Porsche 911 2.5 ST ex-Claude Ballot Léna / Sonauto, French Champion in 1972, Chassis number 9110200699 / Option code M491

In the early 1970s, Sonauto, the brand's official importer for France, was looking for visibility and publicity, and was interested in promoting its image through motor racing. So it set up its racing department with the help of its dealer and driver Robert Buchet from Poitiers.

Delivered new to Sonauto Levallois in 1969 in a 2.2 E version, a few months later it became part of the dealership's used vehicle fleet, as budgets were rather tight at the time. By mutual agreement, it was decided to send the used 911 from the French importer in Weissach to Porsche's racing department for conversion into a 2.3 ST Group 4. Robert Buchet and Sonauto then entered the car in the 1971 Tour de France automobile with Claude Ballot Lena as driver, where it finished 3rd overall with the number 129.
For the 1972 season, the car returned to Weissach and was fitted with the 2.5 engine upgrade proposed by the factory, increasing its power from 240 bhp to 280 bhp.
After a great battle, the car retired from the 1972 Tour Auto after a clutch failure on the final stage (no. 111).
The car went on to become French GT Champion and 6th in the European Championship.
The 1973 season saw the car leased by Sonauto to a N°99 women's team, which retired.

It took part in the Tour de France 3 times: 1971, 1972, 1973.

The history of the car's registrations and the number of registrations shows a clear lack of resources on the part of the team, and the car changed hands four times until 1974.
Sonauto owned the car in 1970, followed by the Robert Buchet stable in 1971, which sold it back to Sonauto in 1973 and then became a test car for Guy Chasseuil, the other official Porsche France driver.
In 1974, the car was leased to a women's team for the Tour auto, registration number 293 LX 86, sponsored by BP.
In 1976 Sonauto sold the 911 to a Parisian, registration number 4801 TH 92, which he kept until 1984.
It then belonged to a man from Strasbourg until 1987, when it was sold to a man from Sarrebourg, who kept it until 2012, registration number 664 AHT 57.
It was then that I discovered the car in the back of a garage, modified into a pseudo Carrera from the 80s with a diabolical sound system, a Plexiglas sunroof, tuned sports seats and gold BBS rims. Numerous competition parts and specific reinforcements betray the car's sporting past.

A lengthy restoration began to bring the car back to its glorious origins.
The engine is a 2.5-litre ST 280 bhp Guillotine engine with Bosch fuel pump and Magnetti Marelli twin igniters, finned aluminium engine block, 915 gearbox with autoblocker...
The lightened bodywork features aluminium bonnets and doors covered in the famous Light Yellow.
A complete, traceable history file and a wealth of racing photos, magazines and period documentation.
It will be the subject of an article in the March 2018 issue of Flat Six magazine.

Robert Buchet Porsche driver took part 6 times in the 24H of Le Mans on Porsche 904, 906 and takes part in many rallies in 356 Carrera.
Claude Ballot Lena's career in motor sport spans more than 30 years, from 1963 to 1994. A specialist in endurance racing, he has won numerous titles and competed in the Le Mans 24 Hours 23 times:
Winner of the Daytona 24 Hours in 1983 in a Porsche 935 Turbo.
Winner of the Spa 24 Hours in 1969 in a 911 S (with Guy Chasseuil).
Winner of the 1971 Le Mans 3 Hours (with Guy Chasseuil)
Winner of the French Championship in 1972 in our Porsche 911 ST
Winner of the 300 kilometres of the Nürburgring in 1973
2nd in the 1973 and 1976 Daytona 24 Hours
2nd in the 1974 Spa 24 Hours
2nd in the 6 Hours of Hockenheim 1977
3rd in the 1,000 kilometres of Paris in 1970 and 1971
3rd in the Tour de France Automobile in 1971 in our Porsche 911 ST (with Jean-Claude Morenas)
3rd in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1977 in a Porsche 935

The one and only 911 2.5 ST entered by Sonauto.
Approved value appraisal, French registration. Not for the curious.
Price on request.