Porsche 906

Lore & Background

The Porsche 906 was developed under Ferdinand Piëch, grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, who aimed to make the car as lightweight as possible. The body was constructed from unstressed fiberglass, placed by hand, which provided structural support and a smooth finish.

This, combined with a lighter engine, resulted in a weight of around 580 kg, about 250 lbs lighter than the 904. The car's body was tested in a wind tunnel, contributing to a top speed of 280 km/h at Le Mans. Gull-wing doors were fitted, and the mid-mounted engine was covered with a large plexiglas cover.

Before homologation, the 906 had to compete in the Group 6 Sports Prototype class. The factory also entered modified versions as prototypes, including lightweight hillclimbing spyders with Formula 1 suspension parts and wheels, eight-cylinder engines, or long-tail bodies for Le Mans. By August 1966, new prototype chassis were called Porsche 910. The 906's competition included the Ferrari Dino 206S, which was also intended as a Group 4 sportscar but only 18 were built, so it raced in Group 6 prototype classes.

The 906's racing career began in February 1966 at the 24 Hours of Daytona, where it finished 6th overall and won its class. At the 12 Hours of Sebring, five 906s entered, with the best finishing 4th overall and winning its class. The car's most notable victory came at the 1966 Targa Florio, where a private 906 sportscar won overall after factory prototypes collided. At the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, factory 906s with long-tail bodies and standard carburetor engines placed 4th, 5th, and 6th overall, securing the World Championships in their classes.

Reader's Guide

The Porsche 906's significance lies in its role as a successful homologation special that allowed Porsche to dominate the 2-litre classes of the World Sportscar Championship. By meeting FIA Group 4 requirements with street-legal features like luggage space and a spare wheel, the 906 enabled privateers to compete effectively, contributing to Porsche's championship wins in 1966 and 1967. Its lightweight fiberglass construction and wind-tunnel-tested body set a precedent for future Porsche racing cars. The 906 also served as a testbed for prototype developments, including eight-cylinder engines and long-tail bodies, which later evolved into the Porsche 910.

Its overall victory at the 1966 Targa Florio demonstrated that a privateer entry could beat factory prototypes, highlighting the car's accessibility and competitiveness. The 906's legacy includes class wins at major endurance races like Le Mans and Daytona, and its success in North American races helped establish Porsche's reputation in that market. The car's design, with gull-wing doors and a mid-engine layout, influenced subsequent Porsche models, and its racing achievements helped secure Porsche's position in international motorsport.