as guests of Porsche.  A reminder of their Porsche GT careers is found below:
Kevin Buckler - GT class winner in the Daytona and Le Mans 24 hours of 2002 for Porsche.  Overall winner of the 2003 24 Hours of Daytona in a Porsche 996 GT3 RS.
Kees Nierop - Drove a Porsche 997 GT3 Cup car in the 2010 24 Hours of Daytona.
Chad McQuuen - The only son of Steve McQueen, he drove in the 2003 3 Hours of Daytona in a Porsche 996 GT3R.
David Murry - 1995 SCCA World Challenge Champion in a Porsche 911 Turbo and winner of two races in the 1997 Exxon GT series in a Porsche RSR.
Andrew Davis - Winner of the 2011 Grand Am GT Driver's Championship with Brumos Racing.

A 1994 Porsche 964 Bi-Turbo about to be lapped by the leader.

The Race
The cars are presented below in the order they finished in the main race.  Unfortunately, I did not stay for the main race and thus the pictures are from the excellent qualifying race on Saturday and Sunday's warm up.

Jorg Bergmeister won in this 2012 Porsche GT3 RSR.  He he leads the similar coloured second place car at the Corkscrew in Saturday's Qualifying Race.

Frenchman Kévin Estre was second in this 2010 Porsche GT3 RSR.

Cooper MacNeil was third in the 2016 WeatherTech Porsche GT3R.

Fourth was this 2008 Porsche 911RSR of Ernie Francis Jnr.

This 2016 Porsche GT3R driven by David Calvert-Jones was fifth.

Sixth was David Donner in a 2012 Porsche 997 GT3R.

This 2011 Brumos Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car was seventh driven by Andrew Davis.

Johannes Van Overbeek was ninth in this Flying Lizard 2004 Porsche 996 Cup.

Tenth was 2004 Porsche 911 996 RSR driven by Wade Carter.

A 2012 Porsche RSR driven by Josh Simpson was fourteenth.

A 2008 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car driven by Larry Webster was nineteenth.  Here he is at turn three.

Seen exiting turn four  is Chris frank in a 2000 Porsche GT3R.

1993 Porsche 964 RSR driven by Jeff Lewis.

2004 Porsche 996 GT3 RSR driven by James Sofronas.

Carl Toffelmire in a 1994 Porsche 993 RSR.

Robert Dalrymple in a 2013 Porsche GT3R

A 1991 Porsche 911 GT2 driven by Alex welch into seventeenth place.

Tim pappas in a 2016 Porsche GT3R

Exhibition Cars

2015 IMSA GT Champion, a Porsche 911 RSR.

Jeff Zwart's Pike's Peak car, a Porsche 911 GT2.  It still holds the record for a High Performance Showroom Stock Car.

For my recent Motor Sport blogposts click here.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 

Porsche traffic at the Corkscrew.   

Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI - Eifel Trophy

A 1969 Porsche 911S driven by Randall Smalley.

Although, I am not a fan of one make racing at all and frankly find a field full of Porsche 911s rather boring, this race still had something of interest to me, especially as I am a fan of the Porsche 914-6.

The Porsche Rennsport Reunion is a unique event, that is held once every three or four years, dedicated just to classic and more modern racing Porsches, their drivers and the men and women who made it all possible.    Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI held over four days in September 2018 was again located at Laguna Seca like the last one in 2015.  No surprise as Laguna Seca is in California, which also happens to be the biggest market for Porsche.   This year the event was subtitled The Marque of Champions - a name that speaks for itself.  The event was also part of Porsche's 70th birthday celebrations.

The first lap and a 914 is in the lead.

On the wonderful 2.238 mile Laguna Seca road course, seven groups of Porsche cars raced over the weekend.  The Eifel Trophy event was for cars such as Porsche 911 up to 2.5 litre, 911TR, 911ST and 914 and 914-6. . 

Behind the leaders a host of old 911s battle it out.

The Drivers
A number of Porsche 911 and 914 drivers from the sixties and seventies were present as guests of Porsche.

John Fitzpatrick, Dennis Aase, Willy Kauhsen, Vic Elford and Hurley Haywood.

As it was a long time ago a reminder about some of these drivers achievements in Porsche 911s and 914s.

