At the end of 1969. Porsche may well brandish a title of world champion in endurance racing, it is still chasing its first success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the queen event in motor sport. The event almost occurred a few months earlier, but Hans Herrmann was claimed victory in the last lap by the cunning Jacky Ickx (Ford GT 40). One hundred and twenty meters separated the two cars at the finish line. Porsche has learned the lesson and is preparing its revenge. Like a scarecrow with its 12-cylinder flat 550hp, 800kg and extra-slim body, the Porsche 917 has largely resolved its youthful flaws. This prototype is "a wild beast" according to the Englishman Richard Attwood (photo above) who has just piloted it for the first time at Le Mans in 1969. It suffers from chronic instability at high speed. Especially the version with the aerodynamic body "long tail".
Richard Attwood and one of the managers of the Porsche team. Porsche
February 1970. Rico Steinemann, Porsche's sporting director, makes a call to Attwood. "The manufacturer wanted to know my intentions for Le Mans," said the driver. I told him that I wanted to ride on a short body 917, with the 4.5 liter engine and in the company of Hans Herrmann. ” Surprising choices that the Englishman defends. “Unlike the 5-liter that still had to prove itself, the 4.5-liter was reliable. The short version was also more stable. Finally, the German is the most experienced on the board. I knew I could count on him, ”said Richard Attwood today.
The 917 n ° 23 opened the score for Porsche at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1970. Porsche
At the end of the tests which see his 917 n ° 23 being the last of the seven, in the 15th position, he hardly lulls any illusions: "I had told my wife that we had no chance of winning . The race, which ushered in the new start with pilot on board, started at a grand prix rate. ” And to add to the difficulty, the track is drowned under water. The favorites disappear one after the other. Ickx (Ferrari) leaves the track, Siffert (Porsche), at the head, rejoins his stand in slow motion: overspeed following a failed speed. 917 # 23 inherits first place at the eleventh hour. She keeps it until arrival at 4 p.m. Herrmann is rewarded for his tenacity. Attwood is elsewhere. “I was terribly tired. Porsche organized a dinner in the evening, but I felt so bad that after twenty minutes I left the table to go back to the hotel. ”
Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood, the architects of Porsche's first victory at Le Mans. Porsche
The following Tuesday, his doctor tells him that he has mumps. Attwood will defend his title the following year but will fail to second place due to a transmission problem. At the end of 1971, at the age of 31, he handed over a helmet and suit. “It was time to stop this dangerous game. I promised my father to help him in the garage and then I was going to get married. ” As a man of honor, Ricard Attwood will never reverse his decision.
