Prestigious accolade for Porsche works driver; Hans Herrmann inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame

March 17, 2012

Prestigious accolade for Porsche works driver; Hans Herrmann inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame

17.3.12

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Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, announced that a special accolade has been awarded to one of its most successful works drivers. Hans Herrmann, born in 1928, was inducted into the Sebring Hall of Fame on March 16, 2012. This prestigious award from the
organisers of the famous American racing circuit was announced in the run-up to this year’s 12 Hours of Sebring, which was held for the sixtieth time in 2012. Also inducted to the Sebring Hall of Fame were the American racing legends Geoff Brabham, Denise McCluggage, Johnny O'Connell and Jim Downing.

In a racing career spanning from 1953 to 1970, Hans Herrmann was twice the overall winner at Sebring. In 1960, he won the legendary twelve-hour race in a Porsche 718 RS60 with Oliver Gendebien, and repeated the feat in 1968, in a Porsche 908 with Jo Siffert. He also won his class for Porsche in 1956 and 1966. His first overall victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1960 was one of the most important wins in Porsche’s racing history. This was the first outing for the new Type 718 RS60 1.6-litre car, and it ended in a double victory for the Stuttgart-based manufacturer as the Porsche teams of Herrmann/Gendebien and Holbert/Schechter crossed the line in front of their competitors from the 3-litre class.

Hans Herrmann is one of Porsche’s most successful works drivers.

During his motor racing career, Hans Herrmann notched up more than 80 overall wins and class victories for manufacturers such as Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Borgward and Abarth. In 1953, 1954 and 1955 he was German champion in the 1500 cc class, and manufacturers’ World Champion in 1969 in 1970. Hans Herrmann achieved his greatest victories in cars made in Zuffenhausen: at the Mille Miglia, the Targa Florio, the Carrera Panamericana and in Le Mans, where he achieved Porsche’s first overall victory in a 917 in 1970. After his triumph at Le Mans, Hans Herrmann retired from active racing at the age of 42.