Sporterfolge - (Succès sportifs de Porsche 1951-1963)

de Tony Adriaensens, Corsa Research novembre 2012, 640 pages 24,5 x 22 cm, couverture rigide illustrée, sous boîtage rigide illustré, 113 photos couleur et 263 photos NB, texte anglais

A magical window on early Porsche competition history

We are proud to announce a new book by Tony Adriaensens. After the most successful 'Ten days in Sicily' and 'Weekend Heroes', Tony has accomplished a massive work on early Porsches in competition.

Titled 'SportErfolge', this magnificent photo-essay covers a part of the rich racing and rallying history of the Porsches from as early as 1951 when the Austrian-built Gmünd 356 challenged the early post-war racing scene. From there it goes all the way up to 1963 when the rare flat-eights showed great potential at the Targa Florio, Nürburgring and Le Mans. In between are many events, national and international, that slowly but surely put Porsche on pole position among the world's finest competition cars.

Race meetings are laid out individually and chronologically, starting with the 1951 Coupe du Salon at Montlhéry and ending with the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race, via Sestriere, Liège-Rome-Liège, Carrera Panamericana Mexico, Pebble Beach, numerous Swiss hill-climbs and more, much more. There are some truly amazing shots – Hans Herrmann in the 1954 Carrera Mexico class winning 550, full colour Mille Miglia and Bob Donner gunning his RS61 up Pikes Peak are just some examples. Paddock studies feature strongly, and Tony has retained a typical feel for the 1950s culture.

Cleverly, verbatim reports from old race journals are used to provide summaries of the action at each event, while extended captions to the pictures provide additional detail and background information on the cars and drivers.

Once again, Adriaensens has gathered together a fine selection of meticulous images, most of them taken by talented amateur photographers whose rare and vivid colours makes SportErfolge a must have – not only for the Porsche enthusiast, but for everyone interested in motorsport of the 1950s.