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In standard 'K' trim, the 917's five-litre air-cooled Flat 12 engine produced a formidable 630bhp at 8300rpm. Compression was set at 10.5:1, there was mechanical Bosch fuel injection and, for most circuits, a five-speed transmission. Body changes for the 'K' included revised tail fins, the finished article standing 36.5-inches high, 74-inches wide and tipping the scales at 840kg. With a power-to-weight ratio of approaching 750bhp per ton, the 917K could exceed 220mph and hit 60mph within 2.6 seconds.

Rossi's car, chassis 030, is believed to have raced just once before being converted for road use by the factory. Its sole outing came at the Zeltweg 1000km World Championship race on 27th June 1971 where it was entered by the factory but run under the Martini Racing Team flag for convenience. Featuring an experimental transistorised anti-lock braking system about which Porsche's engineers were highly secretive, the number 28 car was painted white with red and blue Martini stripes.

Driven by Helmut Marko and Gerard Larrousse, it qualified third behind the pole-sitting JW Automotive 917K of Rodriguez / Attwood and the works Ferrari 312P of Ickx / Regazzoni. However, after circulating at the sharp end of proceedings for nearly four hours, 030 crept slowly into the pits whilst lying second, a messily punctured right rear tyre damaging the bodywork. After a lengthy stop, Marko went back out in the heavily taped 917 but with the damage affecting handling, it was decided to retire the car when the rear lights stopped working on the 122nd lap.