Minichamps 1983 1:43rd Porsche 956K Nurburgring
This is a Minichamps replica of the Porsche 956 K as it was raced and placed third in the 1983 1000 km at Nurburgring, driven by Keke Rosberg, Jan Lammers, and Jonathan Palmer. This year the Porsche 956 dominated the race by taking the top three podium spots. Shipping for 1-4 1:43rd models within the U.S. is
12.00.
More about the Nurburgring Opened Saturday, 18 June 1927 as the first mountain, racing and test circuit. This track has a rich history of endurance and Grand Prix racing. This model comes from a time before the new Grand Prix track was built. This Porsche raced on a 4.5 km (2.8 miles) long new circuit . The late Stefan Bellof set the all-time lap record for the 20.8 km Nordschleife in his Porsche 956, which is still unbeaten at 6:11.13, or over 200 km/h in average - partially due to the fact that no major racing has taken place there since 1984.
History of the Porsche 956
The 956 was designed to meet the 1982 FISA requirements for Le Mans which placed a limitation on fuel economy for its Group C cars. There were no minimum production requirements or engine type or capacity. This was ideal for Porsche which had always done well in the index of performance category. Maximum tank capacity was 100 liters and cars would only be allowed 5 stops in the course of a 1000 K or 6 hour race and 25 stops in a 24 hour race. A minimum weight of 1,764 lbs, outside dimensions and safety requirements were also mandated. The 956 was built to the limit of the regulations, with the longest wheelbase ever seen on a Porsche. It was designed with aid of a wind tunnel with special attention to airflow under the car empahsizing downforce.
On the first outing in 1982 the 956 took second place at Silverstone The 956 made its debut at the 1982 Silverstone 6 Hour race, the second round of the World Championship with Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell driving for the factory to a second place position. After missing the following round at the Nürburgring 1000km for developmental reasons, the Ickx/Bell unit reappeared at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. They led the race for the entire 24 hours, eventually taking the overall win - their third win together. Their car had number 1 from their victory in 1981 with a Porsche 936 that had used an early version of the 956 engine. The two other factory 956 followed them, so the three factory Porsches finished 1-2-3 in the order of their starting numbers. Because of the strong showing at Le Mans, Porsche then decided to compete for the World Championship for Makes which they won. The Drivers Championship was won by Jackie Ickx on the last race of the season at Brands Hatch in 1982.
Boosted by this success, in 1983 Porsche sold 12 customer versions of the 956 to privateer teams such as Joest Racing, Obermaier Racing, John Fitzpatrick Racing, Richard Lloyd Racing, Kremer Racing and Brun Motorsport who raced them independently of the factory. At Le Mans were 3 factory Rothman 956 and 9 private entries which took 9 of the top 10 positions. Rothmans and Ickx went on to win the '83 World Championships. The 956 would go on to win the coveted race another two years in 1984 and 1985 for Joest racing and one more time in 1986 for the factory Porsche team. Needless to say, this car dominated the scene in the eighties.
