In the late seventies, the prototype scene was becoming full of old cars and indifferent manufacturers. Fans were sick of seeing one make completely dominate, and longed for the wheel-to-wheel competition of the smaller GT races. The European economy was in a rut due to lingering effects of the oil crisis, and the Cold war was still going strong. The 'golden' era of expensive factory efforts and well-financed privateers had definitely come to a close.
Le Mans remained the only event of any real singifigance for works prototypes. The Renault-Alpine A442, Porsche 936, and the Rondeau cars were the regulars of this era. Renault finally won Le Mans in 1978 with its turbo engine, and promptly quit racing prototypes. They then went on to pioneer the use of turbos in F1 cars.
At Le Mans In 1979, a privateer 'Group 5' Porsche upset the prototypes by taking the overall win. In a rare occurrence, the works Porsche 936 cars did not finish the race.
However, as the protoype racing scene was dying out, the GT classes were thriving. With the World Championship for Makes being a GT only format, there was excellent competition. The top class of these races was designated as 'Group 5', which were essentially production-shaped tubeframe racers. These were not unlike the modern NASCAR or Trans-Am machines. These cars made the top levels of road racing fairly cost efficient for most teams, and grids were full of talented drivers. In Germany, there was the DRM series for these cars. There were essentially three makes in the series: BMW, Porsche, and Ford. They used off-the-shelf turbo engines so performance was quite impressive.
One subtle fact that people often do not realize is that the DRM 'Group 5' classes had subclasses based on engine displacement. The most famous of the under 2.0 litre class being the BMW 320i.
In North America, IMSA was in its 'GTX' period for these production-based turbos. The only problem was that Porsche 934's tended to dominate the grid.
Group 5 was a class for highly modified "production" cars that were homologated in groups 1-4. This sihlouette formula meant that you could take a production vehicle and change all but the basic engine layout, body dimensions, and general shape. Porsche made the 930-based 935 turbo for this class, which also went on to be the privateer workhorse for the IMSA GTX class. For Le Mans, they made the 936 prototype, which dominated the year by winning at La Sarthe and 4 of 6 other championship rounds. Interestingly, old Group 7 Can-Am spec cars were allowed to run in the Mosport round. This allowed "worlds to collide" as an AVS Shadow MkII raced against an Alpine-Renault A442.
World Championship for Makes 1976 (Group 5) | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
6 Hours Mugello | |||||
1 | Porsche 935 'Martini' Jochen Mass ![]() Jacky Ickx ![]() (Debut race and win for the 935) | 4 Gr. 5 | Ebbro | 43770 | ![]() |
1000 km N�rburgring (GT Classes Only) | |||||
1 | BMW CSL 3.5 'Gosser Beer' Dieter Quester ![]() Albrecht Krebs ![]() | 7 Gr. 5 +3.0 | Spark | SG022 | ![]() |
Ixo | GTM096 | ![]() | |||
DNF | Porsche 935 'Martini' Rolf Stommelen ![]() Manfred Schurti ![]() | 1 | Minichamps | 400 766301 | ![]() |
Watkins Glen 6 Hours (GT Classes Only) | |||||
1 | Porsche 935 'Martini' Rolf Stommelen ![]() Manfred Schurti ![]() | 4 | Minichamps | 400 766304 | ![]() |
Ebbro | 43769 | ![]() | |||
Six Hours Dijon (GT Classes Only) | |||||
1 | Porsche 935 'Martini' Jacky Ickx ![]() Jochen Mass ![]() | 1 Gr. 5 | Minichamps Porsche Dealer Martini History Set | WAP 020 SET 13 | ![]() |
Giro d'Italia | |||||
1 | Lancia Stratos (Group 5) (Marlboro) Carlo Facetti ![]() Piero Sodano ![]() (Model is a non-tobacco adaptation) | 598 Gr. 5 | Kyosho | KYO03141D | ![]() |
DNF | Lancia Stratos (Group 5) (Marlboro) Raffaele Pinto ![]() Arnaldo Bernacchini ![]() (Model is a non-tobacco adaptation) | 599 Gr. 5 | Kyosho | KYO03141F | ![]() |
Porsche created a customer version based on the works 1976 cars called the "935/77A". These cars dominated the German DRM series, and epitomize the late-1970's racing scene. They should not be confused with the cars that the factory raced at Le Mans that were called the "935/77".
