Porsche 956 and 962

The 956/962 24 hrs of Le Mans top 10 record

1982: 1-2-3
1983: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-10
1984: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9
1985: 1-2-3-4-8-9-10
1986: 1-2-3-4-5-9-10
1987: 1-2-4
1988: 2-3-5-6-7-8-9-10
1989: 3-6-10
1990: 3-4-8-9-10
1992: 7-9-10
1993: 7-9

1994: 1-3

#	Chasis	Year	Driver/Owner	Comments
3	956-003	1982		Rothmans
14	962
17	962		Rothmans
18	962-007	1987	Shell Dunlop	962C
19	962-008	1987	Shell Dunlop	962C
86		1989	Bill Robertson

Some 956/962 Links:

962.com
The Porsche 962 Page. Derek Smith in Vancouver B.C. manufactures 962 components.

956

The 956 was designed to meet the 1982 FISA requirements for Le Mans which placed a limitation on fuel economy for its Group C cars. There were no minimum production requirements or engine type or capacity. This was ideal for Porsche which had always done well in the index of performance category. Maximum tank capacity was 100 liters and cars would only be allowed 5 stops in the course of a 1000 K or 6 hour race and 25 stops in a 24 hour race. A minimum weight of 1,764 lbs, outside demensions and safety requirements were also mandated. The 956 was built to the limit of the regulations, with the longest wheelbase ever seen on a Porsche. It was designed withe aide of a wind tunnel with special attention to airflow under the car empahsizing downforce.

On the first outing in 1982 the 956 took second place at Silverstone then 3 cars were prepaired for Le Mans where they took a 1-2-3 sweep averaging 126.84 mph. Because of the strong showing at Le Mans, Porsche then decided to compete for the World Championship for Makes which they won. The Drivers Championship was won by Jackie Ickx on the last race of the season at Brands Hatch.

12 more 956 were built for customers in 1983. At Le Mans were 3 factory Rothman 956 and 9 private entries which took 9 of the top 10 positions. Rothmans and Ickxx went on to win the '83 World Championships.

Another 12 cars were built in 1984 including 7 956 and 5 962.

Engine: 935/82 flat 6-cylinder boxer with dual KKK turbochargers and Behr inter-coolers. Four cog wheel driven overhead camshafts with 4 valves per cylinder. 2649cc. Air cooled cylinders and water cooled heads. Bosch MP Mottronic 1.2 injection system. 620 hp at 8,200 RPM and 2.2 bar.

Chassis/body: Bonded and riveted sheet aluminum monocoque construction (Porsche) Composite Kevlar body panels.

Titanium coil springs and Bilstein shocks.

Speedline forged magnesium alloy wheels, 16" x 12" front and 16" x 15" rear.

Top speed, 220+ mph.

1804 lbs (820kg)

No. 3 Rothmans. Seen at 1998 Monterey Historics.

962

For 1984 12 more cars were built including 5 to the American IMSA specification which were called 962. The IMSA regulations abandoned the fuel efficiency requirements, instead concentrating on engine size and weight restrictions to even the competition. The IMSA specifications require the drivers feet be behind the front wheel hubs and a steel roll cage and a larger engine was allowed.

	No. 14 Lowenbrau 962
	No. 17 Rothmans 962c.
	No.18 One of two Shell 962s.
	No.19 Shell Dunlop 962.
	Seen at Pebble Beach Concours 1998.
	Chassis ex-Joest
	1985 962
	Bill Robertson's 1989 962.

	1985 921-110. Group C
	Seen at Fantasy Junction

Last modified: Fri, 15 Oct 2004

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