1982 Porsche 956 Debut Race
The Porsche 956 debuted at Silverstone in 1982, winning Le Mans that year with a 1-2-3 factory finish.
The Porsche 956 made its debut at the Silverstone 6 Hour race, the second round of the World Championship for Makes, with Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell driving for the factory.
Quick Facts
- Car model
- Porsche 956
- Manufacturer
- Porsche AG
- Series
- Group C; World Sportscar Championship
- Winning team
- Jacky Ickx
- Jochen Mass
- Derek Bell (Team Rothmans)
- Engine type
- 3.2 L (3,200 cc) Flat-6 Turbocharged
- Historical significance
- First victory for the 956 and start of Porsche's Group C dominance
Lore & Background
After missing the following round at the 1000 km Nürburgring for developmental reasons, the Ickx/Bell unit reappeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They led the race for the entire 24 hours, eventually taking the overall win - their third win together. The three factory Porsches finished 1-2-3 in the order of their starting numbers.
Reader's Guide
The car number 1 was assigned because Porsche was the defending champion team, not because of the engine history.
Did You Know?
- The 956 was the first Porsche to have ground effect aerodynamics.
- Stefan Bellof set the all-time Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record of 6:11.13 in a 956 in 1983.
- The 956 was replaced by the Porsche 962 in 1985.
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