VIN: the Rothmans Racing Porsche 956 chassis 002
History of chassis 002
Chassis 002 was one of three brand new 956s taken to the 1982 Le Mans 24 hours.
The prototype, chassis 001, had debuted at the Silverstone 6 Hours a month earlier and Le Mans would be the 956’s second event.
Chassis 002, 003 and 004 raced at Le Mans and 001 was used for practice.
002 was driven by Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell who had eight Le Mans wins between them and were favourites for victory.
Ickx set his pole position time early in qualifying and started the race circumspectly. He dropped as low as sixth before retaking the lead from Mass on lap eight.
By mid distance, all the 956’s serious rivals had retired.
Porsche maintained first and second positions through the night with Ickx / Bell a lap ahead of Mass / Schuppan in the sister car. With no challengers in sight, the race became processional and the lead pair were able to circulate 30 seconds off their practice pace.
002 only suffered a couple of issues during the event. A slight misfire in the early hours of Sunday was caused by an incorrect fuel balance and was remedied by richening the mixture. Then, shortly before 11am, Ickx limped round the circuit with a punctured tyre and his five lap lead over Mass / Schuppan was reduced to two.
After 20 hours of racing, Ickx and Bell were back to three laps clear of the second placed 956. Wth two hours to go, the Haywood / Holbert / Barth 956 moved into third.
For the last half hour, the Porsches ran in formation to the chequered flag.
The 956 took all three podium positions and gave Porsche its most convincing Le Mans victory to date.
Ickx and Bell finished three laps clear of the Mass / Schuppan sister car and 19 ahead of Haywood / Holbert / Barth in third.
002 was thereafter retired from active duty and retained by Porsche as a museum exhibit.
Notable History
Rothmans Porsche
20/06/1982 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (J. Ickx / D. Bell) 1st oa, 1st C class (#1)
Retained by Porsche
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Porsche - https://www.porsche.com
