03.06.2025Le Mans-win 1982: First success for the Porsche 956

The 1982 Le Mans edition marked a significant turning point in the history of the glorious 24-hour race. It was the premiere year for the unforgettable Group C cars. The spectacular prototypes sparked a significant increase in the number of manufacturers and thrilled fans well into the early 1990s. Their era produced several iconic racing cars, including the silver Sauber Mercedes, the silk-cut Jaguars, the screaming Wankel-engined Mazdas, and, of course, the successful Porsche models.

Right at the beginning of the Group C era, the company from Zuffenhausen faced the unique challenge of constructing and fielding a successful car based on the new regulations. The rules limited fuel tank capacity and fuel consumption. However, the engine design was largely optional. Thus, efficiency rather than pure performance took center stage. In this respect, the Group C regulations were a precursor to today's hypercar generation, as they still stipulate certain parameters that manufacturers can achieve with a wide variety of engine and aerodynamic concepts.

For its first Group C racer, Porsche adopted the 2.65-liter, 620 hp, six-cylinder boxer engine from the previously successful 936. All other components on the 956 were completely new. For example, an aluminum monocoque was used for the first time in Porsche's racing car history. The aerodynamics also created the famous "ground effect," enabling impressive speeds on the long Hunaudières straight and in the corners. For the drivers, this was a similarly unfamiliar experience as calculating fuel consumption in the cockpit and adjusting their driving style accordingly, for example, by lifting early before braking points. Innovations also arrived in the pits. Porsche used a computer for the first time to prepare for the increased demands of strategy.

Testing with the 956 began only a few months before the all-important season highlight at Le Mans, and the fleet was only just completed. Nevertheless, the debut was a brilliant success. The three Rothmans-designed factory cars celebrated a dominant one-two-three victory, with Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell leading the way in the #1 car. The Belgian-British duo had already won together in 1975 and 1981. This time, too, they completed the race without a hitch, leaving behind teammates Jochen Mass and Vern Schuppan in the #2 car, as well as Hurley Haywood, Al Holbert, and Jürgen Barth in the #3 car.

For Jacky Ickx, it was his sixth and final Le Mans triumph. His record for most wins stood until 2005, when Tom Kristensen surpassed the Belgian. For Porsche, the 956 was part of a seven-year winning streak at Le Mans, which lasted from 1981 to 1987. And even beyond the endurance classic, the revolutionary car raced to success in World Championship races and even national championships.

The ck-modelcars label WERK83 has released the winning 1982 Porsche 956, which launched the Group C era at Le Mans, in scale 1:18. The decals are already applied to the model, which is delivered in a high-quality collector's box. The front wheels are steerable, and the doors can be opened, allowing the faithfully reproduced cockpit to be inspected.

Porsche 956 LH #1 Winner 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982 Ickx, Bell 1:18 WERK83, RRP €79.95, item-no.: W18043001C

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Porsche 956 LH #1 ganador 24h LeMans 1982 Ickx, Bell 1:18 WERK83

£ 60.76