World Champiohip for Makes 1977 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Nurburgring 1000km | |||||
5 | Porsche 934/5 Dieter Schornstein ![]() G�tz von Tschirnhaus ![]() | 6 Gr. 5 +3.0 | Spark (Germany Special Edition) | SG071 | |
6 | Porsche 935 Manfred Schurti ![]() Helmut Kelleners ![]() | 7 Gr. 5 +3.0 | True Scale | TSM164347 | ![]() |
30 | Volkswagen Golf (Mk1) Bernd Renniesen ![]() Wolfgang Wolf ![]() | 63 Gr. 2 | Spark (Germany Special Edition) | SG031 |
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft 1977 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Full Season | |||||
Division I (Over 2000cc) | |||||
Porsche 935/77A 'Jagermeister' Manfred Schurti ![]() | 52 Div. I | Top Model ('Gold') | 006 | ![]() | |
Toyota Celica Turbo 'Rodenstock' Harald Ertl ![]() | 60 Div. I | Ebbro | 43259 | ![]() | |
Division II (Under 2000cc) | |||||
BMW 320i 'Warsteiner' J�rg Obermoser ![]() | 4 Div. II | Minichamps | 400 772305 | ![]() | |
BMW 320i 'Warsteiner' J�rg Obermoser ![]() | 5 Div. II | Quartzo | 3024 | ![]() | |
BMW 320i 'Fruit of the Loom' Peter Schneeberger ![]() | 8 Div. II | Minichamps | 400 772308 | ![]() | |
BMW 320i 'BMW Junior Team' Marc Surer ![]() | 12 Div. II | Quartzo | 3020 | ![]() | |
BMW 320i 'Jagermeister' Hans Stuck ![]() | 14 Div. II | Quartzo | 3021 | ![]() | |
BMW 320i 'Jagermeister' Hans Stuck ![]() | 15 Div. II | Minichamps | 400 772315 | ![]() | |
BMW 320i 'HAT' Ronnie Peterson ![]() | 21 Div. II | Minichamps | 400 772321 | ![]() | |
Zolder | |||||
1 | Porsche 935/77A 'Jagermeister' Manfred Schurti ![]() | 52 Div. I | Minichamps | 400 776352 | ![]() |
2 | Porsche 935/77A Bob Wollek ![]() | 51 Div. I | Minichamps | 400 776351 | ![]() |
Hockenheim | |||||
1 | Porsche 935/77 2.0 ("Baby") 'Martini' Jacky Ickx ![]() | 40 Div. II | Ebbro | 44358 | ![]() |
Prototypes were completely separated from the GT cars and had their own European Sportscar Championship for the year 1978. This should not be confused with the series of the same name for 2.0 litre prototypes that lasted from 1970 to 1975. These were European privateer 'Group 6' cars that typically were built for Le Mans. There were also some 2.0 litre prototypes that stayed on for good measure.
