The Porsche 917LH — Langheck, meaning long-tail — was the Le Mans-specific variant of the 917 programme, engineered to minimise aerodynamic drag on the Mulsanne Straight. Car No. 25, entered by the Porsche System Engineering factory team and shared by Vic Elford and Kurt Ahrens, set the fastest qualifying lap to claim pole position for the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans. It retired during the race, leaving the victory to the sister 917K No. 23 of Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood — Porsche's first overall win at Le Mans.
The Porsche 917LH: Engineered for the Mulsanne
The 917 was homologated for Group 5 sports car racing in 1969 after Porsche presented 25 cars to FIA scrutineers. The long-tail LH variant diverged from the 917K (Kurzheck) through its extended rear bodywork, optimised for the sustained high-speed runs of the Circuit de la Sarthe. Power came from Porsche's Type 912 air-cooled flat-12, displacing 4.5 litres and producing approximately 520 bhp — an engine specification carried into the 1970 Le Mans race.
Elford, Ahrens, and the Pole That Didn't Convert
Vic Elford, one of Porsche's most versatile works drivers of the era, set the qualifying benchmark to put No. 25 on pole for the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans. The factory Porsche System Engineering entry was visually distinct from the Gulf-liveried cars run separately by John Wyer Automotive: No. 25 wore the classic white base with red and blue trim of the German factory programme. The race ended in retirement, but the pole-position narrative gives this car a singular place in 917 history.
CMR's 1:12 Die-Cast Construction
CMR (Classic Model Racing) produces this as part of their 1:12 scale racing car range — a format that suits the 917LH's sweeping long-tail bodywork particularly well, allowing the full aerodynamic profile to be read in display. The model is built in die-cast metal, replicating the Porsche System Engineering white-and-red works livery of car No. 25. At 1:12, the proportional relationship between nose and extended tail faithfully captures the extended long-tail bodywork of the real car.
Frequently asked questions
What race is this model based on?
The 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the No. 25 Porsche 917LH driven by Vic Elford and Kurt Ahrens qualified on pole position before retiring.
Who drove the No. 25 Porsche 917LH at Le Mans 1970?
Vic Elford and Kurt Ahrens. Elford set the fastest qualifying lap to claim pole position for the factory Porsche System Engineering entry.
What livery does the model carry?
The white base with red and blue trim of the Porsche System Engineering works team — the German factory livery, separate from the Gulf-orange John Wyer cars that also ran at Le Mans 1970.
What scale is this CMR model?
1:12 — CMR's large-format die-cast range, chosen here to render the 917LH long-tail bodywork at a scale where the full aerodynamic profile is clearly visible.
