… Aesthetically, at least. 1970 was the 917’s first truly successful year of racing, thanks to the efforts of John Wyer’s Gulf team to improve the car’s aerodynamics. After noting an absence of dead gnats on the car’s rear bodywork during testing, Wyer’s chief engineer cobbled together new rear bodywork in the pits from scrap aluminum. The new bodywork made better use of the airflow over the car and increased downforce. The rest is history.
This 33-minute film documents the JWA-Gulf team’s very successful 1970 season, with wins at Daytona, Brands Hatch, Monza, the Targa Florio, Spa-Francorchamps, Watkins Glen and the Österreichring. In addition to a wonderful selection of cars that reads like a who’s-who of classic sports car racing, notable drivers such as Jo Siffert, Pedro Rodriguez and Brian Redman make appearances.
The number 20 car driven by Jo Siffert and Brian Redman in the 1970 Le Mans race (chassis 917/017) would gain further fame as one of the stars of Steve McQueen’s 1971 movie Le Mans(chassis 917/022 used for filming).
