<< Prev Page 2 of 2 Much of the development focused on the car's sophisticated aerodynamics, which was refined through extensive tests in the Lockheed wind-tunnel. As a result, the final exterior design bore little resemblance to the road car, with the exception of the roof and the greenhouse. The nose was wider and lower than ever before, and the car's flanks were slab-sided. This was done to allow sliding skirts to be fitted, which further enhanced the ground-effect aerodynamics. Limited by the regulations, a relatively narrow rear wing was fitted.
The most complex Porsche 935 yet, JLP-4 had cost John Paul Sr. an estimate $750,000, which was around three times as much as an 'off-the-shelve' 935 from Kremer or Joest. It was money well spent as the car proved several seconds a lap faster than the space frame and non ground-effect JLP-3, which was retained for use in long distance events. With JLP-4 not ready until the summer, the Pauls started the 1982 season in the earlier car and won the Daytona 24 Hours and Sebring 12 Hours outright. Taking no chances, the team had also added a Lola GTP car to their fleet, with which Paul also scored some points early in the year.
By July, the ground-effect JLP-4 was finally ready for its long awaited debut at Brainerd. John Paul Jr. qualified the car on the front row, alongside one of the Lola GTP cars. He would go on to win the race outright and also set the fastest race lap. An engine problem ruled him out at Sears Point, but he won again at Portland. Paul Sr. then drove the car with Hurley Haywood at Road America, qualifying second only to finish a delayed ninth. A massive accident during testing at Road Atlanta required a full rebuilt. The car was ready again for the season finale at Daytona, which John Paul Jr. led briefly before suffering a race-ending tyre blow-out on the bank at high speed.
John Paul Jr.'s efforts in the three distinct cars raced during the 1982 season were nevertheless more than sufficient to clinch the IMSA title, at the age of just 22. He only raced JLP-4 once again in 1983, finishing sixth at the local Road Atlanta race. It was clear, that despite Fabcar's monumental efforts, the Porsche 935's days were now really numbered. More pressing for the Paul family were legal issues, focusing on John Paul Sr.'s reputed day job. The team folded but Paul Jr. would eventually return to racing. The Fabcar-built 935 JLP-4 remains as the most sophisticated of all 935s and the only one with full ground-effect aerodynamics. << Prev Page 2 of 2
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Much of the development focused on the car's sophisticated aerodynamics, which was refined through extensive tests in the Lockheed wind-tunnel. As a result, the final exterior design bore little resemblance to the road car, with the exception of the roof and the greenhouse. The nose was wider and lower than ever before, and the car's flanks were slab-sided. This was done to allow sliding skirts to be fitted, which further enhanced the ground-effect aerodynamics. Limited by the regulations, a relatively narrow rear wing was fitted.