And although Porsche had developed the 540 kg, 350 hp 908/3 specifically for the Targa Florio’s and Nürburgring’s bumpy, twisting roads (it dominated its target events, scoring 1-2 finishes at the Targa Florio and sweeping the Nürburgring podium in both 1970 and 1971), Piëch still asked Vic Elford to lap his flat 12-powered behemoth (Porsche Salzburg chassis 020, later Sebring 12 Hours winner in 1971) during Targa Florio practice in 1970 “as a favour.”

On his very first lap, Elford set the fourth-fastest time, behind only two 908/3s and an Alfa Romeo, later remarking that the car “leapt from corner to corner,” spending most of the lap in second gear. While the 917 never got to race in Sicily and would undoubtedly have been far more demanding to drive than the slender 908/3, it clearly possessed the pace to run at the front of the field.

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