German Racing Through the Ages
Racing is almost as old as the automobile itself. As the home of the modern automobile, Germany boasts a proud history in racing – bringing some of the world’s most competitive and innovative vehicles to the track and your daily drive.
The Early Years
Inspired by the British automotive industry, Karl Benz and Nikolaus Otto developed a four-stroke internal combustion engine, fitting it to a coach in 1887 and officially creating the modern motor car’s predecessor. The Benz Patent-Motorwagen is widely regarded as the world’s first production vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine.
A few years later, Pierre Giffard organized the world’s first motoring competition from Paris to Rouen to grow interest in French motor manufacturing and his newspaper. With a prize pot of 10,000 francs, people came from near and far to show off their revolutionary designs. Some notable participants included Peugeot, Panhard, Serpollet, and the up-and-coming Benz. In the end, a Benz vehicle received 5th place out of roughly one hundred competitors, something the Germans were very proud of. The reliability test drive from Paris to Rouen began a centuries-long tradition of German motorsport.
After automakers developed and invested in motorsport, racing was comprised of prototypes of the following year’s models – a great way to test out their innovations, as was tradition. After World War I, however, racing became too specialized to use commercial production cars except for high-performance touring cars.
Golden Age of Motorsport and German Racing
The 1930s began a decades-long streak of development in motorsport. Stock car racing began in Daytona Beach before moving to tracks, NASCAR was founded in 1947, and Grand Prix racing guidelines were standardized worldwide in the 1950s.
Where cars in the early years of racing could put out roughly 25-mile-an-hour speeds, Porsche improved on German racing traditions, intent on beating the competition. In 1956, Porsche created the Porsche 550 Spyder. Powered by a 1.5-liter air-cooled flat-four engine that initially made an unimpressive 110 hp count due to its 1500lb lightweight frame. This car made headlines in international events and took first place in Targa Florio in the same year, giving Porsche their first-ever win in a major motorsport event.
Less than 20 years later, Porsche’s 917 updated with the evolving world of motorsports, being designed to compete in the FIA’s World Sportscar Championship. Made of fiberglass and aluminum, this ultralight racer was powered by a 4.5 liter flat-12 engine producing an amazing 520 horsepower. After it was perfected in 1970, the 917 became one of the most successful race cars ever built in Stuttgart, allowing Porsche to achieve first place in the International Championship for Makes in 1970 and 1971.
Enjoy the Best of German Engineering
Porsche has a proud racing heritage, and they bring all that horsepower to your home with the 2024 Porsche 718 Spyder RS, the fastest 718 roadster of all time. This GT3 engine offers outputs of 493 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, with close-ratio transmission, compact dimensions, low weight, and road-optimized racing suspension for the maximum racing experience.
Visit Porsche Lehigh Valley today and get your own 2024 Porsche 718 or its drop-top brother, the 2024 Porsche 911. Whatever your style, Porsche promises to offer a luxury experience with the speed and power worthy of our racing heritage. View our specials and let us help you get on the road in style.