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www.QV500.com - Porsche 911 (1974 - 77) Part 9: 911 3.0 IROC RSR |
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15 special RSR's were produced in late 1973 for Roger Penske. His vision was for the top Grand Prix, NASCAR and Indy drivers to be pitched in identical machines to establish a true champion. Known as the International Race Of Champions (IROC), Penske attracted a dazzling array of names including Emerson Fittipaldi, Peter Revson, AJ Foyt, Mark Donohue and Richard Petty. Between them, the drivers in the inaugural series had won 32 major championships, the Indy 500 six times, the F1 World Championship twice, the Can Am Challenge Cup five times and the NASCAR Grand National seven times. |
15 specially prepared RSR's were ordered by Penske, 12 racers and three practice cars. Porsche fitted each one with a unique Typ 911/74 motor, displacement of which was the familiar 2993cc. With 316bhp on tap at 8000rpm, the IROC 911's were just 14bhp shy of the full-house RSR's, but whereas the engine was only a slightly de-tuned race unit, the body panels were sourced largely from the road-going RS. All 15 were initially delivered to Penske with ducktail rear spoilers, these being substituted prior to the first race for the latest tea tray items. Other interesting deviations were bolt-on forged alloy wheels and Porsche wheelbase scripting, additional Porsche decals having been applied to the front bumpers and engine lids. The series kicked off with three races at Riverside in October 1973 followed by a grand finale at Daytona in February 1974. After each race the drivers were required to change cars and the starting order for the next race was inverted according to finishing order. Three cars were used for practice, the other 12 having been put away for the race. Each driver was assigned a car by virtue of a lottery system, seating adjustments having been the only modifications allowed. Only the mechanics were given access to the cars during the race weekend, the entire field having been collectively insured by Lloyds of London for a $25,000 premium - reputedly the highest of all time. |
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At the first Riverside race, Emerson Fittipaldi won pole, but had to start from the back along with second placed George Follmer, these two having missed the pre-race drivers meeting. Mark Donohue moved up to pole and led until the end from Revson, Follmer and Hulme. The second race, held later that day, had Fittipaldi on pole, but the race was won by George Follmer after Fittipaldi, Allison and Pearson all led. Race three was the following day and Donohue was back on pole due to mechanical problems in the second race, Penske's team driver leading from lights to flag ahead of Unser, Fittipaldi and Pearson. |
| After the Riverside race's, seven of the Porsche's were sold while the remaining eight were shipped back to Germany for refurbishment and a little extra attention. Stiffer coil springs were installed, the brakes adjusted with more rearward bias and a small aluminium lip added to the rear spoilers. The latest Goodyear Exten radial tyres were also fitted. By January, the cars were on their way back across the Atlantic, Peter Gregg and Al Holbert having been given the job of shaking them down in a full weeks worth of testing at Daytona. Only the top six drivers moved on to the series finale at Daytona's road course in February 1974, Donohue and Revson starting on the front row followed by Pearson, Follmer, Unser and Foyt. A good battle ensued in the race with Donohue and Follmer dicing for the lead until the latter spun out, Donohue going on to win from Revson and Unser. Having taken victory in two of the three heats and won at Daytona, Donohue picked up a cheque for $54,000, Revson and Bobby Unser taking second and third in the standings and receiving $21,000 and $19,000 respectively. The 1974/75 championship saw Penske switch to running Camaro's instead of the pricey 911's, his remaining eight RSR's all being sold off after the Daytona round, most going on to race competitively in IMSA and Trans Am. Chassis numbers of the 15 IROC RSR's are listed below: |
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