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The Porsche 956 is the most successful racing car Porsche has ever built. From 1982 to 1984, the prototype won all the titles, the FIA World Sportscar Championship had to offer. The changes in the regulations made it necessary for Porsche to react from 1982 onwards. The Porsche 936 and Porsche 935 previously used in Le Mans could no longer be used and it was decided to start with a prototype based on the regulations of the new Group C. In addition to the version of the Porsche 956LH (Langheck = long tail), there was an evolutionary stage from 1984. Another change in the regulations limited the maximum amount of fuel that the racing cars could use. The conversions required for this brought the 956 evolution stage "B". The label CMR has the prototype racing cars that won everything there was to win in the early 1980s in scale 1:12. The impressive size of the models, which are almost 40 cm long, make them an eye-catcher, just like their role models were. It is not for nothing that the high-quality models were voted modelcar of the year 2022 by the specialist magazine "Modellfahrzeug". The two models in the Rothmanns design can be converted into the original design of the 80s with the decals included in the scope of delivery. All four models next to each other give a more than impressive picture.
In 1982, the team around race director Peter Falk and project manager Norbert Singer sent the Porsche 956 into the race for the first time. The requirements of Group C are roughly said: maximum consumption 60 liters per 100 kilometers, closed vehicles with a minimum weight of 800kg. The built-in 2.65 liter six-cylinder engine made 620 hp thanks to turbocharging. At the end of March, the Porsche 956 completes the first kilometers on the factory test site in Weissach. Almost 10 weeks later, Porsche is already starting at Le Mans with three vehicles. In addition to the winning vehicle, which will be driven by Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell, the second driver pairing is Jochen Mass and Vern Schuppan. The third car will be driven by Al Holbert and Hurley Haywood. Jürgen Barth is registered as a substitute driver in all three vehicles. In the end, all three vehicles are on the podium and Porsche secures 1st-3rd place with the new prototype.
In 1983, the Porsche Le Mans victory was even more overwhelming for the competition. Eleven Porsche 956s started, nine finished and took places 1-8 and 10. Only a Sauber C7, which took 9th place, was able to prevent the “victory in a row”. Porsche commented on this coolly with the words "nobody is perfect". Again two works cars won the race in Le Mans. The winning couple this year was Vern Schuppan, Hurley Haywood and Al Holbert.
In 1984, the regulations reduced the maximum permitted consumption of fuel from 60 to 51 liters. Porsche did not send a works team to the start this year. Nevertheless, the Porsche 956 was prominently represented by the private teams Joest and Kremer Racing and other teams from Germany, Great Britain and France. At the beginning of the race, it didn't look like a successful race for the later winning couple Henri Pescarolo and Klaus Ludwig from Team Joest-Racing. After just 11 minutes, Henri Pescarolo had to drive the Porsche 956 into the pits to have a defective fuel pump repaired. After this stop, you were the last to get back on the track. Klaus Ludwig also had to pit after three hours and lost 14 minutes when replacing the left suspension. By 9:00 p.m. the two drivers had nevertheless managed to be among the top ten in the overall standings again. Joest's 956B was in the lead for the first time early on Sunday morning. Despite recurring problems with the left suspension, the Porsche with starting number 7 was able to win the race by two laps.
In 1985, the Joest Racing team managed to repeat the victory at Le Mans. Porsche itself fielded the 962 with prominent drivers for the first time and was a big favorite to win. But Joest simply had better control of the speed in combination with the limited fuel consumption. At the finish there were even 100 liters of fuel left according to the regulations. The trio driving the winning Porsche was Klaus Ludwig, who was behind the wheel well over half the time, Paolo Barilla (racing driver and owner of the well-known pasta brand) and amateur racing driver John Winter, who only drove one stint in the race. Winter, whose real name was Louis Krages, came from Bremen, Germany and used the pseudonym to keep his racing hobby a secret from his family. This should have been difficult for him after the victory in Le Mans.
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