the flyin' scotsman

Did Porsche ever have a F1 team? They supplied engines to McLaren in the mid '80s.

From the Porsche museum:

worf928

I figure its $400 Million per year Porsche would rather have in its pocket or in VW stock. I don't fault Porsche for not being in F1. Too expensive for a small maker. On the other hand I think Porsche's pussing out in other forms of motorsports. (And road cars too. But, that's another thread.)

That's dedication. One word for you: TiVo!

TiVo. TiiiiiiVooooooooooo!

Not only do you get to time shift, when you're tired of seeing the Porsche Cayman commercial you can skip through it. Oh, and you can replay the start as many times as you want.

I think Kimi has to be the favorite this year. But, he's only got a couple years before he's over the hill and the young guns start to nip at his heels. I like rooting for Ferrari and with Schumacher bouncing around the Ferrari compound as a consultant it's safe to assume that even without Ross and Rory Ferrari cannot slide too far this year.

tv

Been an F1 fan since espn started showing half hour recap shows of the races in the early 80's. Drove up to Montreal 4 times in the 80's and had tickets that gave me pit access back then such as it was before they actually had garages. Stood next to (10 feet) Lauda, Patrese, Cheever, Alboreto, Tambay etc.

Leaving the room in my hotel in Montreal on a Friday evening, stepped into the elevator to stand next Nigel Mansell and his wife. Complimented his driving from earlier in the day and he said thanks very much in a very down to earth way.

The turbo days of the mid 80's were the best tracks (pre chicane), best competition, and best sounds. I watch it now too but it has become a parade and tire competition. Hopefully this year will be different with one tire and lots of talented young drivers.

Almost forgot, going over one of the bridges on the island where they hold the race back then there was a very special VIP car park area fenced off with a ferrari, something else like a pantera, and an all black 928S with the rear fog light. It was 86 and the 928 was an exotic and looked the part.

Bill51sdr

I've been a fan since Mario's Lotus 78 days and have been a M.Schumacher fan lately. Kind of a void there now but I will probably be pulling for Kimi. As to 928 content here, I recall several times in the early 90's seeing a very nice and non-stock sounding 928 GTS acting as a safety car. I also Tivo my races, so much better!

Bret928

I love F1 but I must admit it seems to be missing something. Personally I think is was more interesting a few years ago when you saw a variety of power-plants (V12s, V10’s Turbos etc) and wild anything goes aero packages.

But most of all I wish we'd get to see more of this kind of racing. Wheel to wheel wild men fighting it out!

Villeneuve vs Arnoux 1979

Charley B

Well, I'm sure as hell not going to admit what an avid NASCAR fan I am, in this thread.

the flyin' scotsman

Gilles and Rene..........great stuff.

deutschmick

I've been a fan since early '60s when we lived in Germany for four years (probably a wee bit older than most here) and went to see Grand Prix von Deutschland at Nurburgring (Nordschleife) in 1965; won by Jim Clark , and in 1966; won by Jack Brabaham. Back then you could actually see their head, shoulders, and arms move as they drove the cars. Times change as does technology but traction/ launch control, and wankermatic gearboxes have no place on racecars IMHO.

Kevin

zrated s4

I too am very impressed with his showing and am rooting for him to get a competitive ride in the near future. Did damn well in a 3rd tier ride just like a lot of greats before him.

I used to live in SoCal and attended every Long Beach GP when they ran F1. Found myself fortunate when the circus came to Michigan a year after I did. Went to Montreal a couple of times - an excellent spectator track, I thought.

Somehow I found myself rooting for Brazilian drivers, Emmo, Piquet, Senna. Also was a big fan of Gilles, Lauda, Shumi. I've been impressed by Kimi since he started and will be rooting for him.

zrated s4

They did in the early '60s ('61?). I believe that Dan Gurney won a race for them. I think he met his wife while driving for them.

the flyin' scotsman

Porsche did field their own F1 team in the early '60's; learn something new everyday.

"Porsche has also participated in single seater racing with mixed results; Formula Two cars initially based on the RSK sports racer first appeared in the late 1950s and enjoyed some success; these cars moved up to Formula One in 1961 and in 1962 a flat-eight powered 804 produced Porsche's only win as a constructor in a championship race, claimed by Dan Gurney at the 1962 French Grand Prix. One week later, he repeated the success in front of Porsche's home crowd on Stuttgart's Solitude in a non-championship race. At the end of the season, Porsche retired from F1 due to the high costs and lack of success. Privateers continued to enter the out-dated Porsche 718 in F1 until 1964.

Porsche returned to Formula One in 1983 after nearly two decades away, supplying engines badged as TAG units for the McLaren Team. The TAG engine was designed to very tight requirements issued by McLaren's John Barnard — he specified the physical layout of the engine to match the design of his proposed car. The engine was funded by TAG who retained the naming rights to it, although the engines bore "made by Porsche" identification. TAG-Porsche-powered cars took two constructor championships in 1984 and 1985 and three driver crowns in 1984, 1985 and 1986. Porsche returned to F1 again in 1991 as an engine supplier, however this time with disastrous results: Porsche-powered Footwork cars failed to score a single point, and failed to even qualify for over half the races that year; Porsche has not participated in Formula One since."

fraggle

I love almost any motor racing that isn't in circles or ovals. I love CART and IRL as long as they aren't on an oval. I love NASCAR at Watkins Glen. I love WRC. American Lemans. Real Lemans. Rolex Sportscar. DTM. Brit Touring Car. Aussie V8 championship, and of course, F1.

damn I need a tivo-type device!

I do agree that Porsche needs to step it up a bit here. I miss the days of the 962/956. Watching those things at the Glen was awesome. You can only rest on heritage marketing so long...

Zaner

Been a big fan since the late '70's when i went to see Andretti at Long Beach during his Championship season! Been to Indy to see Schumacher a couple years ago(Hakkinen won the race) and i am planning to go to England this year to catch my third race(in person that is). I will be going to England with 2 other 928 owners by the way! (AT LEAST one round of drinks on ME to any other 928 owners who might be attending that race!)

gruffalo

F1 fan here too. But I think Kimi has serious attitude issues. He is not as comitted as Schumi was. It's gonna be interesting to watch what happens to Ferrari now.

MM

zrated s4

People said the same thing about Michael when he first started. In the case of Kimi I think that he may come across as having an attitude problem because of his expressionless stoicism. Most Finnish F1 drivers come across that way: Rosberg, Hakkinen, etc. Can't speak for the Rallye drivers as I have not folllowed that form of racing much. Mika Salo seems to be an exception in that he does project emotion and openess, and some humor.

I wish Kimi and the Scuderia well in the years to come.