Sunday 16th May 1982

The Porsche 956 made its race debut in the World Endurance Championship 6-hour race at Silverstone, England, with Jackie Ickx and Derek Bell starting on pole and winning the Group C class while a Group 6 Lancia LC1 wins overall. Driven by Stefan Bellof in 1983, the 956 holds the all-time record for the fastest vehicle ever to lap the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife, completing the 20.832 km (12.93 mi) circuit in 6:11.13 during qualifying for the 1000km Sports Car race. At the 1985 1000 km of Spa, Bellof died after colliding with Jacky Ickx’s newer Porsche 962. Safety concerns over the 956 led to its eventual end as teams upgraded to the safer 962. The 956’s last win would come courtesy of Joest Racing in the last race of the 1986 WEC season, in what also turned out to be the 956’s last race.