Gruppe C | ONLY PORSCHE BOOKS

The first

In Paris 2023 at the Retromobile a very special Porsche is offered for sale. It is the first, the first Porsche 956, which was to be followed by far more than 100 other Porsche 956/962s in the course of time. The first 956-001 was built in Weissach and was first driven on the test track by Jürgen Barth on 27 March 1982.

Afterwards, the 956-001 was extensively tested by Jürgen Barth, Jacky Ickx, Roland Kussmaul and Derek Bell. According to information in the book “Excellence was Expected”, the drivers covered 4,244 test miles before Porsche set off for the 6 Hours of Silverstone on 16 May. With the dream team of Bell and Ickx at the wheel, Porsche should have won the race comfortably. But the Porsche covered more kilometres in the 6 hours than it was allowed to use on fuel.

The Lancia LC1 of Riccardo Patrese and Michele Alboreto crossed the finish line first because it had competed in Group 6 last season and was therefore exempt from Group C fuel regulations. So while Lancia could use as much fuel as they wanted and go full speed, the Porsche 001 was destined to be proverbial economical and finished second. With a lap time 10 seconds slower than the original race pace and only three laps behind Lancia, the race was still a resounding success for Porsche, with victory in the Group C race car class.

The Porsche 956-001 then headed back to Weissach for testing. There it underwent a 30-hour Le Mans test. Its sister cars were allowed to take victory in France in return.

The car contested only one race, a DRM race at the Norisring, where Jochen Mass eventually took a well-deserved victory. The Porsche 956-001 was subsequently retired and presented to Jacky Ickx as a farewell gift at the end of 1985.

In Paris, the racing car stands in its original bodywork and a 2.65-litre boxer engine in the rear. The Porsche still has many of its original parts, even though it has one or two minor imperfections in many places. The dashboard is also unique to the car, all other Porsche 956/962s had a curved version fitted instead of the straight dashboard shown here. But this is only a small footnote in the history of the 956-001. Oh yes the car is for sale 7.500.000 pounds are called! But what is that for the first Porsche 956.

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Zurück in die Zukunft.

Juni, im Jahre 1988. Der Supercup, die deutsche Rennserie für die Gruppe C-Rennwagen, gastiert auf dem Hockenheimring. Mit dabei sind auch Porsche 962 C, eingesetzt von Kundenteams wie Joest-Racing oder Brun-Motorsport. Die 962 gelten als Favoriten, haben diese doch in den vergangenen Jahren fast jedes Rennen gewonnen. Gespannt beobachten die beiden Porsche-Mitarbeiter Norbert Singer einer der Väter des Porsche 956/962 und Jürgen Barth Rennfahrer und Le-Mans Sieger das geschehen neben der Strecke.

Knapp 34 Jahre später stehen die beiden Porsche-Legenden wieder gemeinsam an der badischen Rennstrecke und verfolgen erneut ein Rennen der Gruppe C. Gefahren wird wieder ein Rennen im Gruppe C Supercup und wieder sehen Singer und Barth ein packendes Rennen in dem auch ein Porsche 962 Nummer 162 mitfährt.

Tausende von Zuschauern werden bei strahlendem Sonnenschein im Rahmen der Hockenheim-Historic 2022, Zeugen einer Reise zurück in die Zukunft. Nicht nur bei den packenden Rennen der Gruppe C-Boliden auch bei den Rennen der CanAm & Sportscars wo die PS-Zahlen Anfang der 1970er Jahre nur so in die Höhe schnellten. Formel-Rennwagen sind in Deutschland nicht mehr oft zu sehen. Doch bei den Hockenheim-Historic 2022 sind diese wieder auf dem altehrwürdigen Hockenheim-Ring zu sehen und zu hören. Die Boss GP Racing Serie ist zu Gast auf dem Ring und bringt die Zuschauer mit ihrem lauten Motoren zum staunen. Weitere Rennserien und historische Rennwagen sind bei packenden Rennen zu sehen. Und bei den Hockenheim Historic kommt der Zuschauer nicht nur auf den Zuschauerrängen voll auf seine Kosten auch im Fahrerlager kommt jeder Besucher nah an die Rennwagen heran oder auch mal an eine Rennlegende wie Kurt Ahrens. Ein tolles Erlebnis für Jung und alt auch für die immer größer werdende Anzahl an Fans die den historischen Motorsport so wie er bei den Hockenheim-Historics 2022 zu sehen ist huldigen. Ein Blick für alle zurück in die Zukunft des Motorsports.

Back to the future.

June, 1988: The Supercup, the German racing series for Group C race cars, makes a guest appearance at the Hockenheimring. Porsche 962 C cars, entered by customer teams such as Joest-Racing and Brun-Motorsport, are also on the grid. The 962s are considered favorites, having won almost every race in recent years. The two Porsche employees Norbert Singer, one of the fathers of the Porsche 956/962, and Jürgen Barth, a racing driver and Le Mans winner, watch the events next to the track with great interest.

Almost 34 years later, the two Porsche legends are once again standing together at the race track in Baden to watch another Group C race. The race is again a Group C Supercup race and once again Singer and Barth see a gripping race in which a Porsche 962 number 162 is also racing.

Thousands of spectators will witness a journey back to the future in bright sunshine during the Hockenheim Historic 2022. Not only at the thrilling races of the Group C cars, but also at the races of the CanAm & Sportscars, where the horsepower figures of the early 1970s were soaring. Formula racing cars are not often seen in Germany anymore. But at the Hockenheim Historic 2022 they can be seen and heard again on the time-honored Hockenheim Ring. The Boss GP Racing Series will be guests on the Ring and will amaze the spectators with their loud engines. Other racing series and historic race cars can be seen in thrilling races. And at the Hockenheim Historic, the spectators not only get their money’s worth in the spectator stands, but also in the paddock, where visitors can get up close to the race cars or even a racing legend like Kurt Ahrens. A great experience for young and old, also for the ever growing number of fans who pay homage to historic motorsport as it is seen at the Hockenheim Historics 2022. A look back into the future of motorsport for all.