PORSCHE 908/3
Just to prove that more could be done with less, Porsche unleashed the 908/3 for selected rounds of the 1970 International Championship for Manufacturers – the ones that required something smaller and more agile than a 917. Essentially a variation of the earlier 908/2 ‘Flunder’, and utilising experience gained from the 909 Bergspyder, there was nothing particularly exotic about the new car’s makeup, but it worked – brilliantly.
‘The first time I saw the 908/3 – which weighed around 1100lb – was in Weissach at the 1969 Porsche Christmas party,’ recalls Brian Redman. ‘Engineer Helmut Flegl asked me if I would like to see the car. I replied “of course”, and was soon sitting in it. I saw my feet were level with the front of the front wheels, with not much in front of them. When I got out, Helmut asked: “Vot do you sink of ze new 908/3?” I replied truthfully: “I think it’s a very good car for Douglas Bader…” I then had to explain who Douglas Bader was!’
Nonetheless, the Lancashire- born star predictably excelled in the stubby flat- eight- engined sports- racer. He’d already conquered the ’69 Targa Florio alongside great mate Jo Siffert, and the Anglo-Swiss duo claimed a repeat win – and debut victory for the 908/03 – in Sicily as Ferrari had its backside handed to it in front of a partisan crowd. This triumph was particularly sweet for Porsche, as Leo Kinnunen got the fastest lap on the final tour as he took second place from Ignazio Giunti. The Italian’s team- mate, Palermo- born Nino Vaccarella, had led early on in the works Ferrari 512S, with Redman biding his time safe in the knowledge that he had car – and team – advantage.
Two Gulf 908/3s were entered for the Nürburgring 1000km four weeks later; Redman was leading before pitting to hand over his car to Siffert, only for the engine to let go on the Swiss’ out lap. Kinnunen, meanwhile, left the road on his first tour after taking over from team- mate Pedro Rodriguez, who’d also led. The Finn’s close friend and countryman Hans Laine had perished following a freak accident in practice, and this may have affected his concentration. It was left to Porsche Salzburg to claim a one-two finish for the 908/3. Wyer, meanwhile, was rather miffed to discover that, while each 908/3 was factory built and tended, neither Gulf car had large- capacity oil tanks, unlike those of their Austrian rivals. Siffert’s engine had seized due to a lack of the brown stuff…
Chassis 12 raced only once in Gulf colours, in the Nürburgring 1000km where Jo Siffert and Derek Bell qualified it fifth. The team got off to a roaring start and, thanks to the Ickx Ferrari overheating and Siffert passing both the Martiniliveried Porsches, it was running second behind the leading Alfa Romeo when it retired after a rear subframe failure. Chassis 12 was later run by Joest and finished Le Mans 1975 fourth... ironically behind the next car you will read about!