The Racing Colors Most Iconic Of The Automotive History
The world of motor racing beyond the manufacturers, drivers and teams, could not be understood without the support of sponsors, usually companies to publicize their brands and drive sales of its products and services are funded to racing teams in exchange for used cars as an advertising showcase. This association, historical, has fueled the imagination of all motor racing fans, since one can not imagine a race car without your stickers, logos and colors, sometimes strident, sometimes elegant, but never indifferent.
As a tribute, and thanks to those sponsors that enable the world of motor racing is still alive, we invite you to take a tour through time to recover those most iconic designs.
GULF: The current Gulf logo is the same since 1963, created by industrial designer William S. Hunt. Take time away from the slopes but still colors that evoke the competition of endurance, speed and power of machines that were untamed and dangerous. In all models, we are left with the Gulf Ford GT40 designed to break the dominance of Ferrari in endurance racing. Those of Manarello had 6 consecutive years of victories at Le Mans, from 1960 to 1965 and Ford responded with a heart V8 beast. They won four times in a row, from 1966-1969.
PORSCHE 917: “The ultimate weapon”, as called Ian Bamsey in their monograph. He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1970 and 1971. It brought together many exotic technologies compete with magnesium alloys and titanium and a complex engine air-cooled flat 12 in the turbo version developed for the Can Am came to develop up to 1,100 hp (1,580 in qualifying). The 917 won no more issues because the FIA eliminated the category Sport in 1972. We were the Porsche Gulf 917K short tail (Kurzheck) used primarily for short circuits and buzzards with less need for top speed.
Posche 917 “Pink Pig”: Your body was designed by the French company will be to the detriment of design that had been developed by Anatole Lapine (then head of Porsche Design). His consolation prize was to design the decoration and evil tongues say that Lapine Porsche avenged with this extravagant design. Little history of competition, only participates in Le Mans 1971 and abandoned for failure. We were with hams.
Sunoco Porsche 917 Can Am Spyder: “At this time there is nothing in the world any quicker, any better handling, any more advanced technically, or any more fun to drive. It is, to me, the perfect race car.” ~ Mark Donohue, 1973. He was who won the Can Am series in 1973 precisely on the back of this Porsche, final stage of development of 917: 1,100 hp in race conditions and more than 1,500 in qualifying. Engine 5.4-liter turbocharged flat-12. A real legendary beast.
MARTINI RACING
Resistance, Rallys, Formula 1… The Italian drinks firm always bet on the Motorsport (specifically the four wheels) as an advertising platform. Reflecting the passion of Italians for cars, always bet on winning teams and palmares who treasure these colors is devastating. The Martini colors are part of the living history of motorsports, indelibly etched into our retinas.
Porsche 917 “hippie”: Anatole Lapine design (like the Pink Pig) for Martini Racing, breaking out of what later became the distinctive colors of Martini Classic Racing (Red, Blue and Black). This 917-021 debuts at La Sarthe in 1970 and no one could separate him the finger. 1500 Spray cans were used in its decoration (Spray yes, you read that right) and the work was completed in the same week in Le Mans.
Martini Porsche 917L longtail (langheck): Less drag than the less popular short version 917K (Kurzheck), which is about to be unstable at high speed. Expressly designed for circuits with long straights, as is the case of La Sarthe.
Martini Porsche 935/78 Moby Dick: The Porsche 935 won 123 of the 370 races in which he participated, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Sebring, Daytona and Nürburgring 1,000km. It is the most powerful of derivatives 911 (ie 930). The version with 2 turbos from 1977 came to 650 hp.
Martini Lancia Delta Integrale: Perhaps they are rallying specialty where tattooed with the legendary “Martini Racing” cars have obtained more success. The Delta Integrale won 46 victories in 67 rallies in which he took part between 1987 and 1992.
Martini Lancia 037: The 037 won the constructors’ world championship in 1983. The following year a revolutionary opponent did not allow him to retain the title: the Audi Quattro. It was the last rear wheel drive car to win a world championship rally.
Martini Williams F1 Team: Recently Martini Racing colors wears a F1 team. From the hand of Frank Williams they have started a new journey accompanied by powerful Mercedes engines that are allowing them to recover moments of glory Grove team that did not tasted much.
Marlboro McLaren MP4/4 1988 Ayrton Senna/Alain Prost: This 1988 McLaren won 15 of the 16 races of the championship crowning Ayrton Senna for the first time F1 world champion.
Marlboro Ferrari F1 Schumacher: Schumacher got this saddle most of their titles. The Marlboro brand was present on the body and wings of the cars from Maranello from 1993 to 2006. The following year banned the advertising of snuff in F1 but Marlboro camouflaged as controversial barcode to continue as partner for Ferrari few years.
Alitalia Lancia Stratos: In the hands of Sandro Munari turned world rally champion three years in a row: 1974, 1975, 1976. Work Giampaolo Dallara, also fabulous designer and groundbreaking Lamborghini Miura.
Warsteiner BMW E30 M3 DTM: Dominator of the golden age of Deutsche Tourenwagen Meistershaft, when competition among the 3 most prestigious German brands was fierce. The sound from the carbon intake box was simply intoxicating.
FINA Mclaren F1 GTR: Gordon Murray’s creature, which had been conceived for the street was soon modified for use in competition. Thus was born the McLaren F1 GTR, which was curiously little less potent than the street version. In his resume boasts a victory at Le Mans 1995 (although not with the bright colors of Fina). At its heart beats a powerful v12 BMW Motorsport initially projected for M8 not born with carbon intake manifolds.
JÄGERMEISTER RACING
The truth is that the flavor of the syrup takes some getting used, (my partner Sergio, is of another opinion) but the cars wearing their colors will undoubtedly gowns. The bright orange is a resounding and energetic aggressiveness transmits color and vibrancy of the fire. On the skin with BMW and Porsche it has always been associated Jägermeister is visually devastating. Competition, adrenaline, colorful, victory and roar of engines is a foolproof marketing strategy capable of global reach even the strangest of concoctions.
Jägermeister BMW E30 M3 DTM: The same as just above we show the colors of Warsteiner. You decide what they like best…
Jägermeister Porsche 935 K3: It is a private 935 developed by the famous Kremer Racing team. They won the 24 Hours of LeMans in 1979 ahead of the official Porsche. Turbochargers mounted 2 different size visible in the rear of the car, almost hanging from the rear, and very close to the exhaust outlet. His howl was so much more striking and spitting flares the flat-6 in reductions helped sell a lot herbal liqueur.
Jägermeister Porsche 956: This car is part of the Sport Prototype group C Flat-6 twin turbo 2.65 liter. Winner World Endurance Championship 1982, 1983 and 1984 (this year by winning 7 races). Le Mans hat-trick in 1982. Eight top positions in Le Mans 1983, seven in 1984 and two first in 1985. It does not need further comment.
Jägermeister Porsche 934: Only it was made during two years: 1976 and 1977. With the colors of Jagermeister won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its class.
I must admit that, while Jäger Martini and therefore has entered me thirsty… so we will continue with this tribute to the sponsors next week in the post The Racing Colors Most Iconic Automotive History (Vol. 2)
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