Endurance specialists

Jonathan Palmer and Jan Lammers in front of their Richard Lloyd Racing Porsche 956 at the 1000 km of Silverstone in 1984. Note the Rothmans race suit, normally for Porsche factory drivers, worn by the Dutch driver. This promising duo, also very competent F1 drivers, did more than hold their own and finished fifth overall.

Jonathan Palmer competed in the World Endurance Championship between 1983 and 1990, driving a Group C Porsche. In 1984, alongside Jan Lammers, he won the 1000 km of Brands Hatch. At Le Mans, his best result in five participations, was a second place in 1985, with Richard Lloyd and James Weaver.

When Jan Lammers turned his back on Formula 1 in 1983, he turned to the World Endurance Championship with Richard Lloyd Racing, a top Porsche customer. He scored several podium finishes alongside Thierry Boutsen, Keke Rosberg, and Jