Unforgettable. It was the expression that was most heard at the end of the XXI Tertúlia Sportclasse. An edition that was attended by more than a hundred Sportclasse customers and Porsche enthusiasts.
A turnout above the organization's expectations, but justifiable, considering the luxury panel that Sportclasse brought together, under the moderation of Ricardo Grilo, sports commentator and one of the promoters of the event.
A concentrated Porsche
In a get-together marked by a good mood, they listened for more than three hours, stories (mostly unknown) that marked the backstage of some of the beautiful chapters of the German brand in Portugal. From rallies to speed, not forgetting the first Portuguese adventures abroad at the wheel of models from Stuttgart.
Filipe Fernandes (Fifé), navigator of driver Fernando Silva who was rally champion in a Porsche 911; Carlos Palma, BMW test driver who raced a Porsche 944 Turbo Cup at the Nurburgring; Mário Silva, historic Porsche pilot in Portugal; Domingos Santos, another historic driver with a career linked to Porsche; and Pedro Mello Breyner, who in 1996 inaugurated the Portuguese presence in the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT2. In short, a panel with many stories and experiences to tell and share.
The memory of Carlos Rodrigues, National Speed Champion (1991) and National Classics Champion (1999 to 2001), who died last May, has not been forgotten. Having received a warm round of applause from all present.
In the midst of so many names linked to Porsche, there was room for another big name in rallies in Portugal: Rui Madeira, World Rally Champion (Group N). Rui Madeira revealed to the audience, between smiles, that he had always aspired to race in a Porsche, something that he has not been able to achieve so far. In the background, Jorge Nunes, owner of Sportclasse, could be heard retorting: “there's still time”.
Porsche, Porsche, Porsche
While the space reserved for the get-together was not lacking in interest, the rest of Sportclasse also didn't. All those present were able to see Sportclasse's extensive collection of Porsche models.
Of the dozens of Porsche models on display, we highlight the Porsche 911 2.4 S with which Américo Nunes won his last rally overall, the Porsche 935 A4 Almeras which was European runner-up in ramps and, finally, the replica of the Porsche 911 (993) GT2 with which the Mello Breyner brothers tried to qualify at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1996.
All this in a space that brings together more than 30 Porsche models. From the 356 model to the latest 911 (991.2).
Porsche Carrera 6. The big surprise
The end of the XXI Tertúlia Sportclasse reserved a moment that will certainly be remembered by everyone present.
After more than 10 years of restoration, Sportclasse presented a Porsche Carrera 6 with the colors and decoration that Américo Nunes used in the Vila Real Circuit in 1972, the year in which he was crowned National Speed Champion — a title to which we must add eight more National Rally Champion titles.
The moment when Jorge Nunes, son of Américo Nunes, appeared at the wheel of Carrera 6:
It is estimated that only 65 units of the Porsche Carrera 6 were produced. The unit in the images was restored on the famous Rua Maria Pia, the street in Lisbon that someone once said had “Porsche perfume”. Without a doubt, one of the most important restoration jobs by this independent Porsche specialist.
More about the Porsche Carrera 6
The Porsche Carrera 6 started its career winning, achieving victory in the sport-prototype category up to 2.0 liters (6th place overall) in the 24 Hours of Daytona. A repeated victory in the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 1000 km of Monza, Spa and Nürburgring.
But of all these titles and victories, the most important result was perhaps 4th place overall at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in what was the Porsche Carrera 6's rookie year.
As we know, 1966 was one of the years of hegemony of the Ford GT40, which that year occupied the top three places in the classification. But the tiny Porsche Carrera 6 with its flat-six engine of just 2 liters capacity took 4-5-6-7th places just behind the mighty American V8s.
Some argue that it was this important result that paved the way for the legendary Porsche 917 and subsequent Porsche victories in the mythical French race. The rest is history… 70 years of history. #sportscartogether