MAY 2017 GQ.CO.ZA 47TargaFlorioandtheLeMans24Hours.
La Carrera follows 3 114km of Mexican
highwayfromTuxtlainthesouthtothe
border city of Juárez in the north, from the
tropicalcoasttoanaltitudeof3000metres,
fromhumidtemperaturesinthemid-30s
to just above freezing. At racing speeds it
takesabout72hourstocomplete.
AmericanHershelMcGrifwonthe
irst La Carrera Panamericana in his
Oldsmobile 88 – at an average speed of
142km/h. he following year Piero Tarui
and Alberto Ascari won in their Ferrari
212s. By 1952, the annual event had been
placed on the international racing calendarLa Carrera
follows
3 114km
of Mexican
roads over
seven
days, from
Tuxtla in
the south
to Juárez
in the
north,
from the
tropical
coast to an
altitude of
3 000
metresPorsche made its mark on the race
with wins in 1953 and 1954, later
naming its new racer the Carrera
and had captured the attention of
carmakers: Mercedes-Benz sent its newly
released 300 SL sports racers to Mexico
(and dominated the race).
1952 was also the year in which Porsche
made its irst appearance in Mexico, with
two race-tuned versions of the 90hp Super
1500 engines. One was a coupé, the other
one a limited production 356 American
cabriolet with aluminium body; the irst
hint of the Speedster to come. It was also
the irst-ever Porsche to be equipped with
a synchronised gearbox.
In 1953 there was a major rule change,
aiding Porsche’s race efort. he organisers
created two classes: one for stock cars and
one for sports cars, based on horsepower.
his levelled out the playing ield.
At this stage the Porsche company was
still fairy young and was focused on
building a race reputation. In 1952 it had
won its class at both Le Mans and Millie
Miglia. In 1953, 10 Porsches (out of the 15
cars in that class) driven by some of the
best drivers in the world entered to race
La Carrera Mexicana.
he conditions were gruelling, and by the
end of the second leg only seven cars were
left in the race. Six of them were Porsches.
he other car – another German model,
a Borgward – was dominating the race.
he Borgward had such a big lead over
the Porsches that when its engine began
cutting out, the driver pulled over to
leisurely change the spark plugs. he
problem persisted, but the driver kept >>