Porsche 935

Lore & Background

For 1976, endurance racing had two world championships: the FIA World Championship for Makes for Group 5 special production cars, and the World Sportscar Championship for Group 6 prototypes up to 3.0 L. The 935 and the new Porsche 936 were the two-pronged Porsche effort for 1976 sponsored by Martini Racing. Under Group 5 'silhouette rules', significant modifications were allowed provided the basic silhouette remained unchanged when viewed from the front.

The 935's engine was a 418 kW (at 7,900 rpm) version of the regular 3.0 L flat-six, with 60 mkp torque at 5,400 rpm. Capacity was reduced to 2.85 L, and with the turbo charging penalty factor of 1.4, it fit into the 4.0 L class with a prescribed minimum weight of only 970 kg. Porsche had managed to get the Carrera RSR prototype to under 800 kg; the empty 935 tipped the scales at 900 kg.

Initially, Porsche ran the 935 with the 911's original fender-mounted headlights in two guises: a sprint version with wider wheel arches, and a high speed version with modified aerodynamics. After studying the rulebooks, Porsche engineers discovered a loophole regarding fender modifications that allowed removal of the headlights to reduce drag and create more downforce.

This 'flat nose' (or 'slant nose') with headlights in the front spoiler became the distinguishing feature of the 935. The car also had extended 'long tail' rear fenders, similar to the low drag setup seen on the Carrera RS. The 935 used a 3.3L Type 935 twin-turbocharged flat-six engine with mechanical fuel injection; all high performance components enabled power output up to 630 kW, though the engine often suffered turbo lag at low RPM due to the large turbochargers.

Beginning with the 1977 season, Porsche offered the 935 to customers entering the World Championship for Makes, the IMSA GT Championship, and the German Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft. Usually, no other make could challenge the 935, as other manufacturers did not supply customer cars as Porsche did. Each race typically featured at least five 935s. The dominance of the 935 ended with changes in FIA rules which came into effect in 1982, replacing the six numbered groups with only three groups: A, B and C. A second generation of the 935 started limited production of just 77 units, with customer deliveries in June 2019.

Reader's Guide

The Porsche 935 stands as one of the most successful racing cars of its era, winning 123 of 370 races entered. Its significance lies not only in its victories—including the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans overall, Sebring, Daytona, and the 1,000 km Nürburgring—but also in its role as a customer racing car. Porsche's decision to supply the 935 to private teams meant that no other manufacturer could challenge its dominance, as other makers did not offer similar customer cars. Each race typically featured at least five 935s, creating a field of competitive entries that often swept the top positions.

The car's development under Group 5 silhouette rules showcased Porsche's engineering ingenuity, particularly the discovery of a loophole that allowed the distinctive 'slant nose' design, which reduced drag and increased downforce. This feature later appeared on roadgoing 930 models as part of Porsche's sonderwunsch program. The 935's legacy extends beyond its racing career; a second-generation limited-production run of 77 units began customer deliveries in June 2019, demonstrating the enduring appeal of this iconic machine. The car's dominance ended with the 1982 FIA rule changes that replaced the six numbered groups with groups A, B and C, but its impact on motorsport and Porsche's racing heritage remains substantial.