World Championship for Makes 1978 (Group 5) | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Daytona 24 Hours (Run jointly with the IMSA series) | |||||
Six Hours Dijon | |||||
1 | Porsche 935/77A Bob Wollek ![]() Henri Pescarolo ![]() | 2 Gr. 5 | Spark | SF132 | ![]() |
7 | BMW 320i 'Buler' Marc Surer ![]() Freddy Kottulinsky ![]() | 24 Gr. 5 | Quartzo ('3000 Series') | 3036 | ![]() |
Six Hours Silverstone | |||||
DNF | BMW 320i Turbo 'BMW Italia' Giorgio Francia ![]() Umberto Grano ![]() | 55 Gr. 5 | Spark | SI004 | ![]() |
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft 1978 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Zolder | |||||
3 | BMW 320i 'Goesser Beer' Harald Grohs ![]() (Error: Box Reads "Spa 1978"; Driven by Grohs, but Quester & Walkinshaw are on door.) | 59 Div. II | Quartzo ('3000 Series') | 3025 | ![]() |
10 | BMW 320i 'Carling Black Label' Patrick Neve ![]() (Error: Box Reads "Spa 1977"; Driven by Neve, but Joosen & Grohs are also on roof) | 58 Div. II | Quartzo ('3000 Series') | 3022 | ![]() |
N�rburgring | |||||
1 | Porsche 935/77A 'Vaillant' Bob Wollek ![]() | 2 Div. I | Solido ('Solido 2' Kit) | 1709 | ![]() |
Norisring | |||||
DNF | Porsche 935/78 'Martini' Jacky Ickx ![]() | 40 Div. I | Minichamps | 430 786740 | ![]() |
Full-Season Entries | |||||
Division II (Under 2000cc) | |||||
  | BMW 320i 'Wurth' Manfred Winkelhock ![]() | 50 | Quartzo ('3000 Series') | 3035 | ![]() |
  | Ford Capri turbo 'Mampe' Hans Heyer ![]() | 52 | Quartzo Classic Sports Racing | 3028 | ![]() |
  | BMW 320i 'Fruit of the Loom' Markus H�ttinger ![]() | 57 | Quartzo ('3000 Series') | 3023 | ![]() |
The 1979 DRM championship was won by Klaus Ludwig in a Porsche Kremer sposored by "Mambo" cologne. It is the preferred fragrance of Ronnie Mund, a.k.a "Ronnie the limo driver"...
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft 1979 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Division I (2000cc - 4000cc) | |||||
  | Porsche Kremer K3 'Mambo' Klaus Ludwig ![]() | 54 | Quartzo ('3000 Series') | 3033 | ![]() |
  | Porsche Kremer K3 'Erzquell Pils' Axel Plankenhorn ![]() | 55 | Quartzo ('3000 Series') | 3034 | ![]() |
Division II (Under 2000cc) | |||||
1 | Ford Capri turbo 'Sachs' Harald Ertl ![]() | 1 | Minichamps | 430 798501 | ![]() |
  |   |   | Quartzo | 3027 | ![]() |
In 1979 the prototypes were allowed back into select events on the World Championship schedule, but were not eligible to score points. By then, the series was mostly leftover European races. There were some North American rounds, notably the Daytona 24H, being run jointly with IMSA.
World Championship for Makes 1979 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Silverstone 6 Hours | |||||
DNF | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Riccardo Patrese ![]() Walter R�hrl ![]() | 51 Gr. 5 | Best | 9168 | ![]() |
DNF | Porsche 936 Brian Redman ![]() Jochen Mass ![]() | 1 S +2.0 | Trofeu | 1209 | ![]() |
1000 km N�rburgring | |||||
DNF | Porsche 908/3 Turbo Rolf Stommelen ![]() Reinhold J�st ![]() | 101 S +2.0 | Best | 9467 | ![]() |
DNF | Lotus Europa Turbo Harald Ertl ![]() Hans Heyer ![]() | 22 Gr. 5 | Spark (Germany Special Edition) | SG024 | ![]() |
Pergusa | |||||
2 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Riccardo Patrese ![]() Carlo Facetti ![]() | 11 Gr. 5 | Best | 9171 | ![]() |
Giro d'Italia (Non-Championship) | |||||
1 | Porsche 935/79 'Momo' Gianpiero Moretti ![]() Giorgio Sch�n ![]() Emilio Radaelli ![]() | 592 Gr. 5 | Spark | SI002 | ![]() |
