Porsche Takes Tourist Trophy

The opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship season kicked off at Silverstone on 17th April and whilst an Audi R18 crossed the line first, a subsequent technical infringement meant the No.2 Porsche 919 Hybrid of Romain Dumas, Neel Jani and Marc Lieb were later announced as the race winners. However, despite it being the first time Porsche have won the Royal Automobile Club’s Tourist Trophy, they did not get the opportunity to get their hands on the Trophy, as the technical infringement and race victory were announced several hours after the race.

In an effort to rectify the issue, the Royal Automobile Club took the Tourist Trophy to the next round of the Championship at Spa-Francorchamps, to officially award it to the winning drivers.

Guy Nicholls, the Royal Automobile Club’s Motoring Communications Manager, said, ‘Wewere delighted to visit Spa-Francorchamps ahead of this weekend’s race to present it to the Porsche team, in retrospect of their race victory and the first time Porsche have won this remarkable Trophy. Romain Dumas, Neel Jani, Marc Lieb and Porsche are very worthy recipients and we are delighted to add their names to those who have also won the world’s oldest, competed for motor sport trophy.’

The Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy was first awarded in 1905. The winner of that race was John Napier driving an 18hp Arrol-Johnston in a race over four laps of a fearsome 52-mile open road loop around the Isle of Man. His average speed was 34mph.

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