De nieuwe Octane is binnen met weer wat prettig speelgoed in de aanbieding!
When the development of Porsches brand new group C entry began in summer 1981 under the eminently experienced project manager Norbert Singer, very few people realised that one of the greatest and most successful racing cars ever was born. The 956 was the first monocoque construction benefiting from ground- effect and has its first outing at Paul Ricard March 31st 1982. It was meant to replace the all-dominant Porsche 935 and 936, due to new regulations under the FIA Appendix J.
At its first race at Silverstone 1982, Jackie Ickx and Derek Bell won at the wheel of this 620bhp, turbo-charged flat-six Porsche weighting just 840 kg. Many races and championship wins would follow but Le Mans was where the 956 ruled, from 1982 to 1994 the 956 / 962 family would lay claim to an amazing seven victories at La Sarthe.
Chassis number 956 004 started its life on June 12th, 1982 as a Rothmans sponsored works car at the factory in Zuffenhausen. Its first race was at the 24 hours of Le Mans June 19th / 20th of 1982 with Al Holbert, Hurley Haywood and Juergen Barth at the wheel, finishing in third position overall behind the two other Works Porsche 956's chassis 002 and 003.
The next race was the 1000 kms of Spa on September 5th 1982, where Derek Bell and Vern Schuppan achieved second position. Chassis 004 went on to test an engine with the new Porsche Motronic fuel injection system, unfortunately it suffered technical failure during the 9 hours of Kyalami in November and continued to encounter problems through to December.
The next entries with Dereck Bell and the highly talented Stefan Bellof were at the 1000kms of Spa September 1983, finishing in second position and at the 1000kms of Brands Hatch finishing third. The last races of 956 chassis 004 were at Monza 1984, finishing second with Jochen Mass and Jacky Ickx and at Sandown Park, Austrailia in December 1984 finishing in eighth position after testing a new gearbox. During the 1983 and 1984 seasons chassis 956 004 acted as the Works spare car, when not being raced.
Chassis number 04 was purchased directly from Porsche as including engine, gearbox, suspension, bodywork, chassis, parts, interior and all ancillaries as well as the most important original factory chassis plate.
The agreement to purchase was conducted directly between Kauhsen and Porsche Chief Ulrich Bez at the behest of Prof. Helmut Flegl, chief at Weissach.
Kauhsen set about the restoration of the car, and the restoration was completed in Weissach รน where it was located - by 956 works mechanics Walter Marelja and Dieter Hecker, as of Sept. 05, both these individuals are still employed at the Porsche race department in Weissach.
Once the restoration was completed, in order to ensure it was a 100% correct and accurate as a works Porsche 956 Rothmans race car, it was checked, inspected and signed off by Dipl. Ing. Ralf A Sprenger, who was chief of the competition car repair and rebuild section, for many years, including the original 956 programme.
The provenance of the car is therefore as follows: Porsche Werk AG, W Kauhsen,the vendor. The sale of this actual car to Kauhsen is also documented in Porsche factory records. The car will be sold with an extensive file by Singer and other Works members, showing specifications, setting and weight of the car for many races including test runs, changes and repairs done to the car at the factory between races.
Porsche 956 chassis 004 boasts a fantastic line up of drivers including Ickx, Mass, Bellof, Haywood, Holbert, Bell, Barth, Jones and Schuppan, this is a opportunity to purchase one of the most successful endurance racers of all time, and one of only ten Works 956 ever produced.
