Porsche 718 GTR - 1963

Whereas the Porsche 550, especially in its ‘A’ evolution of 1956, is considered one of the greatest triumphs in the history of the brand, the 718 is equally so. For five years from 1957 onwards, this car, with its improved suspension system, was one of the main players in endurance and hill-climb events. It was an experimental car that underwent several evolutions. The most interesting of these was a prototype with closed bodywork and an 8-cylinder, 2-litre boxer engine, a unique example that rarely raced but did win a legendary absolute victory: the 1963 Targa Florio.

Urban or very winding circuits have always been one of Porsche's favourite terrains, and over the years it has developed specific models for this type of event, along with the most powerful prototypes launched for the big, fast circuits. The 718 GTR began this tradition in 1962, when it was developed specifically for use on events such as the Targa Florio, the 1,000 km Nürburgring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. These were the only three races in which the car took part during the 1962-1963 seasons, but the results were irregular. The only circuit that really suited this aerodynamic coupé was the Sicilian classic of the Madonies, whereas other experiments ended in withdrawals or no-shows at the start. In 1962, the 718 GTR Coupé took part in the Targa Florio under the banner of the Serenissima team, with Swedish driver Jo Bonnier and “in-house” driver Nino Vacarella. With some brake problems, it nevertheless had to be content with third place behind two Ferraris, but it was the winner of the category Prototypes under two litres.

The following year, the 718 GTR competed in Sicily in the livery of the official Porsche KG team. Bonnier was again at the wheel, this time with another Italian, Carlo Maria Abate. The Ferraris still seemed unbeatable, but that year fate seemed to favour the German team: Nino Vacarella, who was due to race for Cavallino Rampante, was unable to take the start due to an administrative problem, while the other Maranello cars were either slowed down or stopped by a series of technical problems, breakdowns or minor accidents.

[IN 1962, A CLASS WIN. IN 1963, AN OVERALL WIN].

The worst was the Dino 196 SP of Ludovico Scarfiotti and Lorenzo Bandini, joined by the Belgian Willy Mairesse, who was forced to retire after his 250 P failed to start. Mairesse made a fatal mistake on the final lap, allowing the Porsche 718 to move into the lead. Mairesse then attempted a comeback, which proved unsuccessful, and the German car finished first with a lead of just 11 seconds.

Joakim “Jo” Bonnier is known as the first Swedish driver to race in Formula 1, although he had already taken his first steps in motor racing and rallying. In single-seaters, he won the 1959 Dutch Grand Prix in a BRM; the following year he raced in Formula 2 in a 718 single-seater and won the German Grand Prix. That same year, he won his first Targa Florio with Hans Herrmann in a 718 Spyder (and again in 1963 with the GTR), while in 1962 he won the 12 Hours of Sebring in a Ferrari 250 TRI co-driven by Lucien Bianchi. His heyday was in 1964 when he took second place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and victory in the 1000 km of Paris at Montlhéry in a Ferrari 330 P, while he triumphed in the 12 Hours of Reims with a 250 LM (again partnered by Graham Hill). Carlo Maria Abate from Turin was known as one of the best experts in the 250 GTO Ferrari, which he drove to victory in the 1962 Trophées d'Auvergne, while in 1962 and 1963 he only had a few good results in Formula 1. His victory in the 1963 Targa Florio was the best result of his career, which he ended the following year.