The Kremer 917-C

LMP900 · 6 Feb 2002, 20:22 (Ref:211288)

I heard there was a Porsche 917 Group C car! Does anyone have some pictures?

Plus

I really need to get my hands on those Group C dates, are the Toca Dates known yet? Those races arebeing organised by Group C racing?

SL · 6 Feb 2002, 22:39 (Ref:211359)

Yes you are correct.

A loophole was spotted and a new car made from scratch with correct engine and bodywork. Painted yellow.

Unfortunatly it failed quite early in the race. I have a photo in the collection but I am having a lot of problems scanning at the moment. Bear with me unless others have a photo.

SL

Speed Demon · 6 Feb 2002, 23:12 (Ref:211377)

Have a pic somewhere, will post it if I can find it!

The car proved to be pretty - but hopeless! Over-long gear ratios, an asthmatic flat-12 whose inlet trumpets were starved of air and a rear-wing creating too much drag, meant a top speed of 180mph where 200 was respectable along the Mulsanne.

The great Bob Wollek drove alongside Xavier Lapeyre and Guy Chasseuil and the car plodded up to ninth place by the seven hour mark - and then the crankshaft failed. A sad Wollek went home immediately, following the death earlier in the race of his friend Jean-Louis Lafosse.

BTW, I'm talking about Le Mans 1981!

Speed Demon · 6 Feb 2002, 23:13 (Ref:211378)

Meant to say also, imagine a yellow 917 and you'll have an accurate picture!

fausto · 7 Feb 2002, 00:06 (Ref:211401)

I have some pictures from books and magazines, unfortunately I don't have a scanner so....
However I'll eventually look for someone to do it, aand both "Le Mans & Sportscar Racer" (October 2001) and "Motorsport" (June 2001) published a piece about that particular car.
The 917 K/81 was built, with Porsche blessing, by the Kremer brothers to compete in the 1981 editions of "24 Heures du Mans", thanks to a rule relaxation designated to give the teams an opportunity to "explore" a new set of rules close to those of the "Group C" category, that were going to be introduced for 1982.
Infact ACO created a "Group C" class alongside its own GTP.
Later in the year the car was raced, for the last time, in the "Brands Hatch 6 Hours". Driven by Bob Wollek and Henry Pescarolo it led the race, only to retire fro a steering failure.

Vitesse · 7 Feb 2002, 12:34 (Ref:211580)

Not strictly relevant to this thread, but here's a plug for a particularly good 917 site from Argentina. At the moment the English version is still partly under construction, but there are some great photos!

http://www.porsche917.com.ar/

**Aysedasi** · 7 Feb 2002, 13:11 (Ref:211593)

If I'm not mistaken, there is some very brief footage of the car you're talking about in a video, which covers sportscar racing through the 80's, with commentary by Martin Haven. I can't quite remember what it's called and as I'm not at home at the moment, I can't nip over to my vids and check it. But I'll try and pop back and post it later this evening.

stefan · 8 Feb 2002, 17:44 (Ref:212415)

Here's an image from the motorracingretro 917 cd. I hope it's ok to post it.

**Aysedasi** · 8 Feb 2002, 20:21 (Ref:212555)

The video I was thinking of is:-

Sportscar Spectacular - Sportcar Racing of the Decade

Made by Frontrunner in 1993, it covers the whole of the 80's. Not a bad way to spend an hour or so. I don't know if its still available.

SL · 8 Feb 2002, 21:34 (Ref:212674)

Just found this photo.

Copyright of 'Nordic' who will charge you a huge amount of ££ if copied.

SL

**Aysedasi** · 9 Feb 2002, 19:35 (Ref:213013)

Nice one! Cheers you two!

paulzinho · 10 Feb 2002, 14:17 (Ref:213722)

Rather nice looking car if I may say so! Thanx for sharing it.

redshoes · 10 Feb 2002, 21:54 (Ref:213785)

Quote:

Originally posted by LMP900
I really need to get my hands on those Group C dates, are the Toca Dates known yet? Those races arebeing organised by Group C racing?

Yes and no. There's actually 2 series for Group C cars.

There's the "World Sports Car Invitation Trophy" which is being run at selected TOCA meetings
30 Mar - 01 Apr : Brands Hatch
01 Jun - 03 Jun : Silverstone
27 Jul - 28 Jul : Snetterton
20 sep - 22 Sep : Donington Park

Then there's the Group C series as run by Group C Racing. Their website (www.raceorganisation.com) doesn't have dates listed yet but these were in Autosport a few weeks back
03 May - 05 May : Spa-Francorchamps
08 Jun - 09 Jun : Donington Park
13 Jul - 14 Jul : TBA
09 Aug - 11 Aug : Nurburgring
30 Aug - 01 Sep : Magny-Cours
04 Oct - 06 Oct : Monza
Although I believe the Monza date has now been cancelled.

paulzinho · 10 Feb 2002, 23:56 (Ref:213851)

They should put Brands in there at some point. In the second lot/series.

Nordic · 12 Feb 2002, 17:01 (Ref:214652)

Which brings us back the the Kremer 917 which also raced at Brands!
driven once again by Bob Wolleck until it crashed.
A photo is with SL if he can find it, again it was Yellow but with Kremer Logos.

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