Porsche 907K - 12H Sebring 1968 Siffert-Herrmann

The introduction of new rules by the FIA in 1968 had a negative effect on the 12 Hours of Sebring and all other endurance races of that year. Big bore cars were no longer part of the Manufacturers Championship, placing now emphasis on smaller displacement cars (5 liters or less).

Porsche showed up at Sebring with a “short-tail” version of the 907, which overshadowed Ford and Ferrari entries.

A Trans-Am race was included within the 12 Hours. This was at first criticized for the number of GT and Trans-Am cars in the field, but finally this event is now considered as unique in Sebring history for its two races in one format.

During qualifying the 907 driven by Hans Herrmann was fastest.

The Race started as predicted, with the Porsches pulling out to a safe lead and then fighting with various challengers, wearing them down.

The Scooter Patrick/Dave Jordan Lola challenged early but soon set aside due to an engine failure. The Hobbs/Hawkins Ford GT40 was in contention until an accident with the all-female AMC Javelin of Janet Guthrie (later to become the first woman to race at Indianapolis) and Liane Engeman, made them retire.

One of the most popular cars in the race was the turbine-powered Howmet driven by its creator, Ray Heppenstall. It was fast, but it needed to stop for kerosene fuel every hour. At the end of the race its suspension could not withstand the tough Sebring circuit and retired after running as high as third.

While two of the four factory Porsche 907 entries dropped out early in the race, the remaining two dominated the final half of it. Hans Herrmann and Jo Siffert drove to a eleven lap victory in one of the most dominating wins in Sebring History. The Vic Elford/Jochen Neerspach 907 finished in second place.

The Porsche effort was impressive. The 8 cylinder 2.2 litre engines in the light 907 chassis produced speeds nearly equal to the 7 litre Fords of the previous year. Also, the 911 S of Alan Johnson and Alan Kirby won a special GT Class Price for a meritorious seventh position.