Porsche 961 #1
The Porsche 961 was a racing car, based on a modified Porsche 959 developed for Group B category to be run alongside Group C in WEC (World Endurance Championship) races, which was a replacement for Group 4.
After the FIA cancelled Group B for circuit cars at the end of 1985, due to lack of interest from entries, a 959 was redeveloped into the 961 to race also in the IMSA GTX category, which made its debut at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1986. The only other race beside Le Mans it competed in was the 24 Hours of Daytona in 1987. Its career was short-lived as on its third race, during the 24 hours of Le Mans in the same year, the sole class entrant was destroyed by fire. As it was developed as a customer racer Porsche attracted not a single customer mainly due its high price tag, as the cost of the car at the time was $325,000, privateers decided it would be much cheaper to buy a 962 and enter it into the IMSA GTP category and seek overall victory rather than settle for a class win, hence being the sole car Porsche built.
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