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Porsche met Group C regulations introduced by FISA in 1982 with a fresh concept. This new car would be the focal point of factory racing efforts. These new Group C regulations led to the re-birth of the two-seat, special race sports car which no longer had to be declared a prototype for some future production car, but rather was seen as a high-performance vehicle in its own right.

The 956 from which evolved the later 962, developed to comply with American IMSA race regulations but raced around the globe - was the first Porsche race car with a monocoque chassis and an aerodynamically designed underside to generate ground effects to literally suck the car down into firmer contact with the track. The use of advanced fuel injection and ignition systems not only enabled the 2.6-litre engine to develop 630bhp, but combined this with low fuel consumption - a crucial advantage given the racing regulations of the time.

The sporting career of the 956 was no less impressive; right off the drawing board and only a few weeks after the first cars were built, the 956 scored an impressive 1-2-3 victory in the 1982 Le Mans 24 Hours endurance classic. That same year brought the World Championship for Makes trophy to Porsche and the World Endurance Drivers' Championship for Porsche factory driver Jacky Ickx, of Belgium.

In 1983, Porsche offered the car to customers to race themselves alongside the factory-supported team. So began an unrivalled run of success in World Endurance Championship racing, and at Le Mans, that continued well into the 1990s.

Story by Porsche UK

Chassis & Sales

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