LE MANS miniatures Porsche 917K n°29 1000 km Zeltweg 1969

Porsche 917 K
1000 km de Zeltweg 1969
# 29 : Jo Siffert & Kurt Ahrens

Specifications :

• Body & chassis : polyurethan resin
• Engine support : injected parts
• Painting :polyurethan
• Injected wheels and tyres
• Weight : 87.8 g

It was at Le Mans 1969 that the 917 first truly showed its potential. Vic Elford, despite the car was difficult to drive, believed in 917 and convinced Porsche to bring two cars to the race. Partnered by Dick Attwood, Elford proved the wisdom of his beliefs by leading the event through the twenty-second hour before retiring with an oil leak.

Ninth and tenth of the 25 cars homologated just before Le Mans the chassis 917-009 and 010 were converted into a short-tail version and made their race debut in Zeltweg on 10th of August. The rear wheel arches have been widened to allow 15J rims with wider racing rubber. Bigger front break nose ducts were another feature for the Zeltweg race, a large radiator air intake was added on the front hood and additional louvers had been cut on the tops of the front wings and above the side exhaust to enhance heat dispersion. By the way, while left-hand tank ahead of the rear wheel was for oil, the right-hand one was for topping up the latest driver cooling system.

The chassis 009 appeared wearing car number 29 which front wings were repainted in green the day before the race. The car is driven by Jo Siffert and Kurt Ahrens. The chassis 917-010 had the same body configuration and took the car number 30, white car with black livery and was driven by Richard Attwood and Brian Redman.

917-009 qualified fourth (1'48'400) only 0.8 seconde behind the pole sitter Jacky Ickx and his Miareg-Ford M3/300 entered by John Wyer Automotive engine. At the race start, Jo Siffert immediately leaped to second position behind Ickx and overtook the Mirage on lap 4 until the Belgian driver took it back on the lap 25.The first pit stop drop the Porsche from the top position because of air locks in the fuel line made the car difficult to start. When Ahrens went back into the race at the end of the 38th lap he was in fourth position: one lap behind the leading Mirage, Rodriguez' Matra MS650 and Jo Bonnier's LolaT70. At mid-race the three leading cars must face with troubles. Ahrens who kept the contact give the wheel to Siffert on lap 119 and this latter can took the victory ahead of the Lola T70, one lap in front of the 917-010 #30 entered by David Piper and driven by Richard Attwood.