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Porsche’s 917 was one of the most dominant cars in motorsport at the time, and having an example of this style in a current Porsche collection is akin to a natural history museum with a fossilized Tyrannosaurus rex. And like the Tyrant King, the 917 was imbued with simply formidable strength and functionality.
At the upcoming RM Sotheby’s auction in Monaco, to be held at the Grimaldi Forum on May 10 and 11, a one-of-a-kind Porsche trophy will be awarded. Offered for the first time in more than a decade, this 917K, which may also simply be the definitive version, gives a serious collector or establishment the rare opportunity to acquire one of the most traditionally significant examples of the famous Porsche race car. And his career may not be over; If the new owner so wishes, chassis no. The 917-K81 would be a very competitive entry to many historic racing series.
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In 1969, Porsche presented its 917 with its sights set on the World Sports Car Championship, first building 25 examples for homologation. Exploiting the 5. 0-litre rules, Porsche developed a 4. 5-litre boxer engine and persisted into the 1971 season, with the 917K (Kurzheck, “short tail” in German) featuring a 5. 0-litre engine developing 630 hp. The later 917s, evolved for the Can-Am series, were other beasts, such as the 917/30, which developed 1,100 hp.
Chassis No. 917-K81 stands out not only because of its provenance and condition, but also because it is the last of the 917 series to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After more than a decade of absence from permanent power racing, the 917 reappeared when Le Mans regulations allowed it to compete in the 1981 event, enjoying a brief period of eligibility before the advent of Group C regulations in 1982.
Cologne-based Kremer Racing built the car with Porsche’s full approval and factory. This included chassis schematics and a pair of Type 912 flat 12 engines evolved for the 917. The decade that separated the No. 917-K81 chassis from its predecessors also made it the most competitive. 917 of all time, as its engineers took advantage of the latest technological and aerodynamic advances.
In the 1981 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, drivers Bob Wollek, Xavier Lapeyre and Guy Chasseuil raced close to the most sensible in ninth position before retiring after seven hours following a collision with a rear beacon that caused an oil leak. Subsequently, the car competed in the Brands Hatch 1,000 kilometres in 1981, with Bob Wollek and Henri Pesautomobileolo, winner of several races at Le Mans, at the wheel. Wollek took the lead midway through the race, before retiring nine laps later. Car production of the 917 was over, but not without having written some really interesting chapters in motorsport. Although no one knows where the auction value will fall, this 917 is estimated to be worth around $5. 4 million.
Click here to see more pictures of this 1981 Porsche 917.
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