An unexpected Porsche

Bob Wollek and Hurley Haywood’s splendid Essex-liveried Porsche 936 accelerates before the pit straight during the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans, but unfortunately will not see the finish (photo above).

The 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans took place on June 9 and 10, 1979. The factory-entered Porsches were the heavy favorites, and it was expected that the Cosworth V8-powered Mirages and Rondeaus would give them a hard time, along with a host of Group 5 and IMSA Porsche 935s.

However, the Porsche 936s and Mirages were slowed down or eliminated early on by mechanical problems and the race came down to a duel between the Porsche 935s of the Kremer Racing and Gelo Sportswear, the team of Georg Loos.

Finally, it was the 935 Kremer driven masterfully in the deluge by Klaus Ludwig, assisted by brothers Don and Bill Whittington, who won with a seven-lap lead over the 935 from Dick Barbour Racing, in the hands of Dick Barbour, Rolf Stommelen and the very competent… Paul Newman!