Autosport Plus

An autocrat and an ace engineer - Tribute to Piech

The late Ferdinand Piech was responsible for so many legendary Porsche, Audi, Bugatti and Bentley motorsport and motoring achievements, and used his formidable character to make them happen. This tribute was originally published in Autosport magazine's recent Porsche 917 special

The conception of the Porsche 917 set the tone for Ferdinand Piech's amazing automotive career that ended as recently as 2015. He also instigated development of a rally legend in the Audi Quattro, pushed through the Bugatti Veyron supercar, and spearheaded Volkswagen's takeover of Lamborghini and Bentley. And he did it all with the iron will of an autocrat and the eye for detail of an engineer.

The grandson of company founder Ferdinand Porsche, Piech joined the family firm in 1963 and quickly rose to become the marque's development boss, giving him control of motorsport.

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Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.