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Two-time Le Mans winner Gijs van Lennep in conversation

Name: Porsche 936 1976
Brand: Porsche

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Created on October 23, 2013

Text:

Stefan Fritschi / Automobil Revue

Photos:

Porsche Archiv

Stefan Fritschi

Porsche AG

Porsche Pressedienst

Stefan Fritschi / Automobil Revue

Archivbild

Archiv Porsche AG

Archiv

Porsche Archiv

Stefan Fritschi

Porsche AG

Porsche Pressedienst

Stefan Fritschi / Automobil Revue

Archivbild

Archiv Porsche AG

Archiv

Gijs van Lennep at the presentation of the Porsche Le Mans Legends at the Hockenheimring 2013

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Gjis van Lennep with Porsche 917 KH from 1971 - at the Porsche press event 2013 at the Hockenheimring

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Porsche 917 KH (1971) - the winning car at Le Mans 1971 - on the occasion of the presentation of the Porsche Le Mans Legends at the Hockenheimring 2013

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Porsche 917 KH (1970), its descendants and many of the drivers of the time at the 2013 Porsche press event at the Hockenheimring

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Gijs van Lennep, the two-time Le Mans winner

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Porsche 917K (chassis 021 formerly 012) driven by David Piper and Gijs van Lennep at Le Mans 1970 - Retired

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Porsche 917K (Chassis 021 formerly 012) Martini & Rossi Racing of Gijs van Lennep and Gérard Larrousse at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen 1970 - finished 7th overall

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Porsche 917 Kurzheck Coupé 4.9l (1971) - For the second time in succession, a 917 Kurzheck Coupé wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Gijs van Lennep and Helmut Marko at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1971

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Le Mans 1971 - The overall winner Porsche 917 short-tail by Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep

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Overall winner Le Mans 1971: Porsche 917 K with Dr. Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep

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Le Mans 1971 - The overall winner Porsche 917 short tail at the pit stop of Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep

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Le Mans 1972 - Gijs van Lennep in the Lola T280

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Le Mans 1972 - Jo Bonnier discusses the race to catch up with his co-pilot Gijs van Lennep - shortly afterwards Gijs broke the lap record. The car started under the Swiss team "Ecurie Bonnier Switzerland" and was therefore painted with this cheese-like livery

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Lola T280 at Le Mans 1972 - Jo Bonnier talks to Gijs van Lennep during a pit stop

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Lola T280 at Le Mans 1972 - Jo Bonnier's car in front of the winning Matra MS670

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Production cars on the advance - The photo shows the Ferrari Daytona of Andruet/Bond (second last place) and the fast Carrera RSR of Herbert Müller/van Lennep (4th place!)

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Porsche Carrera RSR (1973) at Le Mans 1973 - Herbert Müller and Gijs van Lennep drove this Carrera RSR for the Martini Racing Team to a fabulous 4th place (after the Matra and Ferrari prototypes).

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In 1973, Herbert Müller/Gijs van Lennep (CH/NL) drove their Carrera RSR to an outstanding 4th place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans

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Le Mans 1976 - The winning Porsche 936 of Jacky Ickx and Gijs van Lennep shortly after the famous Dunlop arch

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Le Mans 1976 - The winning Porsche 936 of Jacky Ickx (right) and Gijs van Lennep shows clear traces of the 24 Hours

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Le Mans 1976 - The overall winners Jacky Ickx (right) and Gijs van Lennep are celebrated and portrayed

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Le Mans 1976 - The overall winners Jacky Ickx (left) and Gijs van Lennep on the podium

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Summary

Gijs van Lennep drove countless races between 1958 and 1976. His greatest successes include victories at Le Mans (1971, 1976) and at the Targa Florio (1973). However, he was also active in Formula 1. At a press presentation of former Porsche Le Mans winners, he answered Zwischengas' questions. This report summarizes the racing career of Gijs van Lennep and documents the interview notes from the meeting at the Hockenheimring in 2013.

Estimated reading time: 6min

Preview (beginning of the article)

Gijs van Lennep was born Jonkheer Gijsbert van Lennep on March 16, 1942 in Aerdenhout in the Netherlands. He competed in his first car race at the age of 16 in a Volkswagen and soon switched to faster vehicles, including the DAF Formula 3 and the Porsche Carrera 6. In 1970, he drove the Porsche 917 for the first time and attracted the attention of the Porsche works team. He was hired for Le Mans 1971 and promptly won the 24-hour race together with Helmut Marko. A new distance record was also set, which stood until 2010. In the same year, he also made his Formula 1 debut in a Surtees entered by the "Stichting Autoraces Nederland" team. The result was an eighth place in a completely rainy race, after which he took a break from Formula 1.

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