When Porsche goes Beast Mode: The Legendary Porsche 917/30
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@chrisvscars
In the annals of motorsport history, there are few machines that have left a mark as profound as the Porsche 917/30. It's a story of raw power, engineering brilliance, and utter dominance that not only rewrote the record books but also reshaped the very nature of racing. This is the tale of the car that killed the Can-Am series by being too good at what it did.
The stage is the early 1970s, and Porsche's 917 race car was enjoying unparalleled success on the track. It had clinched the manufacturers' title at the World Sportscar Championship in 1970 and 1971, tallying up an impressive 15 endurance victories, including two at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, changing regulations meant that the 917's 5.0-liter, 12-cylinder engine was no longer eligible to compete in 1972.
In the world's largest individual market for Porsche, North America, a racing series known as the Canadian-American Challenge Cup, or Can-Am series, was gaining immense popularity. Now the can am series was known for its lacks regulations and insane race cars, and To take on dominant rivals like McLaren with their 800-horsepower V8 engines, Porsche needed something extraordinary.
Now this switch over to can am marked the birth of some of porsches craziest race cars, From 1000HP Flat 16 powered racers to turbo Boxer 12s. I made a full video on the flat 16 so if that’s something you would like to see go and watch it after this one. But the tale of the flat 16 played of between 1970 and 71, today we are picking up the story from 1972.
Enter the 917/10 TC Spyder and Mark Donohue
Porsche's response to the massive V8’s of can am came in the form of the 917/10 TC Spyder in 1972. This car featured a turbocharged engine that could produce around 1,000 horsepower, whilst weighing only 780kg’s. It was a game-changer, winning six Can-Am races and the championship title. The man instrumental in this success was Mark Donohue, a racing legend who also happened to be an engineer.
Now Fresh from a championship victory Porsche knew that in order to keep their title they would have to return with an even faster car the next year.
And As the 1973 motorsport season loomed, Porsche unveiled the 917/30, an evolution of the 917/10. This car was developed to take Porsche's dominance in the Can-Am series to an even higher level.
Under its sleek skin lay a monstrous 5.4-liter flat-12 twin turbo engine, capable of producing approximately 1600 horsepower. This was a machine of incredible power, a true beast on wheels. Now I will say, I read up a lot on this power figure, this was and still is the most powerfull Porsche ever, but that 1580HP power figure was at full tilt, when reading it seems like this car only produced between 1100 and 1200HP on track. I say only, its still a stupid amount of power.
Now The 917/30's performance during the 1973 Can-Am season was nothing short of breathtaking. It demolished the competition so thoroughly that it forced motorsport authorities to intervene. The series' regulations were rewritten in a desperate attempt to level the playing field, but it was too late. The Can-Am series, once a battleground for automotive titans, was virtually killed by the 917/30's crushing dominance. To give you an idea of how fast the 917s where, Mclaren who previously won the championship 5 years in a row left the series as their V8s just could not compete.
The 917/30 continued to make history even after its racing career. In 1975, with Mark Donohue at the helm, it set a closed-course speed record at Talladega that would stand unbroken for 11 long years. This car was properly insane,
And One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of the 917/30 is the sheer brilliance of its engineering. It was created in an era devoid of computer-aided design and simulations. The team, including luminaries like Hans Mezger and Valentin Schaeffer, relied solely on their immense expertise and ingenuity. They crafted a colossal engine that could scream at 8,000 RPM, producing mind-boggling power reliably. This car was a testament to human genius and engineering excellence.
@chrisvscars
In the annals of motorsport history, there are few machines that have left a mark as profound as the Porsche 917/30. It's a story of raw power, engineering brilliance, and utter dominance that not only rewrote the record books but also reshaped the very nature of racing. This is the tale of the car that killed the Can-Am series by being too good at what it did.
The stage is the early 1970s, and Porsche's 917 race car was enjoying unparalleled success on the track. It had clinched the manufacturers' title at the World Sportscar Championship in 1970 and 1971, tallying up an impressive 15 endurance victories, including two at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, changing regulations meant that the 917's 5.0-liter, 12-cylinder engine was no longer eligible to compete in 1972.
In the world's largest individual market for Porsche, North America, a racing series known as the Canadian-American Challenge Cup, or Can-Am series, was gaining immense popularity. Now the can am series was known for its lacks regulations and insane race cars, and To take on dominant rivals like McLaren with their 800-horsepower V8 engines, Porsche needed something extraordinary.
Now this switch over to can am marked the birth of some of porsches craziest race cars, From 1000HP Flat 16 powered racers to turbo Boxer 12s. I made a full video on the flat 16 so if that’s something you would like to see go and watch it after this one. But the tale of the flat 16 played of between 1970 and 71, today we are picking up the story from 1972.
Enter the 917/10 TC Spyder and Mark Donohue
Porsche's response to the massive V8’s of can am came in the form of the 917/10 TC Spyder in 1972. This car featured a turbocharged engine that could produce around 1,000 horsepower, whilst weighing only 780kg’s. It was a game-changer, winning six Can-Am races and the championship title. The man instrumental in this success was Mark Donohue, a racing legend who also happened to be an engineer.
Now Fresh from a championship victory Porsche knew that in order to keep their title they would have to return with an even faster car the next year.
And As the 1973 motorsport season loomed, Porsche unveiled the 917/30, an evolution of the 917/10. This car was developed to take Porsche's dominance in the Can-Am series to an even higher level.
Under its sleek skin lay a monstrous 5.4-liter flat-12 twin turbo engine, capable of producing approximately 1600 horsepower. This was a machine of incredible power, a true beast on wheels. Now I will say, I read up a lot on this power figure, this was and still is the most powerfull Porsche ever, but that 1580HP power figure was at full tilt, when reading it seems like this car only produced between 1100 and 1200HP on track. I say only, its still a stupid amount of power.
Now The 917/30's performance during the 1973 Can-Am season was nothing short of breathtaking. It demolished the competition so thoroughly that it forced motorsport authorities to intervene. The series' regulations were rewritten in a desperate attempt to level the playing field, but it was too late. The Can-Am series, once a battleground for automotive titans, was virtually killed by the 917/30's crushing dominance. To give you an idea of how fast the 917s where, Mclaren who previously won the championship 5 years in a row left the series as their V8s just could not compete.
The 917/30 continued to make history even after its racing career. In 1975, with Mark Donohue at the helm, it set a closed-course speed record at Talladega that would stand unbroken for 11 long years. This car was properly insane,
And One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of the 917/30 is the sheer brilliance of its engineering. It was created in an era devoid of computer-aided design and simulations. The team, including luminaries like Hans Mezger and Valentin Schaeffer, relied solely on their immense expertise and ingenuity. They crafted a colossal engine that could scream at 8,000 RPM, producing mind-boggling power reliably. This car was a testament to human genius and engineering excellence.
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