956

STORY

The 956 and its longer 962 successor were the most dominant sports-prototypes of their age. Debuting in 1982 for the new Group C rules, the 956 introduced Porsche's first ground-effect aluminium monocoque and a twin-turbo flat-six, and it won on its very first outing.

At Le Mans in 1982 the 956 swept the podium, finishing 1-2-3 in race-number order. The 962, with a longer wheelbase for safety and eligibility in America's IMSA series, carried the fight into the mid-1980s and beyond in the hands of both works and privateer teams.

Between them the two cars took five consecutive World Championship manufacturers' titles and won virtually every great endurance race, including seven overall victories at Le Mans. They set a benchmark for prototype dominance that has rarely been approached since.