Porsche Takes a Look Back At the Infamous Carrera Panamericana
The race once known as the world's most dangerous, the Panamericana is pretty important to Porsche.
Rich History
There have been many defining moments in Porsche history, as well as a large number of motorsports victories worth celebrating. One that hasn't received quite as much attention as say, Le Mans, is the Carrera Panamericana, a race once hailed as the world's most dangerous that took place over the course of seven days, spanning two borders. Recently, Porsche took the time to celebrate its rich history at the Carrera Panamerica, an event that also gave it one of its more iconic model names.
Dangerous Race
Much like the Targa Florio or Mille Miglia in Italy, Carrera Panamerica took place in the streets of Mexico over the course of five years - 1950-1954. Each year, organizers would change the route, but each time, far too many tragedies occurred. Sadly, that included a total of nine people - six spectators and three participants - in 1953 alone.
The Norm
Most racing fans know that this sort of thing was the norm for motorsports years ago, which is far safer now than it was back then. Regardless, most considered the Carrera Panamerica to be the most dangerous race of any type, which is why it was so short-lived. But during its heyday, Porsche enjoyed some pivotal success.
Taste of Victory
1953 was also the year that Porsche brought home its first win in the Small Sports Car category at the Carrera Panamerica, as Jose Herrarte from Guatemala piloted his 550 Spyder to victory. While the race no longer takes place today for obvious reasons, many still make the trek via organized road rallies.
Inspired Names
Perhaps more importantly, the Carrera Panamerica inspired a number of Porsche model names including, of course, the 911 Carrera. But even the Panamera pays homage to this notorious event.
Capturing the Spirit
This amazing video pays tribute to all of the lows and highs of the Carrera Panamerica, showing off some truly incredible vintage footage that captures the spirit of the border-to-border race. It gives us a great sense of the oftentimes rugged terrain and dangers drivers faced there decades ago, as well as an appreciation for all of it.
