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Technology in race cars (33): Porsche 908/03 - The maxi-minimalist

Name: Porsche 908/03 1970
Brand: Porsche

Created in 2023

Text:

Gerhard Schütz

Photos:

Archiv Gerhard Schütz

Porsche 908/03 (1970) - Brian Redman, wearing a red helmet for once, at the 1000 km race on the Nürburgring

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Porsche 909 Bergspyder (1968) - the basis for the 908/03

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - perforated brake discs, known as "Swiss cheese"

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - Kurt Ahrens at the 1000 km race on the Nürburgring

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - the 35 kg tubular frame

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - first test drives

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - eight-cylinder boxer engine with a displacement of three liters

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - Jo Siffert during training for the 1000 km race at the Nürburgring

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Porsche 908/03 (1971) - Pedro Rodriguez in the pits at the 1000 km race on the Nürburgring

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Porsche 908/03 (1968) - in the wind tunnel, still without front apron, but with suction hood

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - as trend-setting as its paintwork

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - A look under the hood

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - The body, weighing just 12 kg, was so thin that the light could shine through

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - exposed front end

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - Jo Siffert training for the Targa Florio

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - Brian Redman at the Targa Florio

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - Pedals in front of the front axle, oil cooler as crumple zone

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - the narrow front lip for more downforce is clearly visible here

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) - Driven to victory by Brian Redman and Hans Herrmann at the 1986 Targa Florio Storica

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Porsche 908/03 (1970) – gelochte Bremsscheiben, genannt "Schweizer Käse"

Porsche 908/03 (1970) – Kurt Ahrens beim 1000-km-Rennen auf dem Nürburgring

Porsche 908/03 (1970) – der 35 kg schwere Rohrrahmen

Porsche 908/03 (1970) – erste Testfahrten

Porsche 908/03 (1970) – Achtzylinder-Boxermotor mit drei Litern Hubraum

Summary

The Porsche 908/03 combined the consistent lightweight construction of a mountain racing car with the sheer power of a long-distance prototype. The career of the lightweight Spyder was short-lived, but all the more impressive for it. On demanding circuits such as the Targa Florio or the Nürburgring, it gave the 917, which was spoiled for success, no chance. This article from the series "Technology in racing cars" explains what made the 908/03 so superior.

This article contains the following chapters

The engine
The 908/03
Aerodynamics
Lightweight construction and brakes
Three victories

Estimated reading time: 9min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The years 1958-1978 were the two most creative decades in the history of racing technology. This series portrays the most progressive, pioneering and exotic designs of Formula 1, Indy Cars, sports cars and Can-Am, and at the same time traces the major lines of development that still have an impact today. At the end of the sixties, the Porsche 908/03 transferred the maximum lightweight construction of mountain racing cars to the World Endurance Championship As early as 1968/69, during the development of the Porsche 917 , it was clear that the super sports car would be less suitable for winding tracks such as the Targa Florio or the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. Small, lightweight racing cars were irrevocably inscribed in the Porsche genes, and the 908/03 project could also build on this. In 1967, the small, lightweight 910 Bergspyder had been used, which had been slimmed down from 500 kg at the beginning of the year to 419 kg at the end of the season.

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