Porsche Group C 40 Year Reunion [video]

There are some truly memorable cars from the world of endurance racing. At the very top of this list must, undeniably, be the Porsche Group C machines of the 1980s. The Porsche 956 and the 962 were the most dominant forces of world sportscar racing in the era. In fact, the 956 is often billed as the “race car of the century”. Porsche recently arranged a very special Group C 40-year reunion. The event reunited some of the drivers who raced these special racecars.

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Across The Pond

The Porsche Group C racers were the German automaker’s answer to a new set of rules adopted from the 1982 World Endurance Championship. The low-slung prototypes were built to compete in Europe and later in the US IMSA series. 

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The turbocharged machines dominated on both sides of the Atlantic and would become Porsche’s most successful endurance racing prototype of all time. It racked up countless victories across the globe including consecutive overall wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1982 to 1987.

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Looking Back

In the video below Porsche has brought together several of the special and successful cars and some of the famous pilots who drive them. Included in the video are Derek Bell, now 81 years old, Jochen Mass, Hans-Joachim Stuck and Bernd Schneider. Incidentally, SA’s own Sarel van der Merwe also raced similar Porsches on the world stage.

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The cars on hand are equally special. These are the winning car from the 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans. Alongside is the winner of the 1 000-kilometre races at the Nürburgring and Spa. These machines were joined by the IMSA-spec 962 from 1984, which posted the fastest qualifying time at Daytona, and the 962 C that won the Supercup in 1987. Beside them was the 962 C that won at Le Mans in 1987 and the fourth-place finisher at Le Mans in 1990.

Click here to watch a video where you can see the last race where there were no chicanes used on the Mulsanne straight at the La Sarthe circuit in France. 

Youngtimer

Two-time Le Mans winner and the youngest racing driver in attendance, Timo Bernhard was the host for this historic gathering. He said of the occasion: “The 956 is the most successful racing car in the history of Porsche. It dominated everyone. And it remained a winner for an unbelievable 12 years.” 

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