A subdued press release from Porsche Motorsport bearing good news from the World Endurance Championship in Bahrain suggests our favourite auto manufacturer has its own reservations on the situation there. Empty grandstands are no good for race fans.
AG’s quick round-up tells how Team Felbermayr-Proton celebrated its second win of the season in GTE-Am. “With their Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, Christian Ried (Germany) and his Italian teammates Gianluca Roda and Paolo Ruberti won the six hour race on the Bahrain International Circuit against strong opposition from Ferrari and Chevrolet. After a tough battle in the GTE Pro class, Porsche works drivers Marc Lieb (Germany) and Richard Lietz (Austria) pocketed third place, repeating their recent Sao Paulo result.”
“It was a difficult race for us,’ said works man Lietz. “We had to conserve the tyres from the first to the last lap and this made us somewhat slower than the front-runners.” Lieb extrapolated upon his teammate’s view. “We can be pleased with third place. During my first stint I had some problems with conserving the tyres which didn’t work very well and cost me time. Afterwards things ran better. We simply find it hard in such temperatures. We know we have the performance, but not in such extreme heat. We need to work on this. Hopefully it’s a bit cooler at the last two races in Fuji and Shanghai and then we should be back up there again.”
I watched a bit of the race on Motors TV. It started just before sunset, ran into the night and certainly looked tough enough. Plenty of Porsche drama late on, when the JWA-Avila Porsche pitted from 4th place and immediately returned to the pits. Initially it looked like retirement from team & driver tweets, but the car eventally rejoined and finished in the points.
Starting from third on the GTE-Am grid, Paolo Ruberti soon snatched the lead, which they held for the majority of the race and stretched to a one-lap lead by the flag. Having started their season with a win at Sebring,this was their fifth podium from six races. “The whole team is very pleased with this win,” said Paolo Ruberti. “It wasn’t an easy race under such extreme temperatures but we did our very best. Now we’re looking forward to the race in Fuji.”
Porsche pictures from the weekend were beautiful: top marks to whoever was behind the lens this weekend. The absence of spectators at this gorgeous circuit is perhaps the most interesting point to take away from the pics. They certainly seem shot in such a way as not to highlight the emptiness: one wonders how much of the decision to run at night was a factor here also. All of us must hope that the humanitarian situation there improves as soon as possible.
Ferdinand blogs my freelance adventure with Porsche at the centre. To support the blog or engage with me in other ways, you can:
Tuthill Porsche has clinched the 2012 Belgian Historic Rally Championship in fine style, with overall victory on the East Belgian Rally, penultimate round of this hotly-contested series.
Tuthill’s Belgian title comes almost a year after the team took the first-ever Porsche win on the notorious East African Safari Rally. Victory on Africa’s toughest historic rally and in one of the world’s most challenging Tarmac championships in less than twelve months underlines Tuthill’s status as the Porsche world’s premier classic 911 adventure specialist.
Speaking from the finish line in Belgium, Tuthill MD, Richard Tuthill, was over the moon with his team’s latest success. “For us, this is really, really special. To take a driver from novice to champion in three years, in one of the most competitive championships in Europe is a fantastic achievement. What makes it even more special is that it’s been such fun. This is down to Glenn’s approach: he’s a special character!
“It’s also the first Belgian Championship for Glenn’s regular co-driver, Stéphane Prévot. Both have done a terrific job throughout the year, as have all of our team back at Wardington. It’s no small undertaking to challenge some of the strongest rally competition in Europe when based on the other side of the Channel, but we pulled it off. That’s great testament to the energy within our organisation.
“Now we’ve got one round left in Belgium and a few more UK rallies, before the fun switches to our winter Porsche 911 Ice Driving camp. We’re already deep into preparations for the 2013 Safari Rally, but no doubt this win will fire us up for more in Europe. We’ll start planning the next goal tomorrow!”
The superb EB Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR returns to Spa this weekend, to defend both its 2012 World Sportscar Masters title, and outright victory in the separate Top Hat Masters race at the epic Belgian track last year.
First qualifying today was for Top Hat Masters: a production car series that permits a wide range of cars to be entered. Mark Bates brought the Porsche home in fourth place on the grid: a result he is rightly pleased with.
“There’s a huge Top Hat grid here at Spa,” said Mark. “Must be 60 or 70 cars: everything from pre-’66 Minis to a 1970s NASCAR. I led the Yank tank up the Kemmel Straight in practice and even at 145 mph, the force of air coming off the NASCAR was enough to push the 911 around.
“Fourth on the grid is fine. Last year we had pole with a 2:49, which some said couldn’t be done. Pole this year went to an Escort at 2:44, but that car is quite radical: rose-jointed suspension with solid bushes, 6-pot brakes: even the rain gutters either side of the windscreen are filled. Other cars up front are quick enough in qualifying, but can they keep that pace up for a 61-minute race?
“Fuelling at Spa is a headache, so I like to come here with fresh rubber and a full tank of fuel, go out and take it steady. That way, we gain speed through the whole weekend as the fuel burns off. I don’t know how others will play it: we’ll see how it all works out.”
World Sportscar Masters qualifying gets under way shortly – I’ll find out how that went and add the results to this post.
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The auction for the earliest LWB Porsche 911 just ended on eBay. Final price was £37,100. Assuming a quality Porsche restoration will cost at least £60,000, that makes the car £100k done. I’m sure whoever placed the winning bid thinks that will prove a good price in time, and I’m inclined to agree.
See below for a full copy of the eBay sales text. Here’s a screen shot of the bids from start to finish: the highest bid for most of the week was placed two days into the sale. The winning bid was placed twenty minutes from the finish.
