In 1982, the new Group C Prototype regulations then required cars to be closed cockpit. Porsche launched its new 956, to replace the 936 - three time winner at Le Mans thanks to Jacky Ickx, along with Gijs van Lennep (1976), Jürgen Barth and Hurley Haywood (1977), as well as Derek Bell (1981).
One year after making the Belgian champion the successor of his copatriot Olivier Gendebien as victory record-holder at the 24 Hours, the 936 returned to Le Mans, substantially altered. Reinhold Joest was the catalyst for this version called the 936 C, which became a close prototype. It entered the 24 Hours twice, at the hands of two brothers from Belgium. Jean-Michel and Philippe Martin had as teammate the French Bob Wollek in 1982, then a third Belgian, Marc Duez, in 1983. Those two participations resulted in as many retirements, but in 1983, Reinhold Joest also entered a 956 that in 1984 would give him the first of a long series of victories in La Sarthe.
For more stories of Porsche's saga at Le Mans, go to the official microsite Mission 2014 – Our Return.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, JUNE 17-18, 1983, RACE. Three drivers from Belgium were at the wheel of Reinhold Joest's Porsche 936 C (n°15): the Martin brothers and Marc Duez.
