24 Hours of Le Mans 1970-2015 - 45 Porsche stories (39)
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24 Hours of Le Mans 1970-2015 - 45 Porsche stories (39)

The 928 was the second touring car launched by Porsche in the 1970s. It has its own short chapter in the story of the 24 Hours of Le Mans

In the mid-1970s, Porsche decided to launch two front-engined GT cars, a radical departure from the design of the 911, whose distinctive line and rear engine had forged the German firm's reputation. The 924 came out in 1976, followed a year later by the 928, the first Porsche with a V8 engine.

Porsche developed its own competition version of the 924 for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, entering three factory cars in 1980. However, the 928's Le Mans campaign was an entirely private initiative, spearheaded by Frenchman Raymond Boutinaud, who currently runs a Porsche preparation shop near Paris. He entered the car in the Le Mans 24 Hours twice. Forced to retire after 234 laps in 1983, he returned the next year with co-drivers Philippe Renault and Gilles Guinand, and finished 22nd.

Production of the Porsche 928 came to an end in 1995. As for the 924, it only featured three times at Le Mans before production was halted in 1988. The aura of the 911, which has embodied Porsche's image for more than half a century, clearly lingered on...

Read the previous episode in our series of 45 stories about Porsche at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO
Translated from French by Clair Pickworth

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DE LA SARTHE, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 17 & SUNDAY 18 JUNE 1984. The Porsche 928 finished 22nd, adding its name to the 24 Hours of Le Mans roll of honour.
 

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