VIN: the Gulf Racing / Solar Productions Porsche 917 chassis 013
History of chassis 013
Chassis 013 was one of the eight 917s raced on Porsche’s behalf by the Gulf-backed John Wyer Automotive Engineering crew during 1970.
013 first appeared as a T-car for the Daytona 24 Hours (January 31st and February 1st), after which it saw race action at the Sebring 12 Hours on March 21st.
Sebring was round two of the 1970 World Sportscar Championship. 013 was allocated to Pedro Rodriguez and Leo Kinnunen while the sister Gulf Racing machine would be driven by Jo Siffert and Brian Redman. Also in attendance were two cars from the Porsche Salzburg outfit.
Having spent the last six weeks at the Gulf research centre in Pennsylvania, the JWAE cars arrived with new cockpit and damper cooling ducts, improved dampers, larger front wheel bearings, wider wheels and wider bodywork.
The Ferrari of Andretti / Merzario took pole with Siffert / Redman second, Ahrens Jr. / Elford third (for Porsche Salzburg), the Ickx / Schetty Ferrari fourth and Rodriguez / Kinnunen fifth in 013.
Having won convincingly at Daytona, Sebring proved a disappointment for the Gulf squad. The JWAE cars both suffered wobbling uprights as a telegram from Porsche that called for the titanium retaining bolts to be replaced with steel ones had been missed. Multiple changes were required during the race and the problem eventually forced the Siffert / Redman entry to retire.
Siffert subsequently joined Rodriguez and Kinnunen in 013 and they finished fourth.
Victory went to the Ferrari of Ignazio Giunti, Nino Vaccarella and Mario Andretti. Steve McQueen and Peter Revson were second in the Solar Productions Porsche 908/02. Toine Hezemans / Masten Gregory finished third in a works Alfa Romeo Tipo 33/3.
Chassis 013 was not raced again.
During the late spring / early summer of 1970 it was sold to Solar Productions for the Steve McQueen movie Le Mans. A number of Porsches, Ferraris and Lolas were purchased for the production, filming of which took place between June and November of 1970.
013 was modified early on to incorporate a detachable cameraman’s chair which was slung out behind the rear bodywork. It was also used for in-car footage.
On Saturday 19th September, chassis 013 was being driven by David Piper for a high speed scene that involved the 917 being chased by a Ferrari 512 S (driven by Mike Parkes).
Unfortunately, at the fast Maison Blanche kink, Piper lost control owing to a punctured rear tyre. Chassis 013 pinballed from one side of the track to the other, broke in two and mounted the barriers. The back end of the car came to a rest in a ditch with Piper still strapped in place. He broke his right leg in three places and two bones in his foot.
Piper had to have his right leg amputated below the knee as a result of contaminated cut that had been infected with brake fluid and other debris.
Piper never raced professionally again and chassis 013 was scrapped.
For carnet reasons, JWAE campaigned a new car (chassis 034) under the identity of 013 during the 1971 season.
Notable History
John Wyer Automotive Engineering / Gulf Racing
01/02/1970 WSC Daytona 24 Hours (P. Rodriguez / L. Kinnunen / J. Siffert) T-car (#T)
21/03/1970 WSC Sebring 12 Hours (P. Rodriguez / L. Kinnunen / J. Siffert) 4th oa, 2nd S5.0 class (#15)
Sold to Solar Productions Inc., North Hollywood, USA, for the Steve McQueen film ‘Le Mans’
19/09/1970 wrecked in David Piper’s crash at Maison Blanche
A new car was built on chassis 034 which then raced throughout 1971 using the identity of chassis 013 for carnet reasons
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Porsche - https://www.porsche.com
