The Historic Porsche 956 Collection
Porsche 956-008 Works
Driven by Stefan Bellof and Jochen Mass, this newly-built car led the 1984 Le Mans 24hrs for four hours and won the Norisring Gold race.
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Porsche 956-008 Works
Factory 956 built for the 1983 Le Mans
Driven by Stefan Bellof and Jochen Mass
Second fastest lap time and second highest speed at Le Mans 1983
Winner Gold Race’ at the Norisring driven by Bellof.
Driven by Vern Schuppan, Johnny Dumfries and Jack Brabham in 1984.
Full Rothmans livery with a sprint body
Also retains original Le Mans bodywork
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A Rothmans factory 956 newly built for the 1983 Le Mans
Driven by the stellar German pairing of Stefan Bellof and Jochen Mass, the race was story of what-ifs as it qualified third, led the race for the first four hours before a catalogue of issues slipped it down the order and into eventual retirement after 22 hours of racing. It recorded the second fastest lap time and the second highest speed on the Mulsanne of 218mph.
A week later however Bellof won the prestigious ‘Gold Race’ at the Norisring before being lightly damaged at Weissach and renumbered 007 after the car that originally bore that number had a spectacular aerial accident at the Nurburgring, just after Bellof had smashed the outright lap record.
In 1984 it was loaned to Richard Lloyd Racing for use as a ‘camera car’ and after retiring at Le Mans (where it was driven by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason) it did three more races that season as a works entered Rothmans car, driven by Vern Schuppan, Johnny Dumfries and Jack Brabham without further success.
It finished on the podium for it last race, in 1985, driven by Schuppan and James Weaver and exists today in full Rothmans livery with a sprint body, although it also retains its original Le Mans bodywork as well.
956-008 History
Chassis No: 956.008 - Porsche Rothmans Factory Team car.
1983: BUILT NEW FOR 1983 24 HRS LE MANS
18-19/6: 24 Hours Le Mans, Jochen Mass / Stefan Bellof, #2; Qualified 3rd……2/10ths behind the second place Lancia after 14kms!
It led the race for the first 4 hours, and held a strong 2nd place until midnight. It lost 23 minutes in the pits at 12.30am, rejoining in 9th place.
Within 2 hrs it was back up to 7th place at the 3am mark, holding this place until 10 am next day, nursing a 5 cylinder engine. Further pit visits dropped the car to 11th place, before eventual retirement with only 2 hrs of the race remaining. During the race, the second fastest lap time of 3 minutes 30.1 seconds was posted, just 4 tenths off fastest lap, with a top speed of 350 kmh also being the second highest speed of the race.
27/6: Norisring ‘Money race’, S.Bellof, #8; Pole and 1st
This was very prestigious and known as the “Gold Race”, attracting fully televised coverage and over 100,000 spectators and was very important for the home team, hence being the only works entry for a non world championship race during the year. Minor accident testing at Weissach on 31st August during testing. Repaired, and renumbered 007 and used as factory camera/3rd car
956-008 Competition History
1983 Season
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Race Date
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Race
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Colours
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
18/19/06/1983
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Race
24hrs Le Mans
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Colours
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Drivers
J Mass / Stefan Bellof
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Car No.
#2
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
27/06/1983
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Race
Norisring ‘Money Race’
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Colours
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Drivers
Stefan Bellof
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Car No.
#2
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Result
Pole / 1st
1984 Season
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Race Date
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Race
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Colours
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
16/17/06/1984
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Race
24hrs Le Mans
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Colours
Canon
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Drivers
Lloyd / Metge / Mason
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Car No.
#16
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Result
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Race Date
05/08/1984
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Race
1000kms Mosport
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Colours
Rothmans
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Drivers
V.Schuppan / N.Mason
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Car No.
#3
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Result
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Race Date
01/01/01
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Race
1000kms Spa
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Colours
Canon
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Drivers
R.Lloyd / J.Dumfries
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Car No.
#16
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Result
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Race Date
01/01/01
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Race
1000kms Sandown Park
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Colours
Rothmans
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Drivers
J.Brabham / J.Dumfries
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Car No.
#56
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Result
1985 Season
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Race Date
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Race
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Colours
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
01/12/1984
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Race
800kms Shah Alam
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Colours
Canon
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Drivers
V.Schuppan / J.Weaver
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Car No.
#69
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Result
3rd
Drivers