A History of Porsche in Motorsport
Given that the Porsche name has been synonymous with superior performance for decades, it’s no surprise that they have enjoyed an extensive, successful motorsport history.
Porsche has been a key part of motorsport for over 60 years and has collected over 30,000 wins.
We’re no strangers to the racetrack here in the Lehigh Valley thanks to the nearby Pocono Raceway (not to mention the historic but shuttered Nazareth Speedway). As Porsche immerses itself in the 2024 motorsport season, Porsche Lehigh Valley looks back at their early years, their enduring triumphs at Le Mans, and the future.
The Early Years
Porsche’s involvement in the racing world was humbling at its outset. Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s, Porsche primarily supplied small engines to underdogs of the racing world. Porsche began entering races in small capacity road and racing cars, earning several wins in their undersize classes.
Eventually, Porsche began taking down the big boys of long-distance auto racing. Porsche won the Targa in Florio in 1956 and would win the event eight more times through 1970. Though they were competing with prototype engines that lacked the horsepower of their competitors, Porsche’s lack of weight gave it a nimbleness ideal for racing. Combined with superior handling and mechanical reliability, Porsche began needling its way through the field and across finish lines. Soon-to-be-iconic Porsche drivers such as Lake Underwood and Charlie Wallace gained reputations as giant-killers in the U.S.
Then, after years of testing the water, Porsche’s breakthrough came in 1970 when they captured their first 24 Hours of Le Mans victory.
Le Mans Success
Porsche race cars have competed at Le Mans, in some capacity, every year since 1951. However, it wasn’t until the 1970 race that a 1969 Porsche 917 put Porsche on the map as a force to be reckoned with in the motorsport world. The Porsche 917 captured the first of over a dozen 24 Hours of Le Mans titles Porsche would claim in the decades to follow.
(As we’ve detailed before, the 1971 film Le Mans chronicled a fictional 24 Hours of Le Mans race. However, actual Porsche footage from the 1970 race was used throughout the film.)
The Porsche 917 would go on to dominate throughout the 1970s. It perennially took the flag in the Canadian Can-Am racing circuit. In the 1980s, Porsche continued their dominance thanks to the Porsche 956/962C, an insanely prolific (and beautiful) prototype racer that became the new king of Group C and IMSA GTP.
Following a pair of unexpected Le Mans wins in 1996 and 1997, Porsche took a step back from 1998-2014. Rather than compete for overall wins at Le Mans during this time, Porsche focused on smaller classes and development. Porsche returned to true Le Mons contention in 2014 and proceeded to amass three straight victories from 2015-2017 behind a Porsche 919 Hybrid.
Formula One & Preparations for 2024
The 2024 motorsport season is now underway, and Porsche is back in the mix once more. In 2023, Porsche returned to 24 Hours of Le Mans once again as part of the WEC (World Endurance Championship), placing ninth. They also competed in the North American IMSA Sportscar Championship, which includes long-distance races such as the Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours.
Porsche has big aspirations entering 2024. It will once again compete at Le Mans, with its sights set on another victory. In fact, Porsche is in pursuit of a worldwide title hunt in the world’s largest endurance races. In addition, driver Thomas Preining attempts to defend his DTM title, while four Porsche 99X Electric racers will compete in the Formula E season.
One circuit Porsche has notably passed on is Formula One, despite its boom in popularity over the past decade. Porsche has a history in F1, attaining success throughout the 1980’s despite their TAG-Porsche engines lacking the power and turbo boost capabilities of rival cars.
Porsche briefly returned to F1 in the early 1990s as an engine supplier, but the results were less than stellar. As a result, Porsche removed themselves from F1 to focus on endurance racing. Though rumors of their return to F1 have continued to swirl in the decades since, no imminent return seems to be in sight. Most recently, in March 2023, Porsche announced they will not be making a return to Formula One in 2026.
Race into Porsche of Lehigh Valley Today
Experience the handling and precision of a Porsche firsthand with a visit to Porsche Lehigh Valley. Our masterful pit crew is standing by to administer lightning-fast service to your vehicle. Whether your need new tires or other parts, we have everything you need to turn your new or used Porsche into a championship contender.