July 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Pedro Rodriguez’s death, a man considered by many to be Mexico’s most accomplished racecar driver. Rodriguez was driving a Ferrari 512M at the Norisring street circuit in Nuremberg when the right front tire came off the rim, causing his car to crash into a wall and catch fire. Rodriguez died shortly after being pulled out of the car. He left a legacy as one of the best F1 drivers in history, with a reputation for being one of the bravest drivers when it came to racing in the rain. Porsche has unveiled a special edition, one-of-a-kind, 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S as a tribute to Pedro Rodriguez in honor of his legacy.
Rodriguez drove for Porsche, winning the World Sportscar Championship (now called the World Endurance Championship) in 1970 and 1971. The car he used was the iconic Porsche 917 KH in Gulf Oil livery. Porsche Mexico and Porsche Latin America commissioned this tribute edition of the Porsche 911 Turbo S. The car is painted in Gulf blue with orange stripes wearing the racing number two and gloss black wheels. On the car’s pillar is a plaque showing a silhouette of the Porsche 917 KH in the colors of the Mexican flag with Rodriguez’s signature. Underneath the rear spoiler, engraved, are the names of the eight racing events Rodriguez won with Porsche.
The car’s interior continues the theme of the exterior with graphite blue and orange stitching. Carbon moldings on the lower door frames, and headrests, feature the 917 KH silhouette, and Rodriguez’s signature can be seen on the carbon fiber dashboard and center armrest. Even the 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S key is painted Gulf blue. In addition, a bespoke set of luggage is included with the car as part of the package – also wearing blue and orange stitching.
Honoring the life and career of an extraordinary racing driver with a special-edition sports car is fitting. Though he died young, Pedro Rodriguez left his mark by winning a Formula One Grand Prix, the 24 Hours of Daytona (four times), and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, to name a few. The Pedro Rodriguez 2021 Porsche 911 Turbo S tribute will be auctioned off later in the year, with the proceeds going to multiple charitable causes.
For more news about Porsche, check out the 2022 Porsche Macan GTS.
