<< Prev Page 3 of 3 Porsche had also set its sights on the IMSA GTP championship in the USA, which almost identical to the Group C championship. One big difference was the stricter pedal-box regulations in the USA, which stated that the pedal-box had to be mounted behind the front axle line for driver safety. The 956 did not comply with that, so Porsche started work on a revised model, the 962, specifically intended as a GTP contender. In 1984 the 962 made its debut and was as immediately dominant in GTP as the 956 was in Group C.
Anticipating a pedal-box rule change for Group C after the 1985 season, Porsche developed the 962C as the works Group C racer for 1985. At Le Mans the works 962Cs were beaten by customer 956s. At the end of the season the 956 was left obsolete after the FIA had copied the IMSA's stricter pedal-box regulations. Porsche continued their stronghold in the Group C championship and secured another two Le Mans victories in 1986 and 1987. Eventually they were beaten in 1988 by newer and more advanced Jaguars, prepared by TWR.
Despite their age, the Porsches remained compoetitive throughout the Group C / GTP era. In slightly revised Dauer-Porsche form the 962 took another Le Mans win in 1994; a dozen years after it was first conceived. Needless to say the Porsche 956/962 has gone into history as one of the finest racing cars ever constructed. << Prev Page 3 of 3
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Porsche had also set its sights on the IMSA GTP championship in the USA, which almost identical to the Group C championship. One big difference was the stricter pedal-box regulations in the USA, which stated that the pedal-box had to be mounted behind the front axle line for driver safety. The 956 did not comply with that, so Porsche started work on a revised model, the 962, specifically intended as a GTP contender. In 1984 the 962 made its debut and was as immediately dominant in GTP as the 956 was in Group C.