Porsche's Technological Innovations Part 4: 1950, Debut at Le Mans and the 550 Idea

A sports brand cannot exist without racing. Ferry, and his father Ferdinand — finally free, though worn from imprisonment — knew this well. They could not overlook the stunning success of Ferrari, which had entered the market around the same time and was already winning at Le Mans. However, the paths taken by the two new brands were entirely different: magnificent V12 engines for the Italians, and methodical pursuit of excellence for the Germans — even with a small and low-powered engine.