Porsche 956/962: Le Mans' most beautiful car?

The Porsche 956/962 models produced one of the most successful Le Mans legacies in history – seven straight wins came in between the 956’s debut in 1982 and Porsche’s penultimate year as a works entrant in ’87, whilst another victory was snared by the modified Dauer 962 effort seven years later.

The sleek 956 and 962 are an example of when competition cars’ form really does match their function, and the Stuttgart machines may well be Le Mans’ most beautiful challengers.

In this month’s magazine, Andrew Frankel has the opportunity to test both iconic cars – decked out in that famous Rothmans livery – around the legendary Goodwood track.

The 620bhp and 700bhp beasts might be somewhat blunt instruments compared to today’s hypercars but, as might be expected, our writer was hardly disappointed.

“The start procedure could scarcely be more simple: turn the key,” he says of the 956 in our July edition. “You don’t even need to press a button. Keep your foot off the throttle and wait for the flat six to burst angrily into life. Which it does, and then idles as easily (albeit rather more noisily) as a 911 SC.

“The gearbox has five speeds, laid out in a conventional racing pattern with first back and towards you, and in traditional Porsche racing practice, it also has synchromesh. This means the box is a little heavier and the change a little slower, but Porsche deemed that small price to pay compared to the number of retirements suffered by rivals with uncompromising dog boxes.

“First requires a healthy tug on the lever, and like all the other controls the clutch is heavy, but the motor sufficiently tractable to allow a smooth getaway. And there you are, driving the 1982 Le Mans winner around Goodwood.”