A very sucessful revival of prototype endurance racing began in 1982. In Europe, a new formula called 'Group C' was created completely from scratch. It's goal was to lure back manufacturers, even performance, and provide good racing by using fuel consumption to homologate cars. As usual, Porsche led the way and designed the 956, which would dominate for much of the decade. The schedule included LeMans and the traditional European Events from the "golden" age of the late 1960's. The title of the series was changed to the World Endurance Championship (WEC). The German DRM series accepted these rule changes, and many Group C cars competed in DRM sanctioned sprint events during the year. Namely, the Norisring street event was extremely popular.
The only issue is that they couldn't convince the IMSA people to adopt this specification. In America they did a similar exercise by creating the 'Grand Touring Prototype' (GTP) class. The result was that there was very little interaction between the two series, and Sebring and Daytona became IMSA-Only events. GT cars. Hello. Anyone?Some GT cars did run with the Group C prototypes. Starting in 1983 they were classified as 'Group B', after a decade of Group B being a class named for prototypes. The requirement for group B was that 200 "homologation specials" had to be produced. While this never took off for GT cars, there were some pretty wild rally cars made to this spec. Ferrari intended to provide customer cars with their 288GTO, and actually met the homologation minimum. But by then everyone already had Porsche 956's prototypes.
In 1983 there was a sub-championship that combined the European Rounds of the WEC, plus non-WEC races at Brands Hatch, Imola, and Mugello. This was called the European Sportscar Championship, which had been the name of the old FIA Group 6 series. Joest and Zakspeed were the main players in the DRM series, and Joest even ran the trusty-old 936 chassis that they had been running since 1979. Norisring Summer Sprints...There was a well-attended downtown race weekend in Nuremburg, and the day consisted of several short sprints. The main event was a 200 mile non-championship race. I had assumed that this was part of the DRM championship, but I could not find the Keke Rosberg "Boss" car listed in the results. There were actually two races that day, one in the morning for the usual DRM teams, and then an afternoon finale for all entries. Stefan Bellof won this in a works Rothmans 956, and gained a huge following...
  |
World Endurance Championship 1983 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Monza (Also Part of the European Sportscar Championship) | |||||
1 | Porsche 956 'Marlboro' Bob Wollek ![]() Thierry Boutsen ![]() | 11 | Quartzo | 3059 | ![]() |
  |   |   | Spark (Cartima Bob Wollek Collection) | CA-WOL-02 |   |
Nurburgring (Also Part of the European Sportscar Championship) | |||||
3 | Porsche 956 'Canon' Keke Rosberg ![]() Jan Lammers ![]() Johnathan Palmer ![]() | 14 | Minichamps | 430 836614 | ![]() |
  |   |   | Quartzo | 3058 | ![]() |
DNF | Porsche 956 'Racing' (Rothmans) Derek Bell ![]() Stefan Bellof ![]() | 2 | Minichamps | 430 836602 | ![]() |
  |   |   | Spark (Cartima Stefan Bellof Collection) | CA-BEL-01 | ![]() |
