FISA published the definitive version of the Group C rulebook in October 1981. The first season opened a few months later. Porsche had given the 956 project its official green light on 1 August 1981, which left Norbert Singer and a motorsport department that had not existed the previous summer less than a year to work out a chassis, an aerodynamic concept and a functioning race operation.
Two of the three works cars were finished two weeks before Le Mans. The third turned up a few days out. All three crossed the line in June 1982 in the order of their race numbers: 1, 2 and 3. This is how a small team working out of a converted tank hall managed it.
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