Porsche 917: The film — review of DVD and book release

Thirst for the Porsche 917 cannot be quenched, it seems. The latest offering on what many consider the greatest sports racing car of them all is this: Porsche 917: The Film, available as a standalone DVD or with accompanying 11x11in hardback book.

The slim 60-page hardback is slightly smaller in dimension than a vinyl LP sleeve, with German text and translated English written by Wilfried Müller. There aren’t many words. Most are quotes taken from the leading lights featured in the film. The 78 images are a selection of breathtaking period photographs drawn in part from the McKlein archive, printed large in high resolution and on fine paper. It’s an attractive thing.

In his preface, film-maker Helmut Deimel explains the genesis of the 82-minute documentary. He admits rallying had already stolen his heart when the 917 was in its pomp, but decades later couldn’t resist the commission when approached by McKlein. Deimel travelled to the Porsche Rennsport Reunion at Laguna Seca to capture new footage, where he also snapped up some of the talking-head interviews. Drivers include Helmut Marko, Gijs van Lennep, Gérard Larrousse, Hans Herrmann, Richard Attwood, Derek Bell, Willi Kauhsen and Kurt Ahrens, plus key Porsche figures such as Peter Falk, Hans Mezger and Klaus Bischof. There’s Vic Elford too, who died in 2022, and best of all the architect of the 917, Dr Ferdinand Piëch, who granted the film-maker a rare interview. The documentary is dedicated to Piëch, who died in 2019.

It’s the Piëch clips which provide the most significant addition to the Porsche 917 canon. Quietly spoken, he offers wry snapshots and an insight into his steely character. “In my memories, failures are impressed more deeply than positive advances,” he says dismissively on the 917’s breakthrough win at the Österreichring in 1969. “You just accept the positive advances, you digest them, and they’re gone.” And on Steve McQueen’s infamous movie that added so much to 917 lore? “I don’t have much affinity for films. No. My only hobby is to build cars.”

Marko is in 1970s racing driver mode as opposed to the pantomime villain we know today as Red Bull’s unforgiving adviser. On the 1971 Le Mans with van Lennep, he repeats his ignorance of the Martini 917’s magnesium chassis until the race was over. “The drivers weren’t allowed to know that,” says Piëch, “because they knew that magnesium powder is used to make flashlights.” Marko also recalls asking Piëch mid-race to call off John Wyer’s Richard Attwood and Herbie Müller as they gave chase. “May the best man win!” was the chief’s reply.

The period footage covering 1969-71, the 917’s Can-Am and Interserie years, plus Mark Donohue’s closed course record at Talledega in ’75 is all a treat – less so the stilted narration and library music. At times, it’s all a bit Trans World Sport, as seen on Channel 4 30-odd years ago. But those cars, drivers and that era… the Porsche 917 is the motor sport icon that just keeps on giving.

Porsche 917: The Film (DVD and hardback book)
Helmut Deimel
Powerslide, £69