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For around three-quarters of a century, the Targa Florio, one of the world's most important motorsport events, was held on the Italian island of Sicily. Until the late 1970s, the daredevil race took place on public roads through the island's mountains and villages. First held in 1906 under the leadership of founder Vicenzo Florio, parts of the Targa Florio covered the entire island. Even the "Piccolo" circuit, used from the 1950s onwards, was 72 kilometers long and included, depending on how you count, around 900 corners.
The Targa Florio was not just an important individual sporting event. Between 1955 and 1973, it was also part of the then Sports Car World Championship – the forerunner of today's FIA WEC. Porsche was also a protagonist back then. The goal for the company from Zuffenhausen in the 1970 season was to defend its title after winning the championship the previous year. Porsche pursued this goal primarily with the legendary 917. However, this car was deemed too heavy and cumbersome for the tight curves of the Sicilian mountain roads and villages to be successful in the Targa Florio.
So Porsche brought the completely differently designed 908/03 to the 1970 Targa Florio. Its 3.0-liter flat-eight engine was significantly less powerful than the unit in the 917. However, the "Stroke Three" weighed only 545 kilograms. Furthermore, the focus was placed on shifting the weight, for example, by positioning the seating position extremely far forward. The drivers initially reacted with skepticism and criticism, but the time comparison with the 917 ultimately left no doubt about the advantages of the 908/03.
Jo Siffert and Brian Redman in the number 12 car led a Porsche one-two finish. Leo Kinnunen and Pedro Rodríguez in the number 40 car finished second, ahead of the factory Ferrari. Kinnunen set the fastest time ever on the "Piccolo" circuit on the last of the eleven laps. Björn Waldegård and Richard Attwood in the third 908/03 finished fifth.
In addition to the Targa Florio, the lightweight Porsche was also used on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. There, with another one-two finish, they successfully defended their title before the season's highlight at Le Mans.
After two more races in 1971, the factory-backed history of the 908/03 was already over. Likewise, the days of the Targa Florio were numbered. Its safety standards were simply no longer up to date. It was included in the World Championship for the last time in 1973, and after 1977, it was finally over.
Today, a rally is held as a tribute to the Targa Florio, with stages running along parts of the former race track. Numerous roadside signs also remind island tourists of the significant terrain they are currently driving on. And Porsche's model name "Targa," still used today, is no coincidence.
And then, of course, there are the models that honor the glorious triumphs at the Targa Florio. The ck-modelcars label WERK83 released the three Porsche 908/03s from 1970 in scale 1:18. All three cars reflect their originals as closely as possible and are easily distinguishable by the differently designed orange arrows. Furthermore, the cockpit and engine compartment have been faithfully reproduced in great detail.
Porsche 908/03 #12 Gulf winner Targa Florio 1970 Siffert, Redman 1:18 WERK83, RRP €79.95, item-no.: W18031003
Porsche 908/03 Gulf #40 2nd Targa Florio 1970 Kinnunen, Rodriguez 1:18 WERK83, RRP €79.95, item-no.: W18031004
Porsche 908/03 #36 Gulf 5th Targa Florio 1970 Waldegaard, Attwood 1:18 WERK83, RRP €79.95, item-no.: W18031005
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