Find out how the Porsche 956 made racing history

It all began in August 1981: The FIA introduced a new sports car prototype class into the World Sportscar Championships beginning with the 1982 season. World championships were held for these 'Group C' vehicles for 10 years. The new regulations meant that Porsche had free rein to build a new racing car. The regulations mainly concern fuel consumption, so there was plenty of room for innovation.

Under the direction of Norbert Singer, race engineers began using the Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) for the first time in the 956. With its progressive injection system and 2.6-litre turbo engine, the 956 achieved a power output of 612bhp. In particular, its unique aerodynamics made the racing car into a success story. Thanks to the strong downforce produced by the car's underbody tunnel, drivers of the 956 reached record-breaking cornering speeds on the race track.

With this model, Porsche did not only win all of the FIA World Sportscar Championship titles between 1982 and 1984, it collected both the drivers' and manufacturers' championships on each occasion. Drivers, designers and racing fans alike were captivated by the unique capabilities of the 956. In 1983 and 1984, Porsche's engineers even built copies for customers.