Porsche 961

O Porsche 959 de rua deu origem à versões de competição, entre elas o modelo 961 que chegou em 7° lugar nas 24h de Le Mans de 1986, pilotado por René Metge e Claude Ballot-Léna. Kit muito simples da Tamiya, escala 1/24. Among the cars on the starting grid of the 1986 24 Hours of Le Mans was a monumental machine entered by the Porsche factory team. This car, clad in a white livery and featuring the number 180, was the Porsche 961 and it represented Porsche’s strive for the latest automotive technologies. The 961 was an evolved racing version of the Porsche 959 sports car, which debuted at the 1983 Frankfurt Motor Show. The 959 was a technological pioneer and featured advanced mechanisms including and innovative computer-controlled full-time four wheel-drive system and these features were also installed onto the 961. In january 1986, the rally version of the 959 won the grueling Paris-Dakar Rally and the 961 was intended to achieve similar success on-road at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. The 961 was fitted with the same 2,847cc four-valve DOHC flat-six engine as the works team’s Porsche 962C in the Group C category. Incorporating liquid-cooled cylinder heads, two efficient turbochargers, and large intercoolers, the engine produced a monstrous 680 horsepower which was distributed to the front and rear wheels via the computer-controlled torque splitter system. With that year’s Paris-Dakar Rally winner René metge and his teammate Claude Ballot-Léna at the wheel, the 961 recorded a top speed of 330km/h on the Mulsanne Straight on its way to an overall seventh place finish, placing it amongst the Group C pure racers. The 961 not only drew attention for its outstanding performance, it also stimulated the start of a new automotive era. Tamiya's kit, 1/24th scale.