28.01.2025The birth of the Porsche 908/03 and the victory at the Targa Florio 1970

The 1970 Targa Florio was the birth of the Porsche 908/03, despite the fact that Porsche was putting everything into the 917 model that year. The winding Targa Florio route, which leads almost entirely uphill from the starting point in Cerda and then in tight bends downhill to Campofelice, has, in addition to the 800 or so bends, only one long straight along the coast on which the 917 could unleash its power.

Already in spring in 1970, Porsche was testing a 909 Bergspyder, which had been fitted with the 3-litre eight-cylinder engine from the 908. This was the birth of the Porsche 908/03, which would win the Targa Florio that same year. The label WERK83 has produced a model in scale 1:18 of the 908/03 with the starting number 12, with which Jo Siffert and Brian Redman crossed the finish line in first place on May 3rd, 1970. The cockpit and engine compartment of the 908/03 used by John Wyer Automotive in the Gulf livery were faithfully reproduced and reproduced to scale. Since Porsche won Le Mans for the first time in the same year, collectors can now display both winning vehicles next to each other.

Contrary to the usual weather conditions in Sicily, it rained the day before the start and the track was therefore still wet when the Porsche 908/03 rolled to the start. The start, originally planned for 8 a.m., was postponed several times because the 400,000 or so fans who were on their way to the track caused traffic chaos. Jo Siffert started the race from third place. The still wet asphalt also caused problems for the professional teams at the start of the race. For example, the wheel suspension on Vic Elford's sister car broke on the twelfth lap after he drove over a stone. His vehicle was completely destroyed in the subsequent accident.

The constant duel throughout the race was still Ferrari versus Porsche. After the first driver changes, Nino Vacarella in the Ferrari was in the lead, ahead of Redman and Rodriguez in the Porsche. Rodriguez, who had fallen ill the night before, only drove two laps and then handed over to Leo Kinnunen out of exhaustion. In the final phase of the race, he set one lap record after another, pushing Nino Vacarella's Ferrari 512 S into third place. Kinnunen's lap time of 33:36 minutes is still unbeaten in the Targa Florio to this day. Jo Siffert, who took over from Redman after the last pit stop, remained unassailable and ultimately won the race.

The Targa Florio was one of the toughest races in the world in 1970. Flying in a riveted aluminum cage, surrounded by gasoline, over Sicilian country roads riddled with potholes was something only for hardened racing professionals. In addition to the three 908/03s used by the John Wyer Automotive racing team, a fourth vehicle for Porsche Salzburg with Vic Elford and Hans Herrmann at the wheel will be starting. Wyer will be driven by the driver pairings Jo Siffert/Brian Redman, Pedro Rodriguez/Leo Kinnunen and in the third car Richard Attwood will have a real rally driver at his side in the form of Björn Waldegard.

Porsche 908/03 #12 Winner Targa Florio 1970 Siffert, Redman 1:18 WERK83, RRP €79.95, item-no.: W18031003