Description
Large 50x35cm (18x12in) colour photograph, hand signed by Richard Attwood and Hans Herrmann of the 1970 Le Mans winning Porsche 917K Salburg.
The Porsche 917 is a sports prototype race car developed by German manufacturer Porsche. The 917 gave Porsche its first overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970 and 1971. Once again Porsche had a dominant year in the championship and arrived as strong favourites to get their first outright victory. Their main opposition would come from Ferrari, now armed with the homologated 512S model. Fully nine 917s and eleven 512s from works-supported teams and privateers were entered. However heavy rain through most of the race neutralised much of their power and contributed to a number of serious accidents. In a race of heavy attrition where only seven cars were classified as finishers it was won by race veteran Hans Herrmann and co-driver Richard ‘Dickie’ Attwood.
For Herrmann, a veteran of 13 Le Mans, it was particularly sweet having lost by the narrowest margin the previous year. All Porsche’s main challengers (Ferrari, Matra, Alfa Romeo) were beaten in the first half of the race. Porsche’s dominance was complete – winning all three prizes and taking all the class-wins. This was the year that Hollywood came to Le Mans. The race provided the background for the Steve McQueen movie Le Mans. Much of the racing footage of the motion picture was taken from on board a competing car, as the #29 Porsche 908/02 had been fitted with movie cameras.
Excellent colour photograph, the winning Porsche 917K is seen departing the pits, overseen by the galleries, hand signed by both winning drivers, a photographic COA accompanies the framed print.