That early bidder did well to judge the likely price so accurately – I wonder what stopped them going just that little bit higher.
The seller was my online Porsche friend, Brendan Mullan, up in Scotland. Here’s a copy of Brendan’s eBay sales text:
One of the most significant road cars in Porsche’s history
Chassis (VIN) number: 119200001 The First LWB Chassis Number
Engine number: 6290001 The First LWB Engine
Gearbox number: 2281682 Type 901/03
Build date: 28 June 1968
THE FIRST EVER PORSCHE 911E – MATCHING NUMBERS HISTORICALLY IMPORTANT 911
This is an amazing barn find story!
The car was discovered in a barn, where it had been for over 25 years, by two committed long term early 911 UK based enthusiast/owners and totally researched by us as genuine. Factory confirmed and virtually complete with unique colour combination. Probably the very first long wheel base (LWB) Porsche ever built. Totally unique.
First three owners were contemporary Porsche factory drivers of the day; Robs Lamplough, Paddy McNally and the immortal Jo Siffert. Built two months before actual LWB production began and used as a mule for six months at the factory. Converted by the factory from LHD to RHD for the first road driving owner. Personal letters from one of the first three owners confirming its early history. Unparalleled provenance.
This car has matching engine, gearbox and chassis (VIN) numbers. The very first ever LWB chassis (# 119000001) and the very first ever MFI E engine (# 620001). Confirmed as a factory Versuch (prototype) model, one of only three or four known to exist and this is the earliest LWB example. The car retains all its original Versuch tags with the factory prototype numbers along with the usual VIN plates. Documents on hand confirm its status. Contains a mix of SWB and LWB parts as would be expected in the summer of 1968 during testing of the new model. Unique original colour combination of light ivory exterior and red interior (all items present). Repainted black in the mid 1980’s but original colour still evident everywhere. Correct date stamped original parts, including four matching dated five and a half inch Fuchs wheels. All body panels except one front wing and the engine lid are original. Engine is complete from heat exchangers to air box. Gearbox original and complete. Original hydromatic front suspension has been replaced many years ago as most have. Interior in restorable condition. Uncracked SWB dash top. SWB rear lights. Seats, door panels, lower dash, carpets all in good to excellent condition. Original undamaged glass all round. Door pockets reasonable. Lovely date stamped steering wheel, stained and torn headlining. No hood badge.
As can be seen from the pictures the ducktail is obviously not original but the decklid grille fitted to it appears to be the correct one year only three bar 1969 grille. We have a very nice one year only 1969 decklid that will come with the car. The front seats shown in the pictures are also aftermarket replacements. We have the original red seats which are in restorable condition and will also come with the car. Although not shown in any of the pictures we also have the original bonnet.
This unique 911 will require total restoration: The shell is in a poor state and mechanical components will need a total renovation/rebuild. It will need a complete top to bottom nut and bolt rebuild but such an historically important car must be saved. Once this car is restored it will represent a benchmark example of the whole 911 development and in particular a watershed moment in the pre-impact bumper (longhood) programme.
We are both well-known contributors to early 911 forums. This is a private sale. We are not dealers. You can read all about the discovery of this amazing barn find 911 on our thread on DDK
The car is available for viewing and is currently located near Prestwick Airport in Scotland.
We would love this 911 to be bought and restored by an enthusiast who understands its position in Porsche history. We will be happy to assist any overseas buyer with transportation but any shipping and other charges will be the responsibility of the purchaser. We reserve the right to withdrawn this 911 at any stage as it may be sold elsewhere. Thanks for looking and good luck with your bidding.
An opportunity like this will never arise again. Car is sold as seen.
Please note that bidders with zero feedback should contact the seller directly before bidding as all bids with no feedback will be removed.
Had an email from my buddy Magnus Walker in LA last night, inviting me to the premiere of his Urban Outlaw Porsche film on September 28th. Assuming it was in California, I was forced to decline, but Magnus clipped me ’round the ear and told me it was London, as part of the Raindance Film Festival. Needless to say, I’m in!
Raindance is Europe’s leading independent film festival. An unmissable celebration of filmmaking, Raindance nurtures, supports and promotes independent films and filmmakers from the UK and around the world.
Ex-pat Magnus is thrilled to be showing his first short feature at Raindance in London, where his love for Porsche began. “Porsche began for me at the 1977 Motor Show: one look at the 930 and I was hooked. As a boy, I had the Turbo poster on my bedroom wall in Sheffield, but moving to LA was where it really started cooking. It really is the land of opportunity, especially the early 911 kind.”
California allows Porsche immersion like nowhere else on earth. No way could a UK-based Magnus have built a collection like the one he’s amassed over twenty five years in LA. In one sense, this premiere brings a virtual collection back to the UK, to be savoured with British 911 fans before heading off to the wider world. Walker agrees.
“A chance encounter with Canadian film director, Tamir Moscovici, earlier this year was the start of what was to become our Urban Outlaw short documentary film. Tamir’s movie vividly captures the soul of my Porsche passion/obsession & drive to succeed. Thirty-five years after that fateful London Motor Show, we bring our own motor show back to the capita: I hope we’ll get some Porsche fans there to enjoy it with us!”
You’ve seen the movie trailer previously on Ferdinand Magazine and the Classic Porsche blog, but it’s here again to remind you. UK hot rod Porschers and anyone else who wants to fly in are more than welcome to join us at the Apollo Piccadilly Circus on the night of Friday September 28th. Should be a great evening’s entertainment!
Fabulous top Magnus pic by our friend Maurice at Dutchman Photos, from his Total911 feature on the wild man.
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