Vic Elford, one of the world’s fastest and most versatile runners, has died aged 86 after a long battle with cancer.
If the Englishman began his career in rallying, it was at Porsche that he made a name for himself, thanks in particular to his now legendary 1968 season.
It started with a victory at the Monte Carlo rally in a Porsche 911 T, was followed by a victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona driving a 907 with a long tail, then ended in May 1968 with a victory at Targa Florio in another 907.
Any thoughts that “Quick Vic” was a close-wheeler specialist were put to bed by a fourth-place finish at July’s French Grand Prix. It was a typical performance from a man who was fast in any machine.
His memory and fearlessness earned him multiple wins over several seasons, all achieved at a time when the death rate in the sport was appallingly high.
Despite everything, he never won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Elford won his class twice and competed in the all-conquering Porsche 917, but an outright win eluded him. He came close on the 917’s debut in 1969 and stuck it on pole in 1970, the year of Porsche’s first overall win, but engine failure forced him to retire the latter after 18 time.
The Nürburgring was a happier hunting ground for Elford, with a total of five victories there, including a victory in the 1967 Marathan de la Route, an epic 84-hour race dubbed the longest race in the world.
But it is for 1968 that we will always remember him. It’s a feat that will probably never be repeated.
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-03-14 10:38:17
