The Porsche-Penske Blitzkrieg on the 1972 Can-Am

Against the backdrop of Hypercar, Porsche and Penske are preparing to begin the third opus of their collaboration. Which was initiated just fifty years ago, when Porsche temporarily gave up on Endurance to revolutionize the Can-Am with its turbo engine.

Published on 30/07/2022 à 12:00

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The Porsche-Penske Blitzkrieg on the 1972 Can-Am

In the hands of George Follmer, the 917-10 TC dominated the 1972 season © Porsche

Le Mans, juin 1971. Alors qu’il s’annonce comme le principal opposant à Porsche, avec sa redoutable Ferrari 512 M in Sunoco colors, Roger Penske is cordially invited by Ferdinand Piëch to lunch. The head of competition at Porsche reveals to the American team manager that his firm will tackle the Can-Am, a series dominated for five years by the McLaren with Chevrolet engine. Vast program… which must remain secret. Penske Racing driver-designer Mark Donohue assures his mentor that this opportunity must be seized head-on, despite the agreements between Penske and McLaren in Indycar. The “Captain” therefore took the plane several times to Germany, in order to negotiate the conditions of this new collaboration.

Mark Donohue, here on the left