Hans Mezger: Porsche's dream engineer with an eye for innovation

Mezger's passion for Porsche was second to none. His timeless designs led to the creation of truly iconic engines for the racetrack and the streets.

March 13, 2023

Hans Mezger is standing next to one of the TAG Turbo Porsche engines that he designed.

He has immortalised himself and Porsche, achieving success not once, but many times. Not least with his final masterpiece: The Porsche TAG Turbo engine for the Formula 1.

A 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. He knew what he wanted, and he wanted Porsche. So, he applied, got accepted and started his career in the company. The ambitious engineer dreamt of building masterful engines for them. This clarity of vision was a good fit with the brand, helping him to achieve his dream many times over: creating some of the best engines for the racetrack and the streets across several decades.

An engine-driven legacy

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 fan favourite.

Later, he designed the engine for the Porsche 917 that won Le Mans in '70 and '71. This was the next milestone in his pioneering career at Porsche. It paved the way for yet another project in which he 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 ‘74.

It’s safe to say that he 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. Mezger played a leading role in this design and, throughout his life, became particularly enthused when talking about it.

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

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