Join the Family

Sign up to receive the weekly newsletter featuring the very latest from Petrolicious. Don’t be left out—join the ranks of those who Drive Tastefully.

Already a member?

How was the drive?

We're glad you're back.

Not a member yet?

Forgot your password?

Reset Your Password

We'll get you back on track.

Featured: This Is The Privateer Porsche 928 That Raced At Le Mans

This Is The Privateer Porsche 928 That Raced At Le Mans

Michael Banovsky By Michael Banovsky
November 9, 2015
13 comments

In 1983, this Porsche 928S lined up dead last for the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Running but unclassified, it finished some 238 laps behind the winner. At the race again in 1984, it finished again, in 22nd place. And no, it wasn’t as fast as the factory-supported or privateer Porsche 911s.

Frenchman Raymond Boutinaud was behind the idea, team, and entry that found the 928S classified as “Group B” car… In other words, it wasn’t going to be picking up a win, or even a class win.

So besides its great liveries, what’s so special about this car? For starters, it shows what might have been, had the 911 been replaced by the 928. As one of the few “modern” Porsches to not be extensively raced—or developed by the factory into a race car—it’s also a rare example of a privateer entry that was able to keep up with the world’s best machines by campaigning a largely “stock” car.

Sure, its outright pace couldn’t match the more developed 911s, but few other GTs in the early ’80s could have added a roll cage, stickers, and qualified for Le Mans. Would you have wanted to see more 928s hit the race track?

Image Sources: 24h-lemans.com, proboards.com, tumblr.com, flickr.com, seriouswheels.com, favcars.com

Tags Le Mans/ Porsche 928
Join the Conversation
View Comments

13
Related
This Modern Porsche 928 Race Car Is Pure GT Nostalgia
25
Featured This Modern Porsche 928 Race Car Is Pure GT Nostalgia
November 15, 2017
These Are The Jaguar Racing Legends That I Ogled At The Silverstone Classic
41
Featured These Are The Jaguar Racing Legends That I Ogled At The Silverstone Classic
August 22, 2017
Motor Racing's Renegade: Our Conversation With David Piper
62
Featured Motor Racing's Renegade: Our Conversation With David Piper
August 2, 2017
The 24 Hours Of Le Mans Experience
66
Featured The 24 Hours Of Le Mans Experience
June 20, 2017
Achieving (Northern) Light Speed In An Icelandic Porsche 928
20
Featured Achieving (Northern) Light Speed In An Icelandic Porsche 928
April 4, 2017
Iconic Racing Porsche Is Pure Happiness
24
Featured Iconic Racing Porsche Is Pure Happiness
May 13, 2014

13
Leave a Reply

11 Comment threads
2 Thread replies
4 Followers
 
Most reacted comment
Hottest comment thread
13 Comment authors
grahamsaulDale McConnellPorsche928s4JustinTony Anderton Recent comment authors
newest oldest most voted
grahamsaul
grahamsaul

Love this history. This is my 928GTS 5 speed race car

Anglesey April 2017 - BARC Races (2223).JPG
Anglesey April 2017 - BARC Races (2852).JPG
Anglesey April 2017 - BARC Races (4550).JPG
You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
3 months ago
Dale McConnell
Dale McConnell

I have been a 928 fan since I saw weird science as a little kid. The body is unique but very cool.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote1You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
1 year ago
Justin
Justin

What about the 928S that won the Willhire 24 hours at Snetterton in 1983?

You Must Be Logged In To Vote1You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
2 years ago
Tony Anderton
Tony Anderton

Taken at the time…sorry it’s “Grainy”, but was from an old colour negative

You Must Be Logged In To Vote7You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
2 years ago
Rob Edwards
Rob Edwards

When a 928 does undergo some development for the track, it ends up fairing reasonably well against privateer 911s. 🙂

[code type=”xml”]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P29nHru4fvI[/code]

You Must Be Logged In To Vote1You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
3 years ago
braunwagen
braunwagen

Great to see Petrolicious shitting all over anything thats not a 911, as per usual..

You Must Be Logged In To Vote-1You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
3 years ago
Michael Banovsky
Michael Banovsky

Hey, so, uh, what’s the polite way of saying you’re uninformed?

Source: Managing Editor of Petrolicious who grew up with only a 914 in the family

You Must Be Logged In To Vote2You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
3 years ago
Matthew Lange
Matthew Lange

Learned something as I never knew a 928 ran at Le Mans. Would love a manual 928 S or S2 but trying to find one in the UK that’s in half decent condition or the vendor has unrealistic ideas about what it is worth is really tough.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
3 years ago
Porsche928s4
Porsche928s4

These cars are now at the point where you have to be committed to the cause to have a nice one. Either buy a project and build your own, or pay what it take have the best. I know, my wife want to get me committed because of this:)

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
2 years ago
Justin Harp
Justin Harp

The 928S, S4 makes a great platform for a race car. There is no doubt about that. To add a bit to this article a 928S won the 24 Hours of Willhire in 1983. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willhire_24_Hour The 928 is really a robust and powerful car in any variation. They get a bad reputation from nonmechanically inclined people who can’t afford their expensive parts and maintenance bills. If you have deep pockets and can get the problems sorted out they really are a reliable car. One of the problems surely had to have been the synchronized transmissions in the early 80’s 928’s.… Read more »

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
3 years ago
Robert Stone
Robert Stone

I own a 1986-1/2 Porsche 928, which I have been restoring with an expert of these cars, also a member of the 928 Club. I attended the “Frenzy” last year and saw some great looking cars. The great thing about the club and websites like Rennlist is you find guys who have designed and created new parts for these cars, which improve them further. Many of these cars are a steal now because as used cars they were neglected and the new owner will have to refurbish them. However, they are getting noticed so I’m not sure how long the… Read more »

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
3 years ago
Jim Nance
Jim Nance

I love my 928S, I have a Jaguar XJS , (2) Alfa Romero spiders , I always go back to my Porsche 928S.

You Must Be Logged In To Vote0You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
3 years ago
geelongvic
geelongvic

The 928, Porsche’s “Daytona”, has been an unloved and underappreciated Porsche, far more capable than most believe, in time like the 914 its reputation will grow and will finally get the recognition that it deserves. Understand that the current generation of water cooled 911’s is virtually similar in size to the 928, a tacit validation of the concept and sizing of the 928 back to time of its introduction in 1978. Drive a 928 and be surprised at how modern and relevant it is now, let alone how advanced it was in the late 70’s .

You Must Be Logged In To Vote2You Must Be Logged In To Vote 
3 years ago