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STORY

The Porsche 936 was an open Group 6 sports prototype developed for the 1976 season, when new regulations opened the World Sportscar Championship to purpose-built spyders. Powered by a 2.1-litre single-turbocharged flat-six derived from the 911 Carrera RSR Turbo and 935 program, and clad in Martini Racing colours, it won Le Mans on its debut in 1976 with Jacky Ickx and Gijs van Lennep and carried Porsche to the World Championship of Makes. Ickx returned it to victory at Le Mans in 1977 after a comeback drive, and after a period in retirement the updated 936/81 won a third Le Mans in 1981 using an engine originally conceived for Indianapolis. Across just three seasons the 936 amassed three overall Le Mans wins, cementing Porsche's endurance dominance and bridging the 917 era to the all-conquering 956. Today its survivors are treasured exhibits in the Porsche Museum and among the most significant racing Porsches ever built.