Porsche 936 Martini Racing winner Le Mans 1976

With their victories in 1970 and 1971, Porsche had proven with the 917 that they now could achieve overall victories after the numerous class victories. However, changes to the technical regulations from 1972 onwards had banned the large 5-litre engines, and Porsche had left the season highlight in subsequent years to private teams with their Porsche 908 developments with 3-litre naturally aspirated engines. It was not until the 1976 race that the Stuttgart-based company heralded a new era with the brand-new Porsche 936: the turbo era had begun, and with Renault's Alpine A442, an equally matched turbo rival was on the grid from the outset.

Formula 1 drivers Jean-Pierre Jabouille and Patrick Tambay had put the Renault in pole position, a full six seconds ahead of the #20 Porsche driven by Jacky Ickx and Gijs van Lennep. However, the main focus with the turbos was not on pure speed but on the durability of the new engines. After 11 hours, the Renault Turbo burned out, followed six hours later by the Porsche Turbo in the #18 936. At the front, however, the remaining Porsche 936 Turbo mercilessly extended its lead and ultimately won with an incredible eleven-lap advantage over the naturally aspirated Mirage and Lola cars. The first turbo triumph at the Le Mans 24 Hours was complete.


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