Illustration: Jacky Ickx/ Derek Bell Porsche 936/81 Spyder

2011 marked 30 years since Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell drove their Porsche 936/91 Spyder to victory at Le Mans.

The 1981 24 hours of Le Mans went smoothly for Porsche and its super-star endurance line up of Ickx and Bell. The pair crsuhed the opposition and finished with a 14 lap margin over the 2nd placed RondeauM379-Ford of Haran, Schlesser and Steiff.

The 936’s six-cylinder Boxer engine was partially air and partially water-cooled, had four valves per cylinder and incorporated two exhaust-gas turbo chargers. It developed 620 HP in long-distance race specification and together with its slippery aerodynamic body reached speeds of 360 km/h down the Mulsanne straight.

The win also marked the 30 year anniversary since the official debut of the Stuttgart marque at the famous French race course in 1951. The French driver pairing of Auguste Veuillet and Edmond Mouche drove the 1.1 litre silver coupé Type 356 to 20th overall and a class victory for Porsche.

Illustration by Paul Laguette