World Championship for Makes 1980 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Daytona | |||||
1 | Porsche 935 J Reinhold Jöst ![]() Rolf Stommelen ![]() Volkert Merl ![]() | 2 GTX | Spark | S43DA80 | ![]() |
10 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Carlo Facetti ![]() Martino Finotto ![]() | 4 GTX | Best | 9164 | ![]() |
DNF | Ferrari 512 BB LM Preston Henn ![]() Pierre Dieudonné ![]() | 69 GTX | Best | 9297 | ![]() |
DNF | Porsche 935/79 Ralph Kent-Cooke ![]() G�rard Bleynie ![]() Claude Ballot-L�na ![]() | 55 GTX | TrueScale | TSM114311 | |
DNF | Porsche 935 K3 Bob Akin ![]() Roy Woods ![]() Bobby Rahal ![]() | 05 GTX | TrueScale | TSM10431 | ![]() |
DNF | Porsche 935J Gianpiero Moretti ![]() Fernando Cazzaniga ![]() Bruce Canepa ![]() | 30 GTX | Trofeu | RR.US01 | ![]() |
Mugello | |||||
1 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Riccardo Patrese ![]() Eddie Cheever ![]() | 33 Gr. 5 | Best | 9501 | ![]() |
2 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Michele Alboreto ![]() Walter Röhrl ![]() | 2 Gr. 5 | Best | 9481 | ![]() |
Monza | |||||
DNF | Ferrari 512 BB LM Spartaco Dini ![]() Fabrizio Violati ![]() | 31 S +2.0 | Best | 9279 | ![]() |
Silverstone | |||||
4 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Walter Röhrl ![]() Michele Alboreto ![]() | 54 Gr. 5 | Best | 9755 | ![]() |
7 | Ferrari 512 BB LM Steve O'Rourke ![]() Chris Craft ![]() Vic Norman ![]() | 11 IMSA GTX | Best | 9395 | ![]() |
DNF | Porsche 935 K3 'Gillette Contour' Guy Edwards ![]() John Fitzpatrick ![]() Axel Plankenhorn ![]() | 19 Gr. 5 | Spark ('Kremer Racing') | ||
1000 km N�rburgring | |||||
1 | Porsche 908/4 'Liqui Moly' Rolf Stommelen ![]() Jürgen Barth ![]() | 31 S +2.0 | Best | 9348 | ![]() |
3 | BMW M1 'Ja Zum Nurburgring' Hans-Joachim Stuck ![]() Nelson Piquet ![]() | 201 GTX | Minichamps | 430 802501 | ![]() |
Watkins Glen | |||||
1 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Hans Heyer ![]() Riccardo Patrese ![]() | 31 Gr. 5 | Best | 9208 | ![]() |
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft 1980 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Division I (2000cc - 4000cc) | |||||
  | Ford Capri Turbo 'Wurth' Klaus Ludwig ![]() | 1 | Minichamps Classic Sports Racing | 430 808501 | ![]() |
  | Porsche Kremer K3 'Jagermeister' John Fitzpatrick ![]() | 2 | Quartzo ('3000 Series') | 3019 | ![]() |
  | Porsche Kremer K3 'Pepsi' Claude Bourgoignie ![]() | 16 | Quartzo ('3000 Series') | 3032 | ![]() |
Division II (Under 2000cc) | |||||
0 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo 'Fruit of the Loom' Hans Hayer ![]() | 51 | Best | 9197 | ![]() |
1981 was a transitional year before the major reorganization to Group C. The name of the Championship was changed to World Championship of Drivers and Makes. All of the North American Rounds were run jointly with IMSA.
The Joest Porsche 935/81 was a factory authorized copy of the famous "Moby Dick" works car. This model was released by Minichamps in 2000 during their distributor "blackout" period, so very few ever made it to US vendors. They appear occasionally on German eBay, but are quite difficult to find. Because it has an unremarkable history and color scheme, I gave up trying to get one.
Joest eventually sold the car to Gianpiero Moretti who ran it in IMSA. There it had the famous red-and-yellow MOMO colors and sponsorship by Penthouse magazine. Now that would make for a collectable model.