John Fitzpatrick was 1972 European GT Champion in a Kremer Racing Porsche 911.
Dennis Aase raced a Porsche 911S throughout the seventies.
Willy Kauhsen won the 1968 24 hours of Spa-Franchorchamps in a Porsche 911L.  He also drove a Porsche 914/6 in the 1971 Targa Florio.
Vic Elford came third overall and had a class win at the 1967 Circuit del Mugello in a Porsche 911R 9shared with Gijs Van Lennep).  Vic also drove a 911L in the 167 and 1968 British Saloon Car Championship with some success and won the 1968 Monte Carlo Rally in a 911T.
Hurley Haywood dove a Porsche 914 in 1971 with Peter Gregg.  They won in Virginia, at Bridgehampton and at Summit Point.  In 1972 they drove a 911S winning at Virginia and Watkins Glen.

The Race

The winner of the Eifel Trophy, Thomas Gruber, in his 1971 porsche 914-6.

David Donohue was second in this 1968 Porsche 911T/R

This 1967 Porsche 911S driven by Nelson Calle came third.

Fourth placed Alan Terpins in his 1967 Porsche 911T/R really attacks the Corskscrew kerbs.

Fifth place Fritz Seidel at the Rainey Curve in his 1967 Porsche 911S.

The sixth placed 1971 Porsche 911S of John Coey leading a 914 and two more 911s at the Corkscrew.

A 1965 Porsche 911 driven by Matthew Goetzinger came seventh.

The eighth place 1967 Porsche 911 of Gilbert Hakim.

In ninth place was Kelvin Tse in this 1966 Porsche 911(one assumes the spoiler was added later).

This good looking 1970 Porsche 914/6 of Dener Pires came tenth.

Jeff Zwart was eleventh in this 1970 Porsche 914-6 GT.

Jeff Zwart leads another 914-6 GT down the Corkscrew.

Twelfth was another 1970 Porsche 914-6 GT driven by Edie Arrowsmith.

A rather different 914, the 1971 914-4 of Trevor Frank.  He finished fourteenth.

This pretty 1967 Porsche 911S driven by George Calfo came in seventeenth.

For my recent Motor Sport blogposts click here.

Exhibition Cars

I took a shine to this 1972 Porsche 911 ST.  It is of course the 1972 European GT Championship car of John Fitzpatrick who won the championship that year.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 

Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI - Can-Am and Interserie

Porsche 917/10s attack the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca agin.

There were lots of reminders at Porsche Rennsport Reunion VI of Porsche's success in Group 7 via Can-Am and Interseries.  Laguna Seca is of course an appropriate place to bring these cars to as it held rounds of the original Can-Am series from 1966 to 1973.   Porsche won the last two Can-Am events at Laguna Seca - George Follmer in 1972 in a 917/10 and Mark Donohue in 1973 in a 917/30.

Each day at RRVI the Porsche 917/10s and 917/30s did exhibition runs.

Don't forget after you read to click on this link for many other interesting posts.  Or click on the Motor Sport button above.  All my posts in chronological order.

Strangely enough, although Porsche ended dominating the Canadian-American Challenge Cup as it was properly known, their first win was a giant killing act.  The occasion was the 1970 round at Road Atlanta.  The big boys all hit trouble but Tony Dean's privateer Porsche 908/2 ran reliably and fast and took the win.  It was the first time in 19 races that the all conquering McLaren team had been beaten!   Tony Dean went on to finish sixth in the Championship.

Tony Dean's giant killing Porsche 908/2 in the Chopard exhibition at Laguna Seca. (Not the Tony Dean colours but this is the same  chassis 908.02.15 in its third place Targa Florio 1969 livery)

From 1969 to 1974 the Watkins Glen Can-Am round was run as a double header with the World Championship 6 Hour endurance race.   Thus in 1970 and 1971 many Porsche 917Ks took the opportunity to enter the Can-Am round.  Jo Siffert, Richard Attwood and Vic Elford finished second, third and fourth respectively in 917Ks in 1970 at Watkins Glen.   Gijs Van Lennep and Brian Redman finished sixth and seventh, also in 917Ks.   Van Lennep was the highest 917K finisher in 1971 at Watkins Glen in ninth place.

