Porsche racing history · 1968–1971
Porsche 908: History, Specs & 1969 Title
By CarWhere Research · Updated
The Porsche 908 is a three-liter sports prototype that Porsche raced from 1968 to 1971, powered by an air-cooled 2,997 cc flat-eight of 340–370 hp. The 908/02 spyder won Porsche the 1969 International Championship for Makes. The 545 kg 908/03 won the Targa Florio and the Nürburgring 1000 km in 1970.
Porsche designed the 908 for a three-liter prototype limit, with a new air-cooled flat-eight first tested in autumn 1967. Then the FIA also opened the championship to five-liter sports cars. After that the 908 was only partly competitive on the fast circuits, which is why the 917 exists. The 908 was still the right tool on slower, twistier tracks. It started out in coupe form, including a long-tail Le Mans version, and became the open 908/02 spyder in 1969. That year it won Porsche the makes title.
The 908/03 of 1970 took the idea furthest. Project manager Manfred Bantle based it on the 909 hillclimb car. He moved the driver well forward and placed the differential behind the gearbox, which gave a 45:55 weight split. Ferdinand Piëch pushed hard on weight, and the race-ready car came in at 545 kg. Porsche entered it only at the Targa Florio and the Nürburgring, and the 917 covered the faster races.
908 history, year by year
- 1967 — The 908's air-cooled three-liter flat-eight begins testing in autumn, ready for the 1968 prototype rules.[1]
- 1968 — The FIA raises the sports car limit to five liters, which leaves the three-liter 908 only partly competitive and leads to the 917.[2]
- 1969 — The 908/02 spyder wins at Brands Hatch, Monza, the Targa Florio, Spa and the Nürburgring, and Porsche takes the International Championship for Makes.[3]
- 1969 — A 908 long-tail coupe finishes second at Le Mans, 75 meters behind the winner in what Porsche calls the closest finish in Le Mans history.[3],[4]
- 1970 — Steve McQueen and Peter Revson finish second at the Sebring 12 Hours in McQueen's 908/02. The same car later runs Le Mans as a camera car for the film Le Mans.[5]
- 1970 — The 908/03 wins the Targa Florio on 3 May and the Nürburgring 1000 km on 31 May, finishing one-two both times. The Nürburgring result secures the world championship for Porsche.[1]
- 1970 — Rudi Lins and Helmut Marko finish third at Le Mans in a 908/02, behind two 917s.[4]
- 1971 — In its final factory race, the 908/03 wins the Nürburgring 1000 km on 30 May. Vic Elford and Gérard Larrousse lead a Porsche one-two.[1]
Porsche 908 specs
| Engine | Air-cooled flat-eight, two valves per cylinder[1] |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,997 cc[1] |
| Power | About 340 hp at first, later 370 hp[1] |
| Engine weight | About 180 kg (titanium con rods, magnesium crankcase from 1969)[1] |
| Transmission | Five-speed manual[1] |
| Weight (908/03) | 545 kg race-ready in 1970; about 20 kg more in 1971[1] |
| Chassis (908/03) | Aluminum tube frame of just over 30 kg; 12 kg body; 45:55 front/rear weight split[1] |
| Versions | 908 coupe and long tail (1968), 908/02 spyder (1969), 908/03 spyder (1970–1971)[3] |
| Years raced by the factory | 1968–1971[1],[3] |
908 race results and wins
| Year | Event | Result | Car / drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | International Championship for Makes | Champion[1],[3] | 908/02 — Porsche works |
| 1969 | Nürburgring 1000 km | 1st–5th overall[3] | 908/02 — — |
| 1969 | BOAC 500, Brands Hatch | 1st–3rd overall[3] | 908/02 — — |
| 1969 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | 2nd overall, 75 m behind the winner[3],[4] | 908 long-tail coupe — Hans Herrmann and co-driver |
| 1970 | 12 Hours of Sebring | 2nd overall[5] | 908/02, Solar Productions — Steve McQueen / Peter Revson |
| 1970 | Targa Florio | 1st and 2nd overall[1] | 908/03, JW Automotive — Jo Siffert / Brian Redman; Leo Kinnunen / Pedro Rodríguez |
| 1970 | Nürburgring 1000 km | 1st and 2nd overall, title-clinching[1],[3] | 908/03, Porsche Salzburg — Vic Elford / Kurt Ahrens (winners) |
| 1970 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | 3rd overall[4] | 908/02 — Rudi Lins / Helmut Marko |
| 1971 | Nürburgring 1000 km | 1st and 2nd overall[1] | 908/03, Martini Racing — Vic Elford / Gérard Larrousse |
| 1980 | 24 Hours of Le Mans | 2nd overall[3] | 908/80 turbo (Joest) — Reinhold Joest / Jacky Ickx |
What made the 908 significant
- It won Porsche the 1969 International Championship for Makes.[3]
- Leo Kinnunen's 33:36.0 final lap of the 1970 Targa Florio in a 908/03 still stands as the record for the Piccolo Circuito delle Madonie, according to Porsche.[1]
- The 908/03 was purpose-built for two circuits, the Targa Florio and the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with the 917 handling the fast tracks.[1]
- A 908/02 fitted with three Arriflex cameras filmed real footage at the 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours for Steve McQueen's Le Mans.[5]
The 908 and Porsche's road cars
The Porsche 908 was built to race. For the road cars that share its engineering, history and factory records, start here:
Porsche 908 FAQ
What championship did the Porsche 908 win?
The 908/02 spyder won Porsche the 1969 International Championship for Makes. In 1970 the 908/03 won the Targa Florio and the Nürburgring 1000 km, and Porsche's Nürburgring result clinched that year's world championship alongside the 917.
What engine does the Porsche 908 have?
An air-cooled 2,997 cc flat-eight with two valves per cylinder. It made about 340 hp at first and later 370 hp. The engine weighed around 180 kg.
How much did the Porsche 908/03 weigh?
Porsche gives 545 kg for the race-ready 908/03 in 1970. A sturdier roll bar and larger rear wheels added about 20 kg in 1971.
Was a Porsche 908 used in the film Le Mans?
Yes. Steve McQueen's 908/02, chassis 022, ran the real 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans as a camera car with three Arriflex cameras. Earlier that year McQueen and Peter Revson drove it to second at Sebring.
How many Porsche 908s were built?
We could not verify a reliable total. The 908 ran in several versions over four factory seasons, and many chassis were rebuilt or converted, so published counts disagree.
Related Porsche race cars and specials
Porsche history, specs and production research
Sources
Dates, production counts, specifications and results on this page come from the sources below. Where sources disagree, the page says so or uses Porsche's own figure.
- The essence of Porsche — Porsche Newsroom
- In praise of the fast car — Porsche Newsroom
- Porsche 908 — Wikipedia (secondary reference)
- Porsche achieved the first overall victory at Le Mans 50 years ago — Porsche Newsroom
- Garage treasure — Porsche Newsroom
Independent reference published by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. Porsche, 911, Carrera and Speedster are trademarks of their owner.