endurance with iconic 917 and world record attempt at 2009 Goodwood Festival of Speed

For many car enthusiasts and automotive historians, the Porsche 917 is the ultimate long distance endurance racer.  The 917 has a place in the record books not only as the first Porsche to win the Le Mans 24 Hours outright in 1970, but the 917 also scored the fastest ever victory at the French classic in 1971 covering 3,313 miles in 24 hours at an average speed of 138mph.

This iconic sports car1, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, is the perfect embodiment of the theme of this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (July 3 -5) which is ‘True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance’.  Examples of the 917 – and many other Porsche cars from past and present - will once again thrill spectators at the summer-time motoring extravaganza held in the grounds of Goodwood House, near Chichester, Sussex.

This year’s Festival will also provide the setting for another demonstration of Porsche endurance, grit and determination.  An attempt on the world record for the longest distance covered in 48 hours by a team of 12 runners using treadmills will take place live at the Porsche exhibition area over the Festival weekend. Organised by the sports scientists from Human Performance2 facility at the Porsche Driving Experience Centre, Silverstone, this gruelling athletic exercise will seek to break the former distance record of 495.76 miles set by the Runners World Forum Squad in April 2008.