Porsche 956 Long-Distance Roll of Honour
Event Date Series Driver/s Team 1982 (5 wins) Le Mans 24hrs jun,19-20 WEC Icks/Bell Porsche AG Spa 1000kms sep,5 WEC Icks/Mass Porsche AG Spa 1000kms oct,3 WEC Icks/Mass Porsche AG Fuji 6hrs oct,7 WEC Icks/Bell Porsche AG Brands Hatch 1000km nov,6 n/c Icks/Mass Porsche AG
1983 (15 wins) Zolder mar,20 DRM Wollek/Boutsen Joest Suzuka 500kms apr,3 JSPC Schuppan/Fujita Trust Monza 1000kms apr,10 WEC Wollek/Boutsen Joest Silverstone 1000kms may,8 WEC Bell/Bellof Porsche AG Nurburgring 1000kms may,29 WEC Mass/Ickx Porsche AG Fuji 500kms jun,5 Fuji Schuppan/Fujita Trust Le Mans 24hrs jun,18-19 WEC Schuppan/holbert/Haywood Porsche AG Elkhart Lake jul,17 Can-Am Fitzpatrick Fitzpatrick Fuji 1000kms jul,24 Fuji Schuppan/Fujita Trust Suzuka 1000kms aug,28 JSPC Schuppan/Fujita Trust Spa 1000kms sep,4 WEC Ickx/Mass Porsche AG Brands Hatch 1000kms sep,18 WEC Fitzpatrick/Wollek Fitzpatrick Fuji 1000kms oct,2 WEC Bellof/Bell Porsche AG Mugello 1000kms oct,23 WEC Wollek/Johansson Joest Kyalami 1000kms dec,10 n/c Bell/Bellof Porsche AG
1984 (19wins) Suzuka 500kms apr,1 JSPC Schuppan/Katayama Trust Monza 1000kms apr,23 WEC Bell/Bellof Porsche AG Silverstone 1000kms may,13 WEC Mass/Ickx Porsche AG Fuji 1000kms jun,3 JSPC Takahashi/Takahaschi Nova Mid-Ohio 500kms jun,10 IMSA Holbert/Bell Holbert Le Mans 24hrs jun,16-17 WEC Pescarolo/Ludwig Joest Watkins Glen jul,8 IMSA Bell/Holbert/Adams Holbert Nurburgring 1000kms jul,15 WEC Bell/Bellof Porsche AG Brands Hatch 1000kms jul,28 WEC Palmer/Lammers Lloyd Mosport 1000kms aug,5 WEC Mass/Ickx Porsche AG Suzuka 100kms aug,26 JSPC Takahashi/Takahaschi/Lees Nova Road America 500 aug,26 IMSA Holbert/Bell Holbert Spa 1000kms sep,2 WEC Bellof/Bell Porsche AG Pocono 500 sep,9 IMSA Holbert/Bell Holbert Imola 1000kms sep,15 WEC Bellof/Stuck Brun Fuji 1000kms sep,30 WEC Bellof/Watson Porsche AG Fuji 500 nov,25 Fuji Schuppan/Katayama Trust Daytona 3hrs nov,25 IMSA Holbert/Bell Holbert Sandown Park 1000kms dec,2 WEC Bellof/Bell Porsche AG
1985 (29 wins) Daytona 24hrs feb,2-3 IMSA Foyt/Wollek/Unser Sr./Boutsen Henn Miami Grand Prix feb,24 IMSA Holbert/Bell Holbert Sebring 12hrs mar,23 IMSA Foyt/Wollek Henn Nurburgring 300kms apr,7 DSM int. Stuck Brun Mugello 1000kms apr,14 WEC Ickx/Mass Porsche AG Monza 1000kms apr,28 WEC Winkelhock/Surer Kremer Riverside 600kms apr,28 IMSA Morton/Halsmer Busby Fuji 1000kms may,5 JSPC Schuppan/Suzuki Trust Laguna Seca may,5 IMSA Holbert Holbert Silverstone 1000kms may,12 IMSA Ickx/Mass Porsche AG Charlotte 500 may,19 IMSA Holbert/Bell Holbert Lime Rock may,27 IMSA Olson Dyson Mid-Ohio 500km jun,9 IMSA Holbert/Bell Holbert Le Mans 24hrs jun,15-16 WEC Ludwig/Barilla/Winter Joest Watkins Glen 3hrs jul,7 IMSA Holbert/Bell Holbert Hockenheim 1000kms jul,14 WEC Bell/Stuck Porsche AG Portland 500kms jul,28 IMSA Holbert Holbert Fuji 500 jul,29 JSPC Takahashi/Takahashi Nova Sears Point 300kms aug,4 IMSA Wollek Bayside Mosport 1000kms aug,11 WEC Bell/Stuck Porsche AG Suzuka 1000kms aug,25 JSPC Takahashi/Takahashi Nova Road America 500 aug,25 IMSA Olson/Rahal Dyson Pocono 500kms sep,8 IMSA Holbert/Bell Holbert Brands Hatch 100kms sep,22 WEC Bell/Stuck Porsche AG Watkins Glen 500kms sep,29 IMSA Holbert/Bell Holbert Columbus 500kms oct,6 IMSA Olson/Cobb Dyson Fuji 500kms nov,24 JSPC Takahashi/Takahashi Nova Selangar 1000kms dec,1 WEC Ickx/Mass Porsche AG Daytona 3hrs dec,1 IMSA Holbert/Unser Jr. Holbert