John D.

917Driver

When? Which 917? AWSOME!!!

DJF1

AWESOME!!!!

cabrio993

That back straight seems to go forever! Awsome clip.

pcar964

Amazing clip! Any details on this video?

GG Allin

I read somewhere that that's actually a 962.

David in Chicago

Mark's got it right - you can hear the wastegates when the throttle is snapped shut on gear changes. It's a turbocar. The front fenders also give it away. As well, the cars he's passing are contemporaries to the 956/962.

Still, a very fast lap at 3:32 (the video length) out of the pit lane. Thanks for posting it, John. This new forum's a great idea.

Regards to all.

Porschefile

Definitely a 956. It's from the Derek Bell "Incar 956" videos. Unfortunately there aren't nearly enough vids of the 917's. I guess hearing them in person is the best way, however even listening to the sound of those F12's over some speakers is enough to raise the hairs on the back of my neck!

Deanriffs

Awesome video, which looks familiar. Those trees are just flying by on the straight! I Googled the top speed for a 956, and one site said 217.5 mph for a Group C in 1982.

A.Wayne

Sorry , but that is not a 917, it is the in car video of a 956 driven by derek bell
"video is in car 956 " lemans circa 1982 ...

UDPride

That speed is just nuts with standing geography next to it. Perspectice on speed!

The 917s upped the ante right at about 240mph?

David in Chicago

I believe the record stands at 405 kph (252 mph - I'd also seen this reported at 254 mph), set in 1988 by one of the P2 prototypes - a WR-Peugeot - after the car had been "trimmed out" especially for the purpose.

And, yes, I think I'd heard that the 917s were clocked in the 240-range, although the ACO's official records page shown speeds only as high as about 225 mph for Porsches of the period. Perhaps these were not "official" speeds.

Obviously, all of this is from the time before the chicanes were installed on Les Hunaudieres (the "Mulsanne Straight"). With these chicanes in place, it's about an even draw for "fastest spot on the track" between les Hunaudieres and the run between the Mulsanne corner and Indianapolis.

Regards to all.

UDPride

I believe Gil DiFerrin clocked an official CART qualifying lap in Las Vegas at 241mph 6-7 years ago. Granted not a road course.

David in Chicago

I think the question (and my answer) related to the maximum speed attained, not the lap average.

De Ferran's record was a lap average on an oval - Michigan, I think. Oval racing is fast !! (BTW, I believe DeFerran's record knocked off the previous record holder - Mark Donohue in a "trimmed out" 917-30, set many years earlier at Talladega.)

Regards to all.

Tierce

I don't really care what the numbers are, that's bloody fast. To judge braking distances from that speed, and to get it right EVERY lap, takes some BIG *****. oh yeah, and skill. and all these people talk about Nascar like it's soooooo great. most nascar fans have never seen this stuff. JMO