Rennsport Reunion IV closes with Porsche 917s tearing around the track

Rennsport IV, three days of serious Porsche love at Mazda Racway Laguna Seca, concluded on Sunday with a half-dozen races around the picturesque track near Monterey, Calif. And while there were a variety of all things Porsche to see and hear through the three days, Sunday saw some of Porsche's most powerful race cars take to the track. It was certainly a case of saving the best for last.

Even though there were only three of the all-conquering 917s competing on the track (there were several others on static display), they were without a doubt the major crowd pleaser. The 917s had to mix it up with a Porsche 908 driven by the capable hands of champion racer Brian Redman, and in the end, it was Redman holding the Weissach Cup. The 908, after all, was built for short tracks such as Laguna Seca, while the 917s were built to win Le Mans. But 917s driven by Bruce Canepa (pole sitter), Chris MacAllister and Gils Van Lennep made the race interesting, with the drivers swapping lead changes several times throughout the 40-minute race.

Rennsport is an every-three-year event bringing together more than 50 years of Porsche race cars and drivers to celebrate the brand's heritage. This is the first Rennsport on the West Coast. The previous three events took place at Lime Rock and twice at Daytona.

By Roger Hart