While diplomats and cartographers may technically show the roads around Le Mans as French soil, Porsche has laid claim to the winding bit of pavement that comprises the race track and especially victory lane. Since 1951, when a silver Porsche 356 clocked up its very first class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the German manufacturer has gone on to score more class and outright victories than any other manufacturer. While it was the famous red #23 Porsche 917 that claimed the coveted trophy for the first time for the Stuttgart manufacturer in 1970, it was the second-placed #3 Hippie Porsche that set the racing world alight with its psychedelic livery.
Simeone Foundation Museum – 1970 Porsche 917-043
The iconic 12-cylinder Porsche 917 will always be known as the car that got the overall winning tradition started at Le Mans and played a major role in enhancing Porsche’s motorsports pedigree. Competition cars that were built four decades ago, remain some of the most popular bits of machinery ever to emerge from the Porsche workshops or grace the race tracks of the world.