We mustn't forget that the Porsche 917K was also a Can-Am car.

One of Porsche's first serious Can-Am efforts was in 1969 with the Porsche 917PA.   Although it didn't take any wins, Jo Siffert was to finish fourth in the 1969 Can-Am championship driving it.  Best result was a third place at Bridgehampton.   Milt Minter was to drive the car in 1971 finishing sixth in the championship and Sam Posey drove it in 1972.

The Porsche 917PA that came fourth in the 1969 Can-Am Championship.

Porsche's next serious Can-Am effort was in 1971 when Jo Siffert entered a STP sponsored Porsche in the series 917/10.  However, again he only finished fourth in the championship with two second places the best result.   With the 917 banned from endurance racing after 1971 it renewed its attack on the Can-am series with a revised 917/10 run by Roger Penske.   Thus in 1972 Porsche finally won the Can-am championship with George Follmer winning five our of the nine rounds in an L&M sponsored 917/10.  Mark Donohue also won a round and Milt Minter finished third in the championship in the Vasek Polak car.   McLaren had at last been beaten after dominating from 1967 to 1971.

Porsche 917/10 like the one that won the 1972 Can-Am championship.

The view that most competitors had of the car.

In 1973 Porsche gave Roger Penske the absurdly fast Porsche 917/30 to run in the Can-am series.  Mark Donohue drove the car and won the championship and took six wins in eight rounds.  This domination and the oil crisis pretty much killed off the series.

The all conquering Porsche 917/30.

Whilst Mark Donohue was dominating upfront the 917/10s were fighting over second place.  Hurley Haywood finished third in the championship in the Brumos Racing 917/10 with one second place and two third places as his best results.  The car was at Laguna Seca as was Hurley Haywood.  They were reunited.

1973 Can Am cars with the Brumos 917/10 in front driven by Hurley Haywood.

Some famous drivers were trying their hands in the Can Am cars at Laguna Seca.

Patrick Long having his go in the white No.4 Porsche.

Jochen Mass was driving the same car on Sunday but it broke down.

Interserie started in 1970 as a European version of Can-Am.  In 1970 it was dominated by the Porsche 917K.   In 1971 Leo Kinnunnen won in a Porsche 917 Spyder.  In 1972 and 1973 Leo won again but in a 917/10 against competition from Willy Kauhsen in a similar car.  The Willy Kauhsen Bosch sponsored car was at Laguna Seca.  It won two years running at Imola and also won two other Interserie races including 1974 at Silverstone.

Ex-Willy Kauhsen Porsche 917/10.

Another Interserie Porsche 917/10 was the George Loos driven Gelo Racing Team car.  This was also at Laguna Seca.  It scored a number of second places.

The Gelo Racing team Porsche 917/10.

Some of the Group Seven Porsche Drivers present at RRVI.

From left to right Gijs Van Lennep, Willy Kauhsen, , Hurley Haywood, Vic Elford, Brian Redman.  A reminder below of their achievements in Porsches in Group Seven races.

Gijs Van Lennep won an Interserie race at Keimola in 1970 in a Porsche 917K and scored Can Am points in two consecutive years at Watkins Glen also in a 917K.
Willy Kauhsen drove a Porsche 917/10 in both the Can Am and Interserie championships.  He had four Interserie wins to his credit in the 917/10 and his best result in Can Am was an eighth place.
Hurley Haywood drove a 917/10 in Can-Am in 1973 and 1974.  Best result was second at Riverside in 1973.
Vic Elford scored the first win for the 917/30 at a Interserie race at Hockenheim in July 1973.
Brian Redman drove a couple of Can Am races in 1973 for Vasek Polak in a 917/30 but didn't finish either race.  In 1974 in drove one Can Am race for Roger Penske in a 917/30 finishing second at Mid Ohio.

Some more pictures of these amazing cars:

Two Porsche 917/10s descending the Corkscrew.

917/30 leads 917/10 through the Corkscrew.

Hurley Haywood driving again the Porsche 917/10.

Ex-George Loos Porsche 917/10.

Hurley Haywood  reunited with his Porsche 917/10.

Porsche 917/30.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page. 

Famous 917/30 cockpit.