What a lineup. Mario Andretti and Jacky Ickx in a Ferrari 312P Prototype, Donahue and Hobbs in a Penske 512M, Alfa Romeo T33/3s driven by Hezemans/Vacarella, Galli/Stommelen, and De Adamich/Pescarolo, Gulf Porsche 917ks driven by Jo Siffert/Derek Bell and Pedro Rodriguez/Jackie Oliver, and a this Martini Porsche driven by Vic Elford/Gerard Larrousse. This was basically the meat of the 1971 12 Hours of Sebring.
From what I’ve read, it was quite an exciting race, as well, as the lead changed hands frequently. Mark Donohue, having led practice and qualifying, led the race by five seconds over Jo Siffert in the #1 Gulf Porsche. A group of Rodriguez, Elford, and Andretti followed a little ways behind. Elford then got in to a little smash with a Lola, affecting the steering on the #3 Martini 917 for the rest of the race. This was already the team’s spare car, as the two regular cars were not yet rebuilt after their race at Daytona.
Siffert decided to ignore the fuel warning and ran out, needing a lift to the pits for a can to get the car back in action, but lost 19 laps in the process, along with a further 4 penalty laps.
The Ferrari 312P built up a lead of a lap by the fourth hour, when Donohue and Rodriguez got into controversial shunt where each driver blamed the other for ramming them. The #2 Gulf car’s damage has been immortalized in a CMR 1:43 model that was labelled as the 1971 Daytona-winning car, but this damage was definitely from Sebring. Donohue’s Ferrari damaged its fuel filler system, causing it delays in refueling for the rest of the race.
But back to the Ferrari 312P in the lead. During the fifth hour the gearbox failed, making way for two of the Alfa T33/3s to take over the lead. Elford in the #3 Martini Porsche was charging hard, and during the 6th hour it permanently took over the lead as the Alfa of Pescarolo had to replace its alternator. The two Alfas did manage to hang on to the last two steps of the podium, followed by the two Gulfs and the Penske Ferrari 512M.
This model of the #3 Martini 917k is a 1:43 by AutoART, and clearly shows the pre-race version, as the shunt with the Lola caused quite a bit of tape to be applied.
It’s a beautifully detailed mode, as one would expect from AutoART, and even has a little trick up its sleeve: posable front wheels!
And stationary brake disks/calipers!
So two tricks, really...
After Jobjoris ordered one that was delivered to my house as part of the ongoing Springfield/Breda Distribution Agreement, I knew I needed one as well, and was able to snag what I believe was the very last one CitizenPatrick had in stock.
It’s a gorgeous model from an eventful race. Can’t go wrong with any of that.
Enjoy your Tuesday, everyone!
