Porsche had been aiming at winning the Le Mans 24 Hours for some years. The 917-type, that made its debut in 1969, was finally most competitive in 1970. The 1970 edition of the Le Mans race was to become one of the most famous ever, for multiple reasons. John Wyer's team, sponsored by Gulf, seemed to be the main contender, but eventually it was the Salzburg-entered car that won the race, giving Porsche the first overall victory in Le Mans, the first of a long series.