Porsche’s first visit to Le Mans came in 1951 with a streamlined356 model, complete with aerodynamic wheel fairings. In a precursor to the reputation Porsche would establish over the next seven decades at the famous endurance race, the 356 ran like clockwork, beating the coveted record for the shortest time spent in the pits. Since that memorable debut,Porsche has won outright at Le Mans 19 times, more than any other marque, with a record series of seven consecutive victories from 1981 to 1987. Thisbeautifully designed and extensively illustrated bookis your definitive history of Porsche’s participation at La Sarthe, chronicling the exploits ofboth the works team cars and privateer entries.

Since 1951, Porsche has been represented at every single running of the 24 Hours. The models that have taken part comprise a roll call of great sports racing cars:550 Spyder,718 RSK,904,906,907,908,910,917,936,935,956,962, andGT1right up to thehybrid 919that won from 2015 through 2017. To this daunting list can be added the ubiquitous911, the privateer’s choice for the race (in 1971, a year that saw a record number of Porsches take part, 19 of the 33 Porsches in the race were 911s). Andhundreds of them aredepictedin historical photos.

In addition to the legendary cars, you willbear witness to the exploits of Porsche drivers, a veritable murderer’s row of motorsport greats, including Derek Bell, Herbert Muller, Helio Castroneves, Mario Andretti, Jacky Ickx, Jo Siffert, Jochen Rindt, Mark Donohue, and Vic Elford, to name just a few.

Meticulouslycompiled by noted Porsche historian Glen Smale,Porsche at Le Mansis the most exhaustive celebration of the subject, created with full access to the Porsche archives in Stuttgart. The resulting tome isa treasure trove of history, photographs, data, and technical information, indispensable to any serious Porsche or motorsport enthusiast.

Glen Smaleis a lifelong motorsport enthusiast who has has covered the Le Mans 24 Hour race numerous times and authored 14 books on sports cars and motor racing, includingPorsche at Le Mans: 70 Years.His 2012 book,Porsche at Le Mans: 60 Years of Porsche Participation in the Worlds Greatest Motor Race, was shortlisted in the British Sports Book Awards. He lives in Carmarthenshire, Wales.