www.QV500.com - Porsche 911 (1972-73) Part 2: 911 2.5 ST
 
For 1972, Porsche produced a handful of specially prepared 911 race cars that were delivered to customer teams for use in the fledgling European GT series, the World Manufacturers Championship and IMSA's new Camel-sponsored GT league. Just a handful of genuine 2.5 ST's were built, but between them, these cars managed to secure the German firm a great many individual race victories as well as all three of those aforementioned championships. The switch from a 2.2 to a 2.4-litre engine for the 1972 model year production cars provided plenty of scope for development.
   

Two extremely potent engines were available for the '72 ST's, Porsche fitting either a Type 911/73 motor (with 2466cc) or a Typ 911/73 engine (with 2492cc) depending upon the customers requirements. Both made extensive use of lightweight materials and produced 270bhp at 8000rpm, an awesome 80bhp more than the E-series 911 S production cars upon which they were based. Furthermore, Porsche's engineers were able to cut overall weight to just 960kg, over 100kg less than the S, endowing these factory hot rods with a blistering turn of speed. Visually the 2.5 stood out by virtue of its bulbous wheelarches and aggressive stance, this having been the last Porsche 911 competition car to race without a rear spoiler. Retaining straps were used to fasten the front lid in place, the S-based bumpers being subtly re-profiled to blend into those beautifully flared wings. But not only were the 2.5 ST's on a par with the very quickest Group 4 cars, they were also extremely reliable and this played a significant role in accumulating an envious race record within just a matter of months. It wasn't long then before the ST's began dominating those championships Porsche had earmarked for success in 1972, Kremer and Peter Gregg's Brumos outfit establishing themselves as the most prolific 911 teams on either side of the Atlantic. Between them, Kremer and Brumos secured all three championships, John Fitzpatrick taking the European GT crown in convincing style by winning five out of nine race's, Hurley Haywood proving victorious in the IMSA GT league with two important wins. However, Porsche's most famous performances that year were on the biggest stage of all - the World Manufacturers Championship.

 
Wins at the Daytona 6 and Sebring 12 Hour race's were backed up by others at the Nurburgring 1000km and Targa Florio, a special 2.7-litre ST also securing victory at the Zeltweg 1000km. One of the most amusing tales from that season was at the Targa Florio where Ennio Bonomelli had his ST confiscated by the Sicilian mafia. Taken just before proceedings began in a dispute over an unpaid restaurant bill, it wasn't returned until after the race. However, the Italian tuning specialist wouldn't have been too aggrieved after Pica and Gottifredi won the Group 4 class in his second car.