In a career spanning five decades, Gijs van Lennep has driven most Porsche racing cars – with notable success. From the 904 Carrera GTS, 906 and 910, to the 911R and RSR, the Dutch aristo won at Le Mans in 1971 with Helmut Marko in a mighty Martini 917, setting a distance record of 5,335 kilometres, which remained unbroken until the 2010 Le Mans race. Van Lennep also managed four years in Formula One and F5000 single-seaters, competing in eight Grand Prix races between 1971 and 1975 with under-financed Ensign, Williams (Iso-Marlboro) and Surtees teams. In 1972 he won the highly competitive British F5000 Championship in a Surtees TS11. Gijs (pronounced ‘Ghys’) won Le Mans again in 1976 with Jacky Ickx in a 936, yet, as he tell us, the…
