Porsche Celebrates Greatest Dutch Racer of the 20th Century

Paying Tribute

Jonkheer Gijsbert van Lennep - better known as "Gijs" - was born in a suburb of Bloemendaal, in Aerdenhout, Netherlands which is only a few miles from the legendary Circuit Zandvoort. As such, it's only fitting that he went on to become a highly successful racer who is often called the best Dutch driver of the 20th century. Thus, when Gijs recently turned 80, Porsche took the time to pay proper tribute to the legend himself.

Photos: Porsche

Rising to the Top

Gijs started out his racing career at his hometown track competing in a Volkswagen Beetle, but eventually moved on to a Porsche 904 in 1965, securing his first motorsports win in the process. After further successes in Porsche 906, 908/2, and 911 models, he won the Porsche Cup, organized for the first time with Ferry Porsche's backing in 1970, becoming the world's best privateer driver in the process.

Photos: Porsche

More Than Anyone

That same year he would get to grips with the 917 KH when he drove the private "AAW" 917 owned by the Finn Antti Aarnio Wihuri together with the Briton David Piper. The 917 always remained a "fantastic race car with handling like a very powerful go-kart" in his estimation, however, and no one else would drive the iconic race car in more races than the Dutchman.

Photos: Porsche

Long Standing Record

In 1971, van Lennep - a gentleman driver throughout his illustrious career - started in a 917 KH from the Martini Racing Team and triumphed together with Helmut Marko. Van Lennep also managed to set a speed and distance record together with Marko - the latter of which would not be broken for 39 years.

Photos: Porsche

Dominant Streak

Almost in passing, van Lennep gathered points in Formula 1, took the European Formula 5000 title, and won the last Targa Florio, the famed road race in Sicily, in 1973. There he drove a 911 Carrera RSR as a Porsche works driver with the Swiss Herbert Müller. A few weeks later, the Dutch-Swiss duo scored a highly regarded triumph at Le Mans with fourth place overall, as Müller and van Lennep again competed in the 911 Carrera RSR in a field largely dominated by 3-liter prototypes.

Photos: Porsche

Racking Them Up

In 1974, Gijs van Lennep again started with the works team at Le Mans together with Müller in the production 911 Carrera RSR Turbo 2.1. Porsche's first Turbo entry at Le Mans ended in a stunning second place overall for the two. Following a class victory in a private 911 Carrera RSR in 1975, van Lennep achieved further success in 1976 when he and Jacky Ickx drove to a first-place finish in the Porsche 936 in its first appearance in a 24-hour race. It was the first victory for a race car with a turbo and boxer engine at Le Mans, to boot.

Photos: Porsche

Hanging It Up

After that victory, and much to the regret of his many fans, Gijs van Lennep took the old saying "it's best to quit when you're on top" to heart and ended his extraordinary racing career. The Dutch icon remains a Porsche ambassador to this day and is a frequent guest at motorsport events around the world.

Photos: Porsche

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