Norisring (Non-Championship) | |||||
3 | Porsche 956 'Warsteiner' Bob Wollek ![]() | 1 Group C | Minichamps | 430 836601 | ![]() |
  |   |   | Quartzo | 3057 | ![]() |
5 | Porsche 956 'Boss' Keke Rosberg ![]() | 12 Group C | Minichamps | 430 836612 | |
  |   |   | Quartzo | 3060 | |
6 | Porsche 908/3 Turbo Jochen Dauer ![]() | 25 Group 6 | Best | 9574 | ![]() |
9 | Porsche 936C 'Warsteiner' Leopold von Bayern ![]() | 3 Group 6 | Minichamps | 430 836703 | ![]() |
DNF | Porsche 956 'New Man' Volkert Merl ![]() | 2 Group C | Quartzo | 3061 | |
Spa (Also Part of the European Sportscar Championship) | |||||
1 | Porsche 956 'Rothmans' Jacky Ickx ![]() Jochen Mass ![]() | 1 | Quartzo | 3056 | ![]() |
Fuji | |||||
3 | Porsche 956 'Trust' Vern Schuppan ![]() Naohiro Fujita ![]() | 6 C | Ebbro | 43887 | ![]() |
4 | Porsche 956 'Winning Run' Thierry Boutsen ![]() Henri Pescarolo ![]() | 3 C | Ebbro | 44153 | ![]() |
7 | Nissan Silvia Turbo C (March 83G) Kazuyoshi Hoshino ![]() Akira Hagiwara ![]() | 23 C | Ebbro | 44789 | ![]() |
8 | Porsche 956 'Taisan' Kenji Takahashi ![]() Clemens Schickentanz ![]() | 21 C | Ebbro | 43892 | ![]() |
DNF | Porsche 956 'Italya' Philippe Alliot ![]() Stefan Johansson ![]() | 21 C | Ebbro | 43891 | ![]() |
DNF | Mazda 717C Youjirou Terada ![]() Takashi Yorino ![]() Pierre Dieudonn� ![]() | 16 C | Bizarre | BZ102 | ![]() |
Kyalami | |||||
5 | Porsche 956 'Gunston' Jan Lammers ![]() Johnathan Palmer ![]() | 14 | Quartzo | 3065 | ![]() |
Mugello (Part of the European Sportscar Championship) | |||||
1 | Porsche 956 (Marlboro) Bob Wollek ![]() Stefan Johansson ![]() | 8 | Minichamps | 430 836608 | ![]() |
Zolder (Part of the DRM) | |||||
1 | Porsche 956 'Warsteiner' Bob Wollek ![]() | 1 | Spark (Cartima Bob Wollek Collection) | CA-WOL-06 | ![]() |
Brands Hatch(Part of the European Sportscar Championship) | |||||
1 | Porsche 956 Derek Warwick ![]() John Fitzpatrick ![]() | 11 C | Minichamps | 430 836611 | ![]() |
World Endurance Championship 1984 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Monza | |||||
6 | Porsche 956 'Bad Aachen' Volkert Merl ![]() Dieter Schornstein ![]() | 12 C | Minichamps | 430 846612 | ![]() |
Norisring (Non-Championship) | |||||
1 | Porsche 956 'Liquimoly' Manfred Winkelhock ![]() | 10 C1 | Minichamps | 430 846610 | |
3 | Porsche 956 'J�germeister' Stefan Bellof ![]() | 1 C1 | Minichamps | 430 846691 | |
Nurburgring | |||||
2 | Porsche 956 'Skoal Bandit' | 33 | Spark (New Ace Edition) | NA009 | |
7 | Porsche 956 'Racing' (Rothmans) Jochen Mass ![]() Jacky Ickx ![]() | 1 | Minichamps | 430 846601 | |
8 | Porsche 956L 'New Man' Stefan Johansson ![]() Henri Pescarolo ![]() Ayrton Senna ![]() | 7 | Lang (Minichamps Special Senna Collection) | 540 844307 | |
  |   |   | Spark (New Ace Edition) | NA011 | |
Mosport | |||||
3 | Porsche 956 'Skoal Bandit' David Hobbs ![]() Franz Konrad ![]() Rupert Keegan ![]() | 33 C | Quartzo 3066 | ![]() | |
Imola | |||||
1 | Porsche 956 'J�germeister' Stefan Bellof ![]() Hans-Joachim Stuck ![]() | 19 | Quartzo | 3067 | |
Fuji | |||||
10 | Porsche 956 Manfred Winkelhock ![]() Mike Thackwell ![]() | 10 C1 | Spark (Cartima Porsche Dealer Collection) | CAP 043 11 016 | ![]() |
