Daytona legend on show at Amelia Island

| 19 Jan 2012

A Porsche 917 that scored one of the most dominant sports-racing victories of all time will be on show at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance from 9-11 March.

Driven by Pedro Rodriguez, Finland's Leo Kinnunen and Brian Redman, the number 2 917K won the 1970 Daytona 24 Hours by 45 laps, a staggering 171 miles.

Brit Redman had been installed in the leading Porsche while the 917K he shared with Jo Siffert had transmission repairs during the first round of the International Championship of Makes.

"They had trouble communicating with Leo Kinnunen, who didn't speak much English," Redman later said. "They couldn't make him understand that he should slow down because they had a good lead."

Once mended, the Redman/Siffert 917 eventually finished second, giving Porsche a one-two finish and making Redman the first racer in history to place first and second in the same Daytona 24 Hours.

Rodriguez and Kinnunen went on to win three more World Championship races in 1970. With wins in every round of the 1970 championship season, except the 12 Hours of Sebring, Porsche cruised to championship victory.

The 1970 Daytona winner did not race again and was modified to Interseries spec as a spyder in 1971. Kinnunen was reunited with his modified Daytona winner and raced it to the 1971 Interseries Championship, going on to win the championship for three consecutive years.

The 1970 Daytona 24 Hour winner was later restored to Daytona-winning specification and still competes in vintage and historic car races driven by owner Bruce Canepa of Scotts Valley, California.