<< Prev Page 2 of 2 One of the reasons for JLP Racing to step up their game was the introduction of the GTP class for purpose-built prototypes at the start of the 1981 season. While these were intrinsically faster than the GTX cars like the Porsche 935s, the GTP's performance was restricted somewhat by strict engine regulations, which stipulated the use of a production-based unit. Major manufacturers were not immediately interested in the GTP class but specialist companies Lola and March did debut GTP machines during the 1981 season.
Although the anticipation was very high, the 935 JLP-3 did not have the best of debuts as it qualified sixth for the Sebring 12 Hours, and retired early in the race with a suspension failure. In the subsequent rounds, the car proved blisteringly fast in qualifying, with John Paul Jr claiming the overall pole position for six of the subsequent rounds. Father and son Paul, however, were not able to convert this pace into a victory until September of 1981, when they won the Pocono 500 Miles. John Paul Jr followed this up with a victory in the season finale at Daytona.
The dominating late-season form was a sign of things to come in 1982. Joined for occasion by Rolf Stommelen, the Pauls clinched an outright victory in the season-opening Daytona 24 Hours, and driving together they also won the Sebring 12 Hours less than two months later. This was the first time that the same car won both major American endurance races in one season. John Paul Jr would go on to score three more wins that year, and also racked up points with a GTP Lola and the ground-effect JLP-4 to win the IMSA Camel GT Championship.
After one more outing in the 1983 Daytona 24 Hours, the one-off 935 JLP-3 was retired from contemporary racing. With seven outright victories, highlighted by outright Daytona and Sebring wins, and 16 podium finishes in 26 races, JLP-3 remains as the single most successful 935 ever. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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One of the reasons for JLP Racing to step up their game was the introduction of the GTP class for purpose-built prototypes at the start of the 1981 season. While these were intrinsically faster than the GTX cars like the Porsche 935s, the GTP's performance was restricted somewhat by strict engine regulations, which stipulated the use of a production-based unit. Major manufacturers were not immediately interested in the GTP class but specialist companies Lola and March did debut GTP machines during the 1981 season.