Who is Hans Mezger? The Porsche engineer with an eye for dreams and innovation

Who was Hans Mezger? The groundbreaking Porsche engineer with a dream

How the legendary Porsche designer created some of most iconic engines ever made

March 13, 2023

Hans Mezger with one of his Porsche TAG Turbo engines

The story of the Porsche engineer who helped design the original 911 engine and Porsche TAG Turbo Formula 1 engine

Engine designer Hanz Mezger and his passion for Porsche

When it comes to dreams, you must stick to your guns. Even as a young man, Hans Mezger knew this to be true. What did he do with the more than 28 job offers he received from a full range of prestigious companies? He rejected them. Why? Because none of them came from the right company. Hans knew what he wanted, and he wanted Porsche. So he applied, got accepted and began his career in the company.

The ambitious engineer dreamed of building masterful engines for them. This clarity of vision was a good fit with the brand, helping Hans to achieve his dream many times over – creating some of the best engines for the racetrack and the road across many decades.

Designing the Porsche 911 engine and Porsche TAG Turbo F1 engine

Hans Mezger began his success story at Porsche with the design of the 6-cylinder Boxer engine for the Porsche 911 in 1963. He was part of the team back then and the final design proved to be fundamental to several generations of the Porsche 911, playing a pivotal role in cementing the car as a favourite of car fans the world over.

Later, Hans designed the engine for the Porsche 917 that won Le Mans in 1970 and 1971. This was the next milestone in his pioneering career at Porsche. It paved the way for yet another project in which Hans played a major role – the insights gained at the many long-distance races contributed to the development of the first 911 Turbo as serial engine in 1974.

It’s safe to say that Hans was known as an exceptional engineer, who was creating exceptional engines. And yet, one stood out even among such thoroughbreds: the development of the legendary TAG Turbo engine, which won the FIA Formula 1 world championship three times in a row from its very first appearance. Hans played a leading role in this design and, throughout his life, became particularly enthused when talking about it.

In many ways, the fulfilment of Hans’ dream was also a dream come true for Porsche – especially since he was always firmly associated with the brand throughout his entire professional life. Hans Mezger’s eye for innovation and passion for Porsche will forever be recognised as a crucial part of the Porsche story.

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