Röhrl’s affiliation with Porsche began with a handful of races in 1981—including the San Remo Rally, in which he used a 911.
Few have risen to such prominence in rallying to become a near-household name like Röhrl, who began his rally career fifty years ago. Within three years of amateur rallying, he became a factory driver with Opel. His career launched then and there, and throughout the seventies and eighties, he went on to drive just about anything under the sun. With wins at Le Mans, Pikes Peak, and most WRC stages, he’s a unique driver with the versatility and mechanical sympathy to climb to such levels in the most dangerous decades of motorsport. This is why the 6’6″ German ace, though never having competed in Formula 1, is one of the few rally drivers/non-F1 champions to have the privilege of being inducted into the Motorsport Hall of Fame.
Röhrl won the Monte Carlo Rally four times in total, driving four different marques, and was world rally champion twice.
Has affiliation with Porsche started in 1981, when he entered the German Rally Championship in a 924, the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a 944 LM, and the San Remo Rally in a 911. Even when leaving his fourth decade,the time at which most retire from racing, Röhrl remained involved in motorsports—mainly through development.
Röhrl, one of the few who could drift the Carrera GT confidently, helped in the development in all of Porsche’s flagships for the last thirty years.
With his touch and sensitivity, he helped develop the 964’s four-wheel drive system, as well as Porsche’s greatest flagships including the Porsche 959, Carrera GT and 918 Spyder. Years of bold but methodical driving helped make these machines the masterpieces they were, and for that alone, Röhrl deserves to stand among the best.