VIN: the works Martini Racing Porsche 917 chassis 053
History of chassis 053
Chassis 053 was one of three 917s built with an experimental magnesium chassis in 1971. This trio were the last Group 5 917s of any kind; all subsequent derivatives would be to Group 7 trim (for the likes of Can-Am and Interserie racing).
The three magnesium chassis cars were numbered 051, 052 and 053. They followed the 917 Langheck (040 to 045) and the 36 original 917 chassis (001 to 036).
051 was used to determine fatigue rates. After 740km on Porsche’s rough road track at Weissach it underwent the Long Distance Life Test and was subsequently scrapped.
052 appeared at the 1971 Le Mans Test weekend in April. The plain white car ran with factory personnel under a John Wyer Automotive Engineering entry. Alongside the Martini International squad, Wyer’s Gulf-backed crew were managing Porsche’s racing effort for 1970 and ‘71.
After the Le Mans Test, chassis 052 was scrapped with 1020km on the clock.
The last car, chassis 053, was the all bells-and-whistles example saved for the 1971 Le Mans 24 Hours.
It appeared at la Sarthe brand new and largely un-tested. The colour scheme was a stunning white Martini livery.
Once again, factory personnel were on-hand to oversee the operation, on this occasion alongside the Martini International Racing Team crew headed by Hans-Dieter Dechent.
053 was allocated to Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep. They qualified fastest of the Kurzheck 917s in fifth.
In first through third were a trio of 917 Langhecks (two from Gulf and one from Martini). Ahead of Marko / van Lennep was the Penske Ferrari 512 M in fourth.
After the first three hours, the top six cars were all on the same lap and Marko was fifth in 053.
Shortly before 10pm though, the car was delayed for ten minutes by a thrown alternator belt.
Nine hours in, Marko / van Lennep had recovered to fifth.
During the darkness of Sunday morning, a rash of trouble for the lead cars (three 917 Langhecks and a Matra), saw 053 moved up the leaderboard.
Shortly after mid-distance, Marko / van Lannep swept into lead, a position made more comfortable when one of the Langheck 917s moved into second at 7am.
When the much-delayed chasing Matra went out shortly before 10am, the Porsche drivers were told to not push.
Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep secured Porsche’s second Le Mans win on the bounce.
053 was immediately retired to the Porsche factory collection.
Notable History
Porsche System Engineering (Martini International Racing Team)
White with Martini stripes
13/06/1971 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (H. Marko / G. van Lennep) 1st oa, 1st S5.0 class (#22)
Retained by Porsche
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Porsche - https://www.porsche.com
