Porsche 911 sets world record at Silverstone Classic

Porsche’s ongoing celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the 911 saw a new world record set at Silverstone the weekend. Organisers were hoping to attract 911 911s to form a parade lap to honour the model. Instead a total of 1208 911s turned up for the event. The spectacular results can be seen in picture and video form after the break.

Mark Porsche, son of 911 designer, Ferdinand Alexander ‘Butzi’ Porsche, and great-grandson of the marque’s original founder, Ferdinand Porsche, was on hand to enjoy the celebrations. Also in attendance were Porsche racing legends Richard Attwood, Derek Bell and John Fitzpatrick.

Speaking at the event Mark Porsche said: “Of course, the 911 means a great deal to me as it’s my father’s big design and it will always have a special place in my heart. It’s been a family member over all the generations of the 911 series and I’m very proud to be here today to represent the Porsche family at this great event. I think that to have these 1,200 cars on track is the attention that the 911 deserves for its 50th birthday. I can’t thank the Porsche Club GB enough for making this event possible.”

1,208 x Porsche 911 = World record at Silverstone CLassic

• Fifty years of the Porsche 911 celebrated at Silverstone with a massed gathering of flat-six engined sports cars on Sunday (28 July)
  
• Planned by Porsche Club GB in partnership with Porsche Cars GB and Silverstone Classic
  
• Proceedings led by Mark Porsche, son of designer of the 911, F A ‘Butzi’ Porsche
  
• Total of 1,208 examples of the Stuttgart icon participated
  
• Porsche Cars GB ‘Project 50’ 911 race car competed on Saturday (27 July)

A pulse-quickening parade of more than 1,200 Porsche 911 sports cars took to the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit on Sunday (28 July) – a world record number – as the Silverstone Classic celebrated the 50th anniversary of the iconic coupe.

The plan to produce a parade of 911 x 911s was almost immediately exceeded when the celebrations were announced, with registrations building hugely in the months leading up to the event. Rather than settling for the initial target, the Porsche Club GB and Silverstone Classic organisations squeezed an incredible 1,208 examples of the 911 on to a packed circuit – creating a breathtaking sight in the process.

The sensational spectacle, which raised funds for the Hope for Tomorrow cancer charity, was led by a number of famous Porsche personalities as tens of thousands of fans looked on.

Mark Porsche, son of 911 designer, Ferdinand Alexander ‘Butzi’ Porsche, and great-grandson of the marque’s original founder, Ferdinand Porsche, got proceedings under way and he was joined by a number of the sports car manufacturer’s most successful racing drivers.

Former F1 driver and five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell MBE joined in the occasion, along with Richard Attwood – winner of the 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours for Porsche – and fellow ‘legend’ and race driver John Fitzpatrick. Porsche owners and enthusiasts made up the remainder of the colourful convoy culminating in the remarkable world record number, which spanned virtually every possible derivative of 911.

The parade comprised the most famous 911 models from past and present, including legendary Carrera, RS, RSR, GT, Speedster, Targa and Turbo variants. A number of distinctive race and rally versions of the 911 also featured in the cavalcade.

“Of course, the 911 means a great deal to me as it’s my father’s big design and it will always have a special place in my heart,” said Mark Porsche. “It’s been a family member over all the generations of the 911 series and I’m very proud to be here today to represent the Porsche family at this great event. I think that to have these 1,200 cars on track is the attention that the 911 deserves for its 50th birthday. I can’t thank the Porsche Club GB enough for making this event possible.”

Ragnar Schulte, General Manager, Marketing, Porsche Cars GB, commented; “It has been wonderful for the 50th anniversary of the Porsche 911 to be celebrated in this spectacular parade. I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the Porsche Club Great Britain for the immense organisation and effort they have put into this. Also, Sandra Mayr, Manager International Porsche Club Coordination in Stuttgart, also played a key role in realising this proud moment.”

“It’s because of the 911 that Porsche had the financial resources to go racing, and create history with the 917, 956, 962 and all the wins we had around the world with my fabulous team-mates,” said Derek Bell. “Porsche did a lot for me, so to be here in this parade driving a 911 around my home track of Silverstone is a great honour.”

Porsche Cars GB ‘Project 50’ 911 race car in action

On the Saturday evening prior to the Parade, the Porsche Cars GB ‘Project 50’ 911 race car took to the track in the Piper Heidsieck International Trophy for pre-1966 GT cars. Behind the wheel in the two-driver event were Gordon Robertson, Chief Driving Consultant of the Porsche Experience Centre (located adjacent to the Hangar Straight at Silverstone) and Barry Horne, 2003 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Champion.

After a sunny qualifying, the heavens opened prior to the race and made for challenging circuit conditions. However, the Scots duo made good progress in the 1965 2.0 coupe and crossed the finish line fifth in class and 30th overall.

The team is now preparing to participate in the OldTimer GP at the 14-mile Nürburgring in Germany, held appropriately on 9 – 11 August.

Notes about the 911

For five decades, the 911 has been at the heart of the Porsche brand. Few other cars in the world can look back on such a long tradition and continuity as the Porsche 911. It has been inspiring car enthusiasts around the world since its debut as the model 901 at the IAA International Automotive Show, Frankfurt, in September 1963. Today it is considered by its many devoted fans as the quintessential sports car, the benchmark for all others. The 911 is also the central point of reference for all other Porsche series. Every Porsche is the most sporting automobile in its category, and each one carries a piece of the 911 philosophy.

Over 820,000 Porsche 911s have been built, making it the most successful sports car in the world. For each of its seven generations the engineers in Zuffenhausen and Weissach have reinvented it, time and time again demonstrating to the world the innovative power of Porsche. Like no other vehicle, the 911 reconciles apparent contradictions such as sportiness and everyday practicality, tradition and innovation, exclusivity and social acceptance, design and functionality.

In addition to its classic yet unique lines, the Porsche 911 has always been distinguished by its advanced technology. Many of the ideas and technologies that made their debut in the Porsche 911 were conceived on the race track. The 911 was committed to the performance principle from the start, and motor racing is its most important test lab. From the very beginning the car has been at home on circuits and rally stages all over the world, earning a reputation as a quick and dependable winner. In fact, two thirds of the 30,000 race victories achieved by Porsche to date have been recorded by the 911.