Porsche 908

Infobox Automobile


name = Porsche 908
manufacturer = Porsche
parent_company =
aka =
production = 1968–1971
assembly =
predecessor = Porsche 907
successor = Porsche 936
class = Sports car
body_style = Coupé
Spyder
layout = RMR layout
platform =
engine = 3,0 l flat engine, Convert|257|kW|hp|0|abbr=on
transmission =
wheelbase =
length = Auto mm|4839
width =
height =
weight = Auto kg|650
ground_clearance =
front_track =
rear_track =
top_speed =
fuel_capacity =
related =
similar =
designer =

The Porsche 908 was a racing car from Porsche, introduced from 1967 in the Porsche 906/Porsche 907/Porsche 910 series of models designed under Ferdinand Piech.

As the FIA had announced in 1967 to change of the rules for the "World Championship for Marques" by limiting the displacement of prototypes to 3000 cc as in Formula One, the new 908 was the first Porsche sports car that had an engine with the maximum size allowed, as the Porsche 907 only had 2200 cc engines. The new 3 litre Flat-8 engine produced initially 257 kW (350 hp) at 8400 rpm, as well as some teething problems. Also, being traditionally air-cooled and with only 2 valves per cylinder, it was still down on power compared to more modern F1 designs which delivered over convert|400|hp|abbr=on, but were not suited to last in endurance races.

The 908 is not to be confused with another sportscar of the same name, the Peugeot 908.

1968

Despite winning the 1000km Nürburgring, the 908 was anything but convincing in 1968. The older and smaller 2200 cc 907 had started the season with dominating wins and later delivered better results than Porsche's first serious attempt in the top prototype category, as old Ford GT40 were winning several races on the faster tracks. As sports cars with up to 5000 cc were still allowed if at least 25 of them were produced, Porsche decided to go one step further and build the required 25 cars of the 5000 cc sports car category - the new Porsche 917. This risky investment should take about a year, though, and the 908 was supposed to deliver results in the meantime.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans were postponed from June to end of September due to political unrest in France, setting up the stage for a showdown between the 908s and the GT40s. For the first time, these Porsche 908 LH Long Tails were the fastest in qualifying and the early stages of the race, but it showed that Porsche had not taken advantage of the additional time to improve the 908. Troubles with the alternator caused delays and even disqualifications as Porsche had misinterpreted the repair rules. Once again, a V8-powered Ford won, a 907 Long Tail came in second in front of the sole surviving 908. In addition, Ford had taken the World Sportscar Championship, too.

1969

For 1969, the prototype rules were changed, and Porsche lowered the weight of the 908/02 spyder by convert|100|kg|lb|abbr=on, removing the roof and the long tails. Aluminium tube frames were used, with air pressure gauges to check them.

The 1969 24 Hours of Daytona were a disaster for Porsche, as all three 908/02 failed, and two Lola T70 won. At the 12 Hours of Sebring, a Ford GT40 and the new Ferrari 312P Prototype was faster.

At that time, the more powerful Porsche 917 was introduced in Geneva. The career of the 908 was not yet over, though - it started from now on. The next race was the BOAC 500 at Brands Hatch, were the 908 finally were successful, winning 1-2-3. With additional wins at the 1000km Monza, the Targa Florio, the 1000km Spa and an overwhelming 1-2-3-4-5 at the 1000km Nürburgring, the Championship was secured by the 908/02, despite the Porsche 917 still underperforming.

On the other hand, the all-important 24 hours of Le Mans were again won by a Ford GT40 in 1969, as the 917 had gearbox troubles after leading for many hours. Hans Herrmann came in as a very close 2nd behind Jacky Ickx. Herrmann's 908 low drag coupé was fast on the straights, but near the race end the brake pads wore down, indicated by a light that was introduced with the 908s. The team gambled on not changing the pads, which allowed Ickx to pass under braking.

1970 - 1971

Despite the more powerful 917 getting better towards the end of 1969, the career of the 908 would continue. On rather twisty and slow tracks like Nürburgring and Targa Florio, the 917 was not suited well even after being modified to the "917K". So rather than trying to make "one size fit all", Porsche built dedicated cars for each type of racing.

Based upon the lightweight and short Porsche 909 which was used in hillclimbing, the new open cockpit version named 908/3 was an even shorter spyder than the 908/2. In 1970 and 1971, this version was entered successfully in the 1000 km and the Targa, where typical speeds were only about half of the convert|240|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on which the 917LH "long tails" could achieve at Le Mans. With the combination of the powerful 917 and the lightweight 908, Porsche dominated the championships from 1969 until 1971.

The 908/02 in which Steve McQueen finished second at the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring was also used as a camera car for the Le Mans (film) in the race itself. Steve McQueen was not allowed to drive a Porsche 917, though.

1972 - 1982

For 1972, the 5000 cc loop hole rule was discontinued, and the 917 as well as its main rival Ferrari 512 became obsolete. In the 3000cc prototype category, Porsche's main advantage was the low weight, as the engine was underpowered with convert|370|hp|abbr=on. The new rules required a much higher weight (convert|650|kg|lb|abbr=on) than Porsche could achieve (well under convert|600|kg|lb|abbr=on), giving the advantage to Ferrari 312PB, Alfa Romeo T33TT and Matra with their more powerful F1-derived engines that had convert|420|hp|abbr=on or more even in endurance trim.

Porsche decided to discontinue the 20 year old history of factory racing, sold the 908/03 cars to customers and focused on the development of the Porsche 911 and turbochargers, to return in 1976 with the Porsche 936.

Yet, a Porsche 908LH Coupé was entered by Reinhold Joest in the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans, finishing a strong 3rd with the 3 year old car. Customers continued to race several 908/3. In 1975, some resurfaced, fitted with Turbo-engines, similar to the one used in the Porsche 934. The factor developed a new spyder with the Porsche 936 of 1976, but did not offer this model for sale, entering it in a few races only, mostly at Le Mans. Several customer-908s were upgraded with 936-style bodywork.

The "Porsche 908/80 Turbo" of Joest and Jacky Ickx which finished 2nd in the 1980 24 Hours of Le Mans turned out later to have a real Porsche 936 chassis, though.

The 908 has won the 1000km Nürburgring in three decades, four years in a row from 1968 to 1971, and again in 1980, now with Turbo-Power. Porsche 908s were still run competitively in 1982, a remarkable feat for a car that was introduced in 1968 and at that time intended to become obsolete after 1969! 908s are still raced today in eg. "Classic Endurance Racing".

Versions

908 LH Coupé '68

* 2990 cc 8-cyl engine
*
* top speed: Auto kmh|320
* closed cockpit
* long tail bodywork for fast tracks

908/2 Spyder '69

* 2990 cc 8-cyl engine
*
* top speed: Auto kmh|290
* open cockpit
* low weight (no minimum weight given by rules)
* long tail bodywork for fast tracks

908/3 Spyder '70/'71

* 2990 cc 8-cyl engine
*
* top speed: Auto kmh|290
* open cockpit
* shorter wheelbase
* lower weight
* new bodywork, also with rear fins in '71

908/3 Spyder Turbo '75 - '81

* '71 factory cars sold to customer teams
* modified by teams and in factory
* 2140 cc 6-cyl turbo engines
* 500+ hp

External links

* [http://www.imca-slotracing.com/Porsche908.htm History of the Porsche 908-01, 908-02, 908-03]