1981 Porsche 956 1.0

With already 6 wins at the 24 hours of Le Mans, Porsche decided in 1981 to develop a new racecar to compete in the upcoming Group C category for the 1982 endurance event. The result was a 620 bhp machine that won the title 4 times consecutively; from 1982 to 1985. In addition, the car would leave a mark in history as it set lap record of 6:11:13 at the now infamous Nûrburgring Nordschleife - a record that would last more than 36 years.


Porsche had already made a name for themselves in endurance racing, having won 6 times at Le Mans between 1970 and 1981. They had seen massive dominance in the group 5 & 6 categories with their 935 K3 and 936 spyder, respectively. So naturally, when the FIA announced a new class of racing called Group C - that was supposed to be the replacement for Group 5 and 6 - Porsche gave it a go. The race class was, in its beginning, intended for endurance racing. The cars had to have a closed roof (unlike the group 6 cars) and had to meet specific body dimensions. The engine rules were slightly more unconventional - as they were determined on fuel consumption, rather than displacement or power output. The 956 sourced its turbocharged Porsche 912 engine from its predecessor, the 936/81. The engine was reliable, had acceptable fuel consumption, and put out enough horsepower to be competitive. As a result the 956 was vastly dominant at the 24 hours of Le Mans, winning the 1982 title with drivers Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell, and the 1983 title with Hurley Haywood, Al Hulbert and Vern Schuppan. For 1984 and onward, Porsche made a tehcinical revision of the car, subsequently named the 956B. This version had a longer and taller rear wing, amongst other minor changes. After 1985, the 956 was officially replaced by the 962, which was nearly identical, besides having slightly altered body proportions, and a different engine. But what really cemented this car's name in automotive history, came in 1983. During qualifying for the 1000k Sports Endurance Race, otherwise known as the 1000 km of the Nürburgring, West German racing driver Stefan Bellof set a mind blowing lap time record of 6:11:13 - a record that would stand unbeaten for more than 36 years, until it was finally broken in June of 2019, by the also infamous Porsche 919 Hybrid.

As for the automation car, this is genuinely one of the best replica cars i've ever made. The livery might be a bit scuffed and glitchy in beam, but i'm happy the way it is.

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SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 2684 cc boxer +
Bore x Stroke: 86 mm x 76 mm
Aspiration: Twin Turbocharger
Fuel System: Direct Per Cylinder Injection, Race config
Redline: 9,000 RPM
Power: 620.4 BHP @ 9,000 RPM
Torque: 605.8 Nm / @ 6,200 RPM

Chassis Type & Material: Glued aluminium Monocoque
Panel Material: Carbon fibre
Engine Placement: Mid longitudinal
Suspension: Double Wishbone (F), Pushrod (R)
Weight: 862.7 kg / 1654.3 lbs

Drivetrain: RWD
Gearbox: 5-speed manual
Top Speed: 416 kph
0-100 KPH/ 0-60 MPH: 3.0s
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