DNF | Porsche 956 'From A' Jirou Yoneyama ![]() Chikage Oguchi ![]() | 16 C1 | Ebbro | 43890 | ![]() |
DRM 1984 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Nurburgring DRM | |||||
1 | Porsche 956 'J�germeister' Stefan Bellof ![]() | 1 C1 | Spark (Cartima Stefan Bellof Collection) | CA-BEL-09 | ![]() |
Two races, two deaths in Porsches. Minichamps was tacky enough to produce the Stefan Bellof "Death Car" from Spa 1985. Why don't they put out a Mosport Winkelhock car with it as a set titled "1985 Group C Fatality Collection"
World Endurance Championship 1985 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Mugello | |||||
3 | Porsche 962C 'Torno' Stefan Bellof ![]() Thierry Boutsen ![]() | 19 C1 | Spark (Cartima Stefan Bellof Collection) | CA-BEL-03 | ![]() |
Norisring (Non-Championship) | |||||
1 | Porsche 956 'D&W' Klaus Ludwig ![]() | 10 C | Quartzo | 3070 | ![]() |
Hockenheim | |||||
DNF | Porsche 956 'Schiesser' Stefan Bellof ![]() Thierry Boutsen ![]() | 19 C | Quartzo | 3069 | ![]() |
Spa | |||||
DNF | Porsche 956 'Schiesser' Thierry Boutsen ![]() Stefan Bellof ![]() | 19 C | Minichamps | 430 856619 | |
  |   |   | Spark (Cartima Stefan Bellof Collection) | CA-BEL-08 | ![]() |
By 1986, participation by GT-based cars had faded away. It was an all-prototype series, and is that a good thing?
The long-standing German DRM changed into the 'Supercup' Series. These sprint races were for one driver, and lacked the fuel restriction of the WEC.
FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship 1986 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Norisring (Also part of the ADAC Supercup) | |||||
1 | Porsche 956 'Blaupunkt' Klaus Ludwig ![]() | 7 | Minichamps | 430 866607 | ![]() |
DNF | Porsche 956 'Liqui Moly' Bob Wollek ![]() | 14 C1 | Spark (Cartima Bob Wollek Collection) | CA-WOL-03 | ![]() |
Nurburgring | |||||
DNF | BMW M1 Helmut Gall ![]() Harald Becker ![]() Michael Krankenberg ![]() | 151 B | Minichamps | 400 862551 | ![]() |
Spa | |||||
1 | Porsche 962 'Jaegermeister' Thierry Boutsen ![]() Frank Jelinski ![]() | 17 C1 | Spark (Belgium Special Edition) | SB007 | ![]() |
9 | Porsche 956 'FATurbo' Didier Theys ![]() Massimo Sigala ![]() | 19 | Quartzo Classic Sports Racing | 3068 | |
Fuji | |||||
9 | Toyota Tom's 86C Satoru Nakajima ![]() Geoff Lees ![]() Masanori Sekiya ![]() | 36 C1 | Ebbro | 44243 | ![]() |
ADAC Supercup 1986 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
1 | Porsche 962 'Blaupunkt' Hans-Joachim Stuck ![]() | 1 | Spark (Germany Special Edition) | SG005 | ![]() |
Supercup 1987 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Norisring | |||||
2 | Porsche 962C 'Shell' Hans-Joachim Stuck ![]() | 17 C1 | Minichamps (Porsche Dealer Edition) | WAP 020 104 0C | ![]() |
Hockenheim | |||||
8 | Porsche 962C 'Rial' Jochen Mass ![]() | 2 C1 | Spark (Germany Special Edition) | SG025 | ![]() |
FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship 1988 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Spa | |||||
4 | Porsche 962C 'Jagermeister' Oscar Larrauri ![]() Manuel Reuter ![]() Walter Brun ![]() | 5 C1 | Spark (Cartima Brun Edition) | CAP 043 11 019 | ![]() |
Sauber scored a coup by becoming Mercedes-Benz semi-works team.
FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship 1989 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
61 | Sauber Mercedes C9 'AEG' Mauro Baldi ![]() Kenny Acheson ![]() | 61 | Max | 1004 | ![]() |
62 | Sauber Mercedes C9 'AEG' Jean-Louis Schlesser ![]() Jochen Mass ![]() | 62 | Max | 1003 | ![]() |
Dijon | |||||
1 | Porsche 962 Bob Wollek ![]() Frank Jelinski ![]() | 7 C1 | Spark (Cartima Bob Wollek Collection) | CA-WOL-10 | ![]() |
FIA World Sports-Prototype Championship 1990 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Peugeot 905 'Peugeot' | Cat. 1 | Vitesse (Peugeot Box) | 650A |   | |
Peugeot 905 'Peugeot' | Cat. 1 | Vitesse (Vitesse Box) | 650B |   | |
1 | Sauber Mercedes-Benz C-11 Jean-Louis Schlesser ![]() Mauro Baldi ![]() | 1 | Max | 1101 |   |
2 | Sauber Mercedes-Benz C-11 Jochen Mass ![]() Karl Wendlinger ![]() | 2 | Max | 1102 |   |
Suzuka | |||||
20 | Toyota 90C-V 'taka-Q' Aguri Suzuki ![]() Johnny Dumfries ![]() | 37 C1 | Q-Model | QMC-033 | ![]() |
DNF | Toyota 90C-V 'DENSO' Roland Ratzenberger ![]() Pierre-Henri Raphanel ![]() | 38 C1 | Q-Model | QMC-034 | ![]() |
Montreal | |||||
DNF | Peugeot 905 'Peugeot' Keke Rosberg ![]() Jean-Pierre Jabouille ![]() | 44 | Vitesse | 651 |   |
Fuji 500km (JSPC) | |||||
DNF | Porsche 962 'Takefuji' Bob Wollek ![]() Johnny Herbert ![]() | 33 C1 | Spark (Cartima Bob Wollek Collection) | CA-WOL-11 | ![]() |
As the 1990's began, the World Sportscar Championship became more and more sterile. A young German with a rockin' mullet and cheesy moustache joined the Sauber team and had to shave... |
FIA Sportscar World Championship 1991 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
1 | Sauber Mercedes-Benz C291 Jean-Louis Schlesser ![]() Jochen Mass ![]() | 1 Cat. 1 | Max | 1291 |   |
5 | Peugeot 905 (Evolution) 'Esso' Mauro Baldi ![]() Philippe Alliot ![]() | 5 Cat. 1 | Vitesse | 653A |   |
6 | Peugeot 905 (Evolution) 'Esso' Keke Rosberg ![]() Yannick Dalmas ![]() | 6 Cat. 1 | Vitesse | 653B |   |
Autopolis | |||||
1 | Sauber Mercedes-Benz C291 Michael Schumacher ![]() Karl Wendlinger ![]() | 2 Cat. 1 | Minichamps ('Michael Schumacher Collection') | 510 430001 |   |
9 | Mazda 787B 'Efini' Maurizio Sala ![]() Yojiro Terada ![]() | 18 Cat. 2 | HPI Racing | 997 | ![]() |
JSPC 1991 | |||||
Mazda 787B 'Renown' Dave Kennedy ![]() Takashi Yorino ![]() | 202 | HPI | 8039 | ![]() |
Japan Sports Prototype Championship 1992 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
Mine | |||||
10 | Nissan NP35 Toshio Suzuki ![]() Jeff Krosnoff ![]() | 23 | HPI | 8476 | ![]() |
Peugeot sponsored a development series for spiders using their 905 engine. While the standard model was actually built by Martini, other chassis designs from Orion and WR also raced.
Peugeot 905 Spider European Cup 1992 | |||||
Place |
Car |
Car # Class |
Model |
Ref. # |
Image |
0 | Peugeot 905 Spider (Martini Mk64) | 91 | Spark (Presentation) | 1278 | ![]() |
1 | Peugeot 905 Spider (Martini Mk64) Eric H�lary ![]() | 5 | Spark | 1275 | ![]() |