VIN: the Zitro Racing / Fittipaldi Porsche 917 chassis 025
History of chassis 025
Chassis 025 was one of the few Porsche 917s sold to a privateer. Most were reserved for works use or the factory-supported John Wyer / Porsche Salzburg / Martini Racing outfits.
025’s purchaser was Swiss-domiciled Bolivian millionaire, Jaime Ortiz-Patino.
Patino hailed from a tin mining dynasty and his grandfather, Simon Iturri Patino, had controlled practically the entire Bolivian tin industry. Simon Iturri Patino was considered among the world’s five wealthiest men upon his death in 1947.
In May 1967, Jaime Ortiz-Patino had purchased a new Ford GT40 road car which was subsequently converted to competition trim for his godson, Dominique Martin, to race in 1968. The GT40 was entered under the Zitro Racing banner, Zitro having been a reversal of Ortiz.
Used successfully for two seasons, the GT40 was sold in spring 1970 and replaced with this brand new Porsche 917 K.
Delivered in a plain white livery for its maiden outing at the Hockenheim Interserie race in July 1970, inverted blue stripes were then added along with a distinctive roof-mounted rear mirror.
Dominique Martin was ever present in chassis 025 throughout 1970 and 1971. His most notable result was third overall in the non-championship 1970 Montlhery Coupes du Salon.
At the end of 1971, Martin listed the 917 for sale in Road & Track from his base in Geneva. The classified ad read: “Porsche 917. Last race Le Mans 1971. Completely rebuilt. Like new. Never crashed. Many spare parts. $30,000.”
It was purchased by the Fittipaldi racing stable in Brazil and repainted yellow.
Wilson Fittipaldi drove the MotoRadio-backed car in the Copa Brasil races at Interlagos in December 1972 where he secured two second places and a won the finale.
Chassis 025 stayed with the Fittipaldi’s for ten years during which time it was repainted green.
In 1982, the car was sold to David Piper. He in turn sold it to renowned collector, Miles Collier, in 1984.
Notable History
Plain white
Sold to Jaime Ortiz-Patino
05/07/1970 INT Hockenheim (D. Martin) 11th oa (#30)
Blue stripes added.
13/09/1970 IND Imola 500km (D. Martin / N. Vaccarella) DNF crash (#4)
04/10/1970 IND Montlhery Coupes du Salon (D. Martin) 3rd oa (#9)
11/10/1970 INT Hockenheim (D. Martin) DNS (#64)
18/10/1970 IND Paris 1000km, Montlhery (D. Martin / N. Vaccarella) DNS (#4)
10/01/1971 WSC Buenos Aires 1000km (D. Martin / P. Brea) 10th oa, 7th S class (#34)
18/04/1971 IND Le Mans Test (D. Martin) 9th oa, 7th S5.0 class (#57)
18/04/1971 WSC Le Mans 3 Hours (D. Martin) DNS (#57)
25/04/1971 WSC Monza 1000km (D. Martin / G. Pillon) 9th oa, 5th S5.0 class (#5)
02/05/1971 INT Imola (D. Martin) 9th oa (#4)
09/05/1971 WSC Spa 1000km (D. Martin / G. Pillon) DNF (#24)
13/06/1971 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (D. Martin / G. Pillon) DNF (#57)
Sold to the Fittipaldi racing stable, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Repainted yellow.
09/12/1972 CBR Interlagos (W. Fittipaldi) 2nd oa (#2)
10/12/1972 CBR Interlagos (W. Fittipaldi) 2nd oa (#2)
17/12/1972 CBR Interlagos (W. Fittipaldi) 1st oa (#2)
1982 sold to David Piper
1984 sold to Miles Collier
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: unattributed
