NISSAN R91 VP
1991
Nissan R91 VP
1991 - Fuji 500 Km / #25 - T. Wada, H. Okada
CA28g
For the 1991 season, the Nissan Works Factory Team had introduced the new R91CP and some previous models were sold to private individuals. The “Team Le Mans” purchased a Nissan R90CP which became their own R91VP. Improvements to the chassis and aerodynamics, as well as a new engine designed by Nissan and capable of 1100 HP, brought a good performance improvement. Team Le Mans entered this car in the Japanese JSPC championship, obtaining a fourth place on the Fuji circuit as best result, with Takao Wada and Hideki Okada behind the wheel.
NISSAN R90V
1990
NISSAN R90V
1990 - Fuji 500km / #85 - T. Wada, O. Nakako
CA28c
For the 1989 season, rather than relying again on chassis built by March, Nissan had developed the R89C model in conjunction with Lola. The car featured a kevlar and carbon-fibre based monocoque chassis fitted with Nissan’s new twin-turbo VRH35 3.5L V8 DOHC engine which was mounted in a stressed installation for better chassis rigidity, delivering up to 950bhp. Despite Nissan’s efforts, the 1989 World Sportscar Championship season was rather unsuccessful for Nissan, as their cars lacked reliability and speed. The beautiful R89C was only able to score points in three races and finished the season in fifth place in the championship for teams. This model raced the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1990. Its suspensions and aerodynamics were modified, as in the twin car entered by Courage Competition, but it was painted in the distinctive silver-grey livery of its main sponsor Men’s Tenoras. This was the sole Nissan R89C shod with Yokohama tyres. Car numbered 85 was driven by A. Olofsson, T. Wada, M. Sandro Sala.
NISSAN R89C
1990
NISSAN R89C
1990 - Le Mans / #82 - H. Regout, C. Los, A. Cudini
CA28f
For the 1989 season, rather than relying again on chassis built by March, Nissan had developed the R89C model in conjunction with Lola. The car featured a kevlar and carbon-fibre based monocoque chassis fitted with Nissan’s new twin-turbo VRH35 3.5L V8 DOHC engine which was mounted in a stressed installation for better chassis rigidity, delivering up to 950bhp. Despite Nissan’s efforts, the 1989 World Sportscar Championship season was rather unsuccessful for Nissan, as their cars lacked reliability and speed. The beautiful R89C was only able to score points in three races and finished the season in fifth place in the championship for teams.
PORSCHE 956 LH
1984
PORSCHE 956 LH
1984 - 3rd Le Mans / #33 - D. Hobbs, P. Streiff, S. van der Merwe
CA02h
The 956 model was created by Porsche in 1982 to compete in the new Group C category. It was replaced in 1985 by the similar 962 model. It was one of the most successful racing cars ever: it won four 24h Le Mans competitions consecutively, in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, and the World Car Manufacturer title three times. The car was powered by a 2.650 cc engine. Its monocoque aluminium chassis was new for Porsche, previously known for their space frame design. Through this change, the regulated minimum weight of 800 Kg was reached. This car, driven by Philippe Streiff, Sarel van der Merwe, David Hobb, they reached 3th place at the 1984 Le Mans 24 Hours racing for the Skoal Bandit – Fitzpatrick Racing.
PORSCHE 956 LH
1983
PORSCHE 956 LH
1983 - Le Mans Winner / #3 - V. Schuppan, H. Haywood, A. Holbert
CW24
The 956 model was created by Porsche in 1982 to compete in the new Group C category. It was replaced in 1985 by the similar 962 model.
It was one of the most successful racing cars ever: it won four 24h Le Mans competitions consecutively, in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, and the World Car Manufacturer title three times.
The car was powered by a 2.650 cc engine. Its monocoque aluminium chassis was new for Porsche, previously known for their space frame design. Through this change, the regulated minimum weight of 800 Kg was reached.
The victory of the Porsche n.3 of Holbert, Haywood and Schuppan on the n.2 of Ickx and Bell came mainly thanks to the American driver: the loss of a door had damaged the radiator and caused an engine bank to overheat, but Al Holbert, a mechanical engineer, managed to complete the race, despite the smoking engine that seized immediately after the finish line, that he crossed only 17″ ahead of Derek Bell … who in the meantime had run out of fuel. Notice how this edition was dominated by the Porsche 956 with 8 cars in the first 8 positions.
PORSCHE 956 KH
1983
PORSCHE 956 KH
1983 - Kyalami 1000 Km / #17 - J.Lammers, J.Palmer
CA09i
The Porsche 956 and later 962 models could be assembled with two different rear wing configurations: “low downforce”, used mostly in Le Mans where the 6.5 km Hunaudières straight required a very low drag at the expense of downforce, and “high downforce”, for twistier circuits.
Regardless of the configuration, Porsche 956 and 962 cars were the cars to beat in any Group C competition in the early 80’s.
This car, driven by Jan Lammers and Jonathan Palmer, raced the 1000 km of Kyalami, which was part of the 1983 FIA World Endurance Championship.