Ignition Australia December 2018 - January 2019 | Page 11

A REUNION UNLIKE ANY OTHER
PORSCHE REUNION 2018
California’s Laguna Seca Raceway has been the host kept coming after that for several Porsche 911 Carrera
of many epic motor racing events over the decades, RSR teams. “It was enormously important for Porsche
the undulating and challenging circuit nestled in the motorsport in the USA,” recalls Hurley Haywood. “We
Salinas mountain range being a global favourite for dominated for many years.”
many motor racing purists. The stories of passion for Porsche are highlighted
From September 27 to 30, Laguna Seca Raceway by New Zealander Paul Higgins, owner of the Brun
attracted more than 60,000 Porsche aficionados from Porsche 962C. “My car, my big love,” beamed the
all over the world to the Porsche Rennsport Reunion ardent collector of historic cars. “This vehicle finished
VI. tenth at the 1989 Le Mans 24-hour race. When you
The huge four-day event in California saw 2,500 get in the car you can feel this history. No matter if I’m
Porsche vehicles take to the track, from the 356 driving at Sebring, Daytona or Laguna Seca, there’s
Speedster to the RS Spyder, the 959 Dakar and the always a touch of Le Mans there.” With his son John,
World Endurance Championship dominating 919 Higgins races his classic Porsche all over the world.
Hybrid. These cars and their famous drivers from “It’s expensive, but it gives me a feeling that money
yesteryear through to today, thrilled visitors with their just can’t buy.”
fast laps across seven vehicle categories. Former Formula One racer Jacky Ickx also took part
The theme of the sixth edition of this Porsche Reunion in the reunion and reflected on this shared passion.
was 'Champions', with the German performance “Some very emotional experiences are connected to
marque celebrating its tally of more than 30,000 race so many Porsche race cars,” said the Belgian motor
wins, making it by far the most successful brand in racing legend. “But it is the incredible moments
worldwide motorsport. that are deeply rooted. This becomes more and
Even Dr. Wolfgang Porsche himself turned some more obvious when I see a Porsche 936. We won a
laps at the reunion, driving the 356 No.1, the very first seemingly impossible race at Le Mans in 1977 in that
registered Porsche vehicle which was built in 1948. car. For hours we fought tooth and nail. The team gave
“It was a pleasure to drive,” says the Chairman of the their utmost. In the end we climbed to the top of the
Supervisory Board at Porsche AG. “The corkscrew podium. We made the impossible possible. No one
corner is definitely a lot of fun in a really fast car.” Ferry gave up - you never forget such lessons.”
Porsche designed the Porsche 356 Roadster 70 years Jochen Mass, the Porsche legend from Germany
ago. “My father couldn’t find his dream car anywhere, added, “It’s fantastic to see all these race cars. That’s
so he built it himself,” says Dr. Wolfgang Porsche. when I realise everything I drove back then,” the 72
One of the more strange Porsche vehicles driven at the year old 1987 Sebring winner said. “When I see these
reunion was the Porsche Tractor. This 25 horsepower cars, I want to race them, they bring back so many
historical machine was driven by John Oates, the front memories. For instance, I think how magnificent it was
man of 80’s American pop superstars Hall & Oates, to drive the works cars. When customer teams slightly
whose insurance contract while on tour did not allow modified the 962, often the good balance was gone.
him to drive a race car at this reunion. Dubbed the What does that tell us? Leave a Porsche as it is. That’s
“Pink Pig,” the tractor was decked out by the Gunnar as good as it gets.”
Racing Team with a large rear wing for some sporty This reunion also saw the final appearance of a Le
good looks. Mans legend. After scoring three overall wins at the 24
The car that really established Porsche in the USA is the Hours of Le Mans, the World Endurance Championship
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR. This model was developed title and setting new lap records on the Nürburgring-
for the 1973 racing season and the goal was to send Nordschleife and Spa-Francorchamps circuits as
a powerful message in the USA. That was done in recently as this year, Porsche works driver Earl Bamber
fine style when American racers Hurley Haywood from New Zealand turned the final laps in the evo-
and Peter Gregg scored overall victory in the No. 58 version of the Porsche 919 Hybrid at the Rennsport
Carrera RSR at Daytona – and achieved the first win in Reunion. It was a fitting farewell to a magnificent
North America for a 911 at a 24 hour race. The wins just racing machine.
CAPRICORN IGNITION HOLIDAY EDITION 2018 11