Porsche 2708 CART

Production period:	1988-1990
Class :	race car
Body versions :	monoposto
Engines:	Gasoline :2.6 liters (551 kW)
Length:	4660 mm
Width:	2010 mm
Height:	980 mm
Curb weight :	703 kg

The Porsche 2708 CART is a racing car of Porsche AG from the 1980s.

History 

With the beginning of the 1988 season, Porsche participated in the US CART series (Championship Auto Racing Teams) . The car was completely redesigned, the aluminum-plastic monocoque and the developed by Hans Mezger V8 engine were designed specifically for this purpose. The latter was the supporting element of the vehicle. The fuel used was methanol , a requirement of the CART regulations.

Al Holbert , who won three Le Mans in a Porsche 956 sports car and finished fourth in the Indianapolis 500 in 1984, served as a tester but died in September 1988 in a plane crash. Another driver was the Indy winner of 1987, Al Unser , then 49 years old. The Porsche car disappointed both on high-speed oval and on normal routes. In Indianapolis, qualified Teo Fabi and the green and white Quaker State / Porsche March / Porsche Indy than 17., but was eliminated after 30 laps, with problems on a wheel.

Most CART teams, apart from Penske Racing or AAR Eagle , did not build their own car, but bought a chassis , such as a car. From Lola , and with engines from Chevrolet, Ford-Cosworth, Judd or Buick. Porsche chose March Engineering , manufacturer of the 1986 and 1987 CART championship car and five-time Indy winner with Cosworth engines. The 89 model was adapted to the Porsche engine and designated as 89 P, which is why the vehicle ran until the end of use in 1990 as a March Porsche 89 P. However, over time, Chevy engines in Lola or Penske chassis were the most successful.Fabi qualified in 1989 at Indy than 13., but retired after 23 laps with engine failure from.

The involvement in the CART series was discontinued at the end of 1990 and, in retrospect, was rated as unsuccessful. Similar to the Formula 1 World Cup in the early 1960s, however, could be referred to a victory - that of Teo Fabi on September 3, 1989 on the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course . However, Porsche soon started a monoposto project with the naturally aspirated footwork Porsche FA 12 in Formula 1.

A total of 15 copies of the Porsche 2708 and March-Porsche 89 P were made.