Porsche to conclude Le Mans roadshow with two Exhibitions
Seventy years ago, Porsche celebrated its first class triumph at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, the brand can look back on nineteen overall wins and a staggering 108 class victories, figures set to rise following the Stuttgart squad’s decision to return to Le Mans in the LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) category, as well as continuation of its GT and customer World Endurance Championship racing programmes.
To mark seventy years since the 356 SL Coupe driven by Auguste Veuillet and Edmond Mouche scored a win in the 1.1-litre class (finishing nineteenth overall) in 1951, Porsche is hitting the road with a worldwide roadshow of its winning Le Mans cars and race memorabilia. Dynamic appearances from the company’s historic motorsport collection will form the core of exhibition content. Meanwhile, three static cars will be displayed at the newly reopened TOP Mountain Motorcycle Museum at Hochgurgl in Austria, while more will be presented at the ZeitHaus Autostadt in Wolfsburg, Germany.
A TIMELINE SHOWING IMPORTANT MILESTONES IN PORSCHE’S SUCCESSFUL LE MANS STORY
“A quartet of special Le Mans winners and numerous other exhibits are now available to view in Wolfsburg,” says Christoph Emde, Curator of External Presentations, Porsche Heritage and Museum. “An original 917 engine, models of Porsche race cars, gloves, helmets, suits and a number of Le Mans winner’s trophies are also on display.”
Along with a 991 RSR, a 911 GT1 and the 924 GTR LM — in which Jürgen Barth and Walter Röhrl won their class in 1981 — an exact replica of the 2016 no.2 919 Hybrid will be available for visitors to get close to at ZeitHaus. Visitors to the Autostadt can also look forward to a timeline showing important milestones in Porsche’s successful Le Mans story, as well as the opportunity to watch recently recorded short films from the Porsche Moments series, hosted by Le Mans winner and former factory pilot, Timo Bernhard, one of only nine drivers to win of the Triple Crown of Endurance Racing (the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans).
At the foot of Austria’s Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road, meanwhile, the 997 GT3 RSR ‘Flying Lizard’, 991 RSR ’Pink Pig’ and the original 2016 919 Hybrid — which earned Porsche its eighteenth overall Le Mans victory — will be on display. “The 919 still wears the grime it collected during the race,” laughs Emde.
“The TOP Mountain Motorcycle Museum reopened its doors on 18th November after its contents were destroyed by fire in January 2021,” he continues.
“Several hundred historic motorbikes were entirely wiped out by fierce flames, as were the rare cars being exhibited at the site for visitor enjoyment. My team and I have been looking forward to the reopening, and we’re proud to say Porsche Le Mans cars will help draw attention to the venue rising from the ashes.”
Porsche’s Le Mans roadshow will take in fourteen stops in eleven different countries. Porsche Experience Centres worldwide will be participating. Contact your nearest site for further information and exhibit details.