A picture-perfect Porsche 917 family reunion

©Porsche

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©Porsche

It's Le Mans week, which is the perfect excuse to go off topic and post this stunning shot of the original race winning Porsche 917 KH and twelve of its siblings taken last weekend during Monterey Car Week.

The Porsche Heritage and Museum department brought together the twelve cars sat here on the lawn at Pebble Beach as part of an around-the-world roadshow celebrating the manufacturer's success at Le Mans.

Arguably one of the most iconic racing beasts ever created and Porsche's most famous car, the 917 was purposefully designed and built for Le Mans, where it won in 1970 and in 1971.

And as a reminder, the 917 KH bearing the number 22 here at the forefront made history at Le Mans in 1971, when Gijs van Lennep and Helmut Marko crossed the finish line first.

The pair covered a distance of 5,335 kilometres at an average speed of 222.3 km/h, setting two records that would remain unbeaten for 39 years!

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.