24h Le Mans
In addition to a record sixteen wins, the history of Porsche at the 24 Hours of Le Mans has sometimes been marked by cars that, despite not having won, have created their own legacies in La Sarthe with their originality and performances, such as the Porsche Kremer K8 Spyder, launched in 1994.
We are indebted to Erwin Kremer (1939-2006) and Manfred Kremer for the evolution of the Porsche 935 (called K3), winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979 with Klaus Ludwig and brothers, Don and Bill Whittington. Vis-à-vis prototypes, in 1981 they resurrected the 917 which was designed for the Group C CK5 (1982) and a version of the Porsche 962 C (called K6.)
In 1994, the Kremer brothers debuted the Kremer Porsche K8 Spyder. Powered by a three-liter six-cylinder flat turbocharged engine, it also marks the return of the legendary blue and orange livery of Gulf oil company, darker than that of the Porsche 917 cars in 1970 and 71. Led by Robin Donovan, Jürgen Lässig, and Derek Bell (five wins at Le Mans), it finished sixth. In 1995, it won its only international victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona with Lässig, associated with Giovanni Lavaggi, driving as well as previous Le Mans winner, Christophe Bouchut (1992) and future Le Mans winner Marco Werner (2006 and 2007).
Within the strange genealogy of Porsche in the 90s, the K8 is a contemporary of the Dauer-Porsche 962 LM and preceeded the Joest-Porsche TWR WSC, respectively victorious in La Sarthe in 1994 and 1996-97.
To learn more about the Le Mans saga of Porsche – currently in preparations for its return en LM P1 at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans – go to the official microsite Mission 2014 - Our return.
