Zandvoort Grand Prix 1959 - Porsche 718 RSK Mittellenker #15
Added 2024-11-10 07:00:03 +0000 UTCFor the new Legion Porsche 718 RSK Mittellenker.
over half a century before rich boy Max Verstappen got his way in F1, the first Dutch Grand Prix racer made his entrance in the sport; Carel Godin de Beaufort. Carel was an actual royalty, living in a castle in Maasbergen, funding his racing career entirely by himself (and with some tax payer's money). He had a particular love for Porsche, driving a tonne of them in various competition events, ranging from GP's to endurance races.
He also raced this rare Porsche 718 RSK Mittellenker, a single seater, centered driving position modification of the 718 RS sports car. In an interesting demand of race organizers to have at least one local racing driver compete in the Dutch Grand Prix of 1959, Carel was allowed to race this 718 in the GP, despite it not being a formula car. Qualifying in second to last (one driver was unable to set a qualifying lap) and dropping back into last place at the start of the race, Carel relied on retirements to improve his final position - resulting in a 10th place finish.
Comments
The 718 was actually a legal F2 car, and F1 and F2 ran the same events in the 50s. The next season they redid the bodywork and lowered the ride height to make it competitive all the way through 1961.
Someguy1785
2024-11-10 07:32:30 +0000 UTC
