Hans Hermann and Herbert Linge together again at the Solitude Circuit in the Porsche 550 Spyder (Chassis 0047 – one of the 3 official Porsche KG cars entered in the 1955 Le Mans 24-hour race, which later went on to have an outstanding racing career) that has seen them through many racing adventures.
Progetto 33 organised the meeting of these two icons in front of the control tower of the Solitude circuit.
An emotional morning, tales of unique and exciting adventures, retracing magical stages in the careers of these two motorsport legends.
Hans Hermann, born in Stuttgart in 1928, a long-distance and single-seater specialist, is considered one of the most reliable and consistent drivers of all time. During his motorsport career, he achieved more than 80 overall and class victories, most of them for Porsche.
Herbert Linge, also born in 1928, began his Porsche career as a very young apprentice and is one of the few contemporary witnesses who got to know Ferdinand Porsche personally.
His breakthrough as a driver came during the legendary 1954 Mille Miglia when he was co-driver with Hans Hermann.
The two, driving a Porsche 550 Spyder, left more than 300 cars behind them and were class winners and sixth overall. But apart from the excellent result, they go down in history for the spectacular passage at Pescara under the level crossing of an oncoming train, with their heads bowed.
The two drivers were able to see again the Porsche 550 Spyder, chassis 0047 owned by Progetto 33, which they had driven on several occasions during their long careers. It was a truly touching moment to see Hans Hermann caress the steering wheel of the car and whisper excitedly ‘Sebring’. It was in that very car that he and Von Trips finished first in the S1.5-litre class at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1956.
Herbert Linge also recounts a magical memory linked to chassis 0047; when he and Richard von Frankenberg placed second overall and second in the S1.5-litre class at the Nürburing 500km.
