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1979 Porsche 935
The last factory built 935
Chassis no: 009 0029
Only 13 customer “Werks” cars were built at Porsche AG in 1979. Porsche then stopped production of the 935s to concentrate on prototype racing. This particular car was THE last car built by the factory and is in as raced condition. It is the most factory correct 935 that exists today. Purchased new from in 1979 by Bruce Canepa it was campaigned in the IMSA GT series that year. In his second race at Portland International Raceway, Bruce qualified second to Peter Gregg in the Brumos 935 and went on to finish third in the race. The car is still being raced today in selected historic events around the US.
Performance
Engine: 3.2 liters, 740 HP, Twin-turbocharged
Weight: 2136 lb
Race History
1979 IMSA Camel GT
29/7 Sears Point: Canepa 5th.
5/8 Portland: Canepa 3rd.
26/8 Mid Ohio Canepa 8th
The Porsche 935
The Porsche 935 was first introduced in 1976, as the racing version of the
Porsche 930 (911 Turbo), prepared for FIA-Group 5 rules (930 plus Group 5
equals 935)
The car debuted in the 1976 season by the Martini sponsored works team in the FIA World Championship for Makes with Jacky Ickx and Jochen Mass partnering in one car and Rolf Stommelen and Manfred Schurti in the other. In Group 5 rules, also known as Silhouette rules, several significant modifications were allowed (including bodywork modifications, larger wings, wider axles and water cooling), the 935 changed its looks often. First, the whale tail rear wing appeared, then the rear fenders were extended in a similar fashion.
Initially, Porsche was to run the 935 with the 930's original fender-mounted headlights. After carefully studying the rulebooks, Porsche discovered a loophole which gave them the liberty to move the headlights into the front spoiler to reduce drag and create more downforce for high speed circuits. This flat nose became the distinguishing feature of the 935 and was later offered on the roadgoing 930 as the Flachbau, or "flatnose", part of Porsche's Sonderwunsch, or "special wish" program.
The 935 raced in various championships including the World Sportscar Championship, the IMSA GT championship and the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (DRM). Until 1984, the 935 won over 150 races worldwide, including over 20 class wins. It scored outright wins in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. It was also undefeated in the German DRM between 1977 and 1979, victories in the IMSA GTX class, and won many races on the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife, including the 1000km Nürburgring.
In 1978 the 935 was finally allowed to race in the United States in the IMSA GT championship and quickly became the car to beat. The Brumos sponsored car of Peter Gregg was the first 935 to win the IMSA Championship in 1978 and 1979.
After Group 5 was discontinued by FIA after 1982, the 935 continued
to race in IMSA, usually entered by smaller privateer names, who were not
permitted by IMSA regulations to race the new Porsche 956. By 1985 the days
for the 935 were mostly done. Only a handfull of 935’s remained, but
would no longer be competitive with the new GTP cars.
The IMSA GT Championship
The International Motor Sports Association’s GT Championship debuted in 1971. It was originally aimed at two of FIA's stock car categories running at two different classes, the GT (Group 3 and 4) and Touring (Group 1 and 2) cars. The first race held in Virginia International Raceway, was an unexpected hit.
In 1977, the series would go through a number of major changes. IMSA permitted turbocharged cars for the first time as well as introducing a new category called GTX for cars based on FIA Group 5 rules such as the Porsche 935.
The new premier group GTX class was dominated by the Porsche 935, which became the most successful car in series history up to that time. The most successful driver of seventies was Peter Gregg, he was champion in 1971,'73,'74,'75,'78 and '79. The Porsche 935 won the championship in ’78, ’79, ’80, and ’81
The prototypes appeared in IMSA competition in a new class (GTP) and began taking the overall victory away from the aging Porsche 935s.