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When Penske built the world's fastest Ferrari

Privateers don't normally run better cars than the factory, but Roger Penske's team have never been normal - as it proved to a new audience in 1971

Kevin Turner Mar 14, 2020, 2:40 PM

Daytona, January 1971. It's the second round of the International Championship of Makes - the World Endurance Championship in today's terminology - and Porsche starts as favourite for the 24 Hours.

The German manufacturer has won all but one of the previous year's rounds, topped the season-opening Buenos Aires 1000Km earlier in the month, and John Wyer's crack Gulf JW Automotive team of two 4.9-litre 917Ks has no factory opposition, just an eclectic mix of privateer Ferraris. But among the assorted 512Ss and new, squarer 512M models is an immaculate blue machine that's not been seen before.

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Author Kevin Turner

Kevin Turner is Autosport’s Chief Editor. While studying History at the University of York, Kevin began covering UK club events as a freelance reporter for Autosport and Motorsport News. He joined the Autosport staff as Editorial Assistant on the magazine in 2006, winning what is now known as the Motorsport UK Young Journalist of the Year Award. He became National Editor in 2008 and over the next few seasons covered a range of international events, including the Le Mans 24 Hours, as well as the British Touring Car Championship and British GT. Kevin became Features Editor before switching to edit Motorsport News in 2014.

He returned to Autosport in 2016 to become editor of the magazine, a dream job that is still part of his role.

He became Chief Editor in 2020, helping to plan content for autosport.com and Autosport’s podcast as well as seeing the magazine through the coronavirus pandemic. Kevin also led work on the special publication celebrating 70 years of Autosport and has been a judge on the Aston Martin Autosport BRDC Young Driver Award, formerly known as the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, since 2008. He lives in Warboys with his wife and two children.