13.12.2021Porsche 956: Unbeaten in Le Mans

In the 80s, tight final phases were still rare in Le Mans. One brand often dominated and the positions were taken early on. Thus in 1982 for example. That was when the now legendary Group C era began. Porsche came to Le Mans with the brand new 956. The competition was powerless. The Rothmans-Porsche dominated the race and celebrated an undisputed triple victory.

Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell won by three laps over Jochen Mass and Vern Schuppan. Despite being 19 laps behind, Hurley Haywood, Al Holbert and Jürgen Barth were still third overall in the third 956. For Bell it was the third of his five Le Mans victories, for Ickx the last of his six triumphs.

Also one year later, the Porsche 956 determined what happened. Meanwhile also used by customers, the top 10 at the finish consisted of nine 956s. The final phase, however, was unusually dramatic. Vern Schuppan, Hurley Haywood and Al Holbert had their eyes on victory, as team-mates Ickx and Bell had previously lost time due to electrical problems. But engine problems overtook the leading trio with the number 3. Jacky Ickx was on the verge of snatching victory on the last lap. However, the Belgian ran out of fuel and had to sneak across the finish line just behind Schuppan, Haywood and Holbert in second place.

Those two victorious 956 from 1982 and 1983 are part of the Porsche success-series with seven Le Mans triumphs in a row from 1981 to 1987. CMR produced these memorable cars as models from resine. In its special scale of 1:12, these models are 39 centimeters long and attract attention in every colleciton. The decals are included.

Products

	Porsche 956 LH #1 Winner 24h LeMans 1982 Ickx, Bell 1:12 CMR	199,95 €
	Porsche 956 LH #3 Winner 24h LeMans 1983 Schuppan, Haywood, Holbert 1:12 CMR	199,95 €