VIN: the John Fitzpatrick Racing / Paul Vestey Porsche 956 chassis 110
History of chassis 110
Purchased new in May 1983, chassis 110 was one of two 956s sold that year to John Fitzpatrick Racing (JFR). The other was chassis 102.
Painted white with triple-tone blue stripes, the JFR cars were variously backed by JDavid investments, Skoal tobacco, Sachs dampers, BP fuel and Carwil construction equipment.
Chassis 110 made its debut at the Le Mans 24 Hours in June where it qualified eleventh. It was running fourth over night when the fuel pump expired which put the car out of the race.
After Le Mans, chassis 110 qualified tenth and took third at the Norisring Trophy before heading out to the USA where JFR were campaigning a Kremer 935 K4 in select rounds of the IMSA championship. The team had also run a Joest Racing 935 alongside the K4 earlier in the season, but this car was destroyed in Rolf Stommelen’s fatal crash at the Riverside 6 Hours in April.
Because the driver’s feet were ahead of the front axle in a 956, the model was banned from competing in IMSA events on safety grounds. However, it was legal for use in the Can-Am championship. JFR entered chassis 110 at Road America (where it took pole and won) and then at Mosport (where it started fifth and finished third). The victory at Road America would be the 956’s only win on American soil.
Upon its return to Europe, chassis 110 contested the 1000km race at Brands Hatch. After qualifying fourth, John Fitzpatrick and Derek Warwick scored a famous victory. Chassis 110 beat the two Rothmans-backed works cars, a feat managed by just one other privateer 956 (chassis 117 at Le Mans in 1984).
At the Imola 1000km World Championship race in mid-October, chassis 110 qualified fifth and finished second. The 1000km race at Mugello one week later saw a third place grid slot translate into a fourth place finish. The races at Brands Hatch, Imola and Mugello were stand alone rounds of the European Endurance Championship, a series run in conjunction with the 1983 World Endurance Championship.
Chassis 110’s final outing of 1983 came in the world series finale at Kyalami. After starting fourth, David Hobbs spun off in a sudden downpour (the car’s second DNF of the season).
1984 saw chassis 110 switch to a white livery with triple-tone green stripes to reflect backing from title sponsor, Skoal tobacco.
At the Monza 1000km race in April it qualified ninth but failed to finish after a wheel broke free mid distance.
The car then started from tenth and finished third in the 1000km race at Silverstone.
After this pair of World Championship events, chassis 110 was sold to Paul Vestey. On Vestey’s behalf, Adrian Hamilton had approached John Fitzpatrick with a view to purchasing the car following its historic victory at Brands Hatch in 1983.
Vestey had chassis 110 prepared by Charles Ivey Racing and entered it for the 1984 Le Mans 24 Hours. Now in a silver, white and black livery, the Rollei cameras-sponsored car started 31st. Drivers Alain de Cadanet, Allan Grice and Christ Craft had risen to eleventh overall when the engine lost a cylinder on Sunday morning.
Following its appearance at Le Mans, chassis 110 was returned to Charles Ivey where it was rebuilt.
Soon afterwards, the car was sold to Californian Porsche collector, Jamey Mazzotta.
Mazzotta retained chassis 110 until September 2002 at which point it was sold to Henry Pearman in the UK.
Notable History
John Fitzpatrick Racing
White and triple-tone Blue livery
19/06/1983 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (D. Quester / J. Fitzpatrick / D. Hobbs) DNF (#11)
03/07/1983 IND Norisring Trophy (J. Fitzpatrick) 4th oa, 4th C class (#11)
17/07/1983 CAM Road America (J. Fitzpatrick) 1st oa, 1st 2.0+ class (#11)
11/09/1983 CAM Mosport Can Am (J. Fitzpatrick) 3rd oa, 3rd 2.0+ class (#11)
18/09/1983 EEC Brands Hatch 1000km (D. Warwick / J. Fitzpatrick) 1st oa, 1st C class (#11)
16/10/1983 EEC Imola 1000km (J. Fitzpatrick / D. Hobbs) 2nd oa, 2nd C class (#11)
23/10/1983 EEC Mugello 1000km (T. Boutsen / J. Fitzpatrick / D. Hobbs) 4th oa, 4th C class (#11)
10/12/1983 WSC Kyalami 1000km (T. Boutsen / D. Hobbs / D. Wilson) DNF (#11)
White and triple-tone green livery
23/04/1984 WSC Monza 1000km (R. Keegan / G. Edwards) DNF (#55)
13/05/1984 WSC Silverstone 1000km (R. Keegan / G. Edwards) 3rd oa, 3rd C1 class (#55)
Sold to Paul Vestey
Silver, white and black livery
17/06/1984 WSC Le Mans 24 Hours (A. De Cadenet / A. Grice / C. Craft) DNF (#21)
Sold to Jamey Mazzotta, USA
Sold to Henry Pearman, England
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