Gijs van Lennep on Porsche 917
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G ice cream van Lennep in the Porsche 917K in the lead by the famous "Corkscrew" bend at Laguna Seca, Brian Redman (Porsche 908 / 3) and Bruce Canepa (Porsche 917K).
During the "Monterey Historic Automobile Races" at Laguna Seca in California, Van Lennep drove a Porsche 917 from 1969. Porsche was this year's "Featured Marque" centers on the historic racing event and reported enthusiastically: "It was great to get back to the car to drive." Ven Lennep was fastest in qualifying pole position and led the race even for a time the field, other famous riders of yesteryear such as Derek Bell and Brian Redman.
"Actually I never said I would never ride with a 917," says Van Lennep. "But if things go sometimes: I accidentally had this spring with a friend from Florida with a historic event and there was a 917, which was just bought by a collector. That car was completely restored by Kevin Jeanette of Gunnar Racing, a company that has a tremendous track record in American sports car racing. They said the car was originally yellow and I knew immediately that my old car was, for the AAW car that I drove in 1970, was the only yellow 917. Indeed proved to chassis number 021 to go with the current owner, the German banker living in America Zügel Christian, I came to an agreement quickly that I am his car during races in Monterey would drive. "
The beautifully restored Porsche 917, entirely in the version in which the car with Gijs van Lennep and Briton David Piper in 1970 participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was at Monterey entered in the class 7A for cars between 1964 and 1971 had participated in the FIA championship for brands, the then highly successful sports car class. "I had to get used it, because it's a car for nearly 40 years old, but I had to pick the rhythm again soon," says Gijs van Lennep. "As a track is Laguna Seca is not so suitable for a 917, but it was very nice to drive there, along with guys like Brian Redman and Derek Bell." In the qualifying session put Gijs van Lennep the fastest lap time and so should the yellow Porsche 917 from the pole position start for the race. "It was a rolling start and Derek Bell tried immediately passed to stabbing, but with the long gear ratios of the 917 I was in favor and I could at him run away," said the Dutch two-time Le Mans winner, two laps the field claimed. Van Lennep was eventually classified as a third. "I was on stage and got a nice trophy, which the owner of the car very happy. The event was fantastic, I look back with pleasure, "says Van Lennep.