World Championship of Drivers and Makes 1981 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Daytona 24 Hours (Part of the World Championship of Drivers) | |||||
18 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo 'Martini' Riccardo Patrese ![]() Michele Alboreto ![]() Hans Heyer ![]() | 3 GTX | Best | 9249 | ![]() |
Mugello 6 Hours (Part of the World Championship of Drivers) | |||||
9 | Ferrari 512 BB/LM Giovanni Del Buono ![]() Odoardo Govoni ![]() | 29 GTX | Best | 9613 | ![]() |
Silverstone 6 Hours (Part of the World Championship of Makes and World Championship of Drivers) | |||||
1 | Porsche 935J Harald Grohs ![]() Walter Röhr ![]() Dieter Schornstein ![]() (Porsche chassis with bodywork developed by Team Joest) | 22 Gr. 5 | Spark (Porsche Museum Edition) | MAP 020 205 13 | |
7 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Beppe Gabbiani ![]() Giorgio Schön ![]() Giorgio Pianta ![]() | 62 Gr. 5 | Best | 9542 | ![]() |
DNF | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Riccardo Patrese ![]() Eddie Cheever ![]() | 28 Gr. 5 | Best | 9241 | ![]() |
DNF | Ferrari 308 GTB Turbo Martino Finotto ![]() Carlo Facetti ![]() | 18 Gr. 5 | Fabbri (Ferrari Racing Collection) | Issue #44 | ![]() |
DNF | Ferrari 512 BB/LM Richard Bond ![]() Bobby Bell ![]() Steve Griswold ![]() | 42 GTX | Best | 9336 | ![]() |
1000 km N�rburgring (Part of the World Championship of Makes and World Championship of Drivers) | |||||
1 | BMW M1 Turbo 'BASF' Hans-Joachim Stuck ![]() Nelson Piquet ![]() | 12 Gr. 5 | Spark | SG021 | ![]() |
2 | Porsche 908/80 'LUI/Immo Klein' Jochen Mass ![]() Vern Schuppan ![]() Hurley Haywood ![]() | 1 S +2.0 | Minichamps | 430 816701 | ![]() |
Solido ('Record' Series) | 10861 | ![]() | |||
3 | Porsche 935/K3 Bob Wollek ![]() Preston Henn ![]() Adrian Yates-Smith ![]() | 27 GTX +2.0 | Spark | SG113 | ![]() |
4 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo Piercarlo Ghinzani ![]() Hans Heyer ![]() | 17 Gr. 5 | Best | 9234 | ![]() |
10 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo 'Martini' Henri Pescarolo ![]() Andrea de Cesaris ![]() | 31 Gr. 5 | Best | 9230 | ![]() |
38 | Porsche 908/3 Turbo ('908/4') Siegfried Brunn ![]() Herbert Müller ![]() (Müller Fatal Accident on lap 17; Race was stopped and not continued) | 3 S +2.0 | Best | 9346 | ![]() |
Watkins Glen (Part of the World Championship of Makes and World Championship of Drivers) | |||||
1 | Lancia Beta Montecarlo Turbo 'Martini' Riccardo Patrese ![]() Michele Alboreto ![]() | 1 Gr. 5 | Best | 9623 | ![]() |
Brands Hatch (Part of the World Championship of Makes and World Championship of Drivers) | |||||
DNF | Porsche 917K/81 Bob Wollek ![]() Henri Pescarolo ![]() | 2 S +2.0 | Spark (France Special Edition) | SF023 | ![]() |
Kyalami (Non-Championship) | |||||
2 | Porsche 908/03 Turbo ('908/4') J�rgen Barth ![]() Siegfried Brunn ![]() Jean-Michel Martin ![]() | 2 Gr. 6 | Best | 9406 | ![]() |
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft 1981 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Division I (2000cc - 4000cc) | |||||
55 | Ford Capri turbo 'Nigrin' Manfred Winkelhock ![]() | 55 | Quartzo Classic Sports Racing | 3031 | ![]() |
  |   |   | Minichamps Classic Sports Racing | 430 818555 | ![]() |
66 | Porsche 935/81 'Immo Klein' Jochen Mass ![]() | 66 | Minichamps Classic Sports Racing | 430 816766 | ![]() |
Division II (Under 2000cc) | |||||
4 | Ford Capri turbo 'Pentosin' J�rgen Hamelmann ![]() | 4 | Quartzo Classic Sports Racing | 3026 | ![]() |
In 1982 the DRM series started a transition to a Group C format, but Group 5 and Group 6 cars were also allowed.
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft 1982 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
1 | Ford Capri turbo 'Jaegermeister' Klaus Ludwig ![]() | 1 Group 5 | Minichamps | 430 828501 | ![]() |