1970 24 Hours of Daytona


The 1970 24 Hours of Daytona was an endurance race at the 3.8 mile road circuit at the Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida, USA that took place on January 31 and February 1, 1970. It was the first race of the 1970 World Sportscar Championship season.

Pre-Race

The '70 Daytona was the first race of Porsche 917 as the iconic wedge-shaped 917K in JWA-Gulf livery which had been tested here in prior months. For better orientation in the banked oval, an extra window was put in the front of the 917-roof. It also was the debut for the recently homologated Ferrari 512 S cars.
While the official Porsche factory team JWA entered two 917K, a third de-facto-factory 917K was entered by Porsche Salzburg, but the fourth, private 917K did not start due to engine problems. Ferrari also brought three 5-litre factory cars, and two customer 512S showed up also. In addition, two 1969 3-litre Ferrari 312 P were now raced by NART, challenged in their class not only by some private 1969 Porsche 908/02 but also by the Matra factory that had suffered an accident during travel.
There were also various older Sportscars, GTs and Touring cars.

Race

Ex-Aston Martin race team manager John Wyer's Gulf-sponsored team finished 1-2 in the race and broke the distance record by 190 miles, with a lead of no less than 45 laps over the sister car. Brian Redman was on both cars. The #28 works Ferrari finished 3rd ahead of the two 312P. A Corvette finished 6th.
It was the first race in which the now iconic Porsche 917K appeared, and this event effectively began the 917's domination of the WSC for the next 2 seasons, as the next race, the 1970 12 Hours of Sebring, would be Ferrari's sole win.

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