Ultimate Racer?

Will anyone ever build a faster racer than the 917 Turbo that eventually killed the Can-Am? I don't think the human body could take the performance.
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That is what some say! 1400 HP in qualifying trim and 1100 in race trim! They were supposed to be absolutely UNREAL!

James

 

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!

 

They were lapping quicker than F1 cars at the time.

 

I don't think this is still the case but up to maybe 10 years ago there was still one track where the GTP cars and the current (and all previous) Indy cars had raced. The track had not been changed or anything and the Toyota GTP car still held the track record there. I don't remember the track anymore or how long that held (or if it still does), but I always LOVED the GTP class of cars! They were amazing to watch race! I am sure the 917's were too!

 

Can't remember for sure, but I THINK the 917 still holds the closed circuit record , like 240 mph, set at Talladega in '73. For a Spyder, that's scary as hell.

 

I think AJ Foyt topped that at Indy or maybe it was also Talladega in a closed car back in the mid '80's. He was a pretty big boy then and barely fit in the car if I recall the pics correctly. 256 mph or something like that I think. Prior to that I believe you are correct...I think it was in fact the 917 that he dethroned.

James

 

I saw both of those cars race back in the day, AWESOME!!!!! They walked on all the competition without a problem.

I remember back then that there was a rumored engine with more than 1400 hp if they needed it, the flat 16 shown in the white car.

Mark Donohue tested the white car at the Wiesach test track and said it was a real monster. He got the impression that it could be turbocharged up to 2000 bhp.
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