Group C and IMSA GTP

Most successful Porsche race car ever

For the 1982 season, FISA (Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile) changed the regulations significantly for sports and touring cars. The former groups 1 to 6 were to be reduced to three groups: A (mass-produced touring cars), B (small-series GT vehicles) and C (prototype sports cars).
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Race Le Mans 1987, both Porsche 962 C, No. 17 (overall winner), drivers: Hans-Joachim Stuck, Derek Bell and Al Holbert, No. 18 (race not finished), drivers: Bob Wollek, Jochen Mass and Vern Schuppan

Racing successes

Made for Group C

The Porsche 956 proved its capability in Group C in its very first season back in 1982. Porsche scored a superb one-two-three finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
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1983 IAA Porsche Type 956 LH

Body and chassis

New territory for the Porsche team

Work on the 956 project began back in July 1981, one month after the overall victory of the 936/81 at Le Mans. The official green light was given on 1 August 1981, the start of the new financial year.
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1983 Race Nuerburgring (1000 km). Here is the first lap with the following first start No. 1, driver: Jochen Mass and Jacky Ickx (overall winner) No. 2, drivers: Stefan Bellof and Derek Bell in a 956 KH; Stefan Bellof set the fastest lap time ever achieved on the Nordschleife of the Nuerburgring in this race.

Aerodynamics

Ground effect and Singer-dent

We have seen, Under Norbert Singer’s leadership, the emergence of the 956 – a car with remarkable aerodynamic properties. Two specific technical details had a significant influence on possible cornering speeds: the ‘Singer dent’ at the front of the underbody, named after Norbert Singer himself, and a long diffuser, which started ahead of the centre of the vehicle and extended all the way to the rear.

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962 IMSA (1984)

Engines and transmissions

Powertrain and PDK

The engine of the 956 was a six-cylinder boxer engine with water-cooled cylinder heads, air-cooled cylinders and four-valve technology. It was based on the Indycar engine developed for the Porsche Interscope project in 1979.

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40 Years Group C

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Contact

Astrid Böttinger

Astrid Böttinger

Spokesperson Heritage and Porsche Museum Team Coordinator Communication
astrid.boettinger@porsche.de
+ 49 (0) 711 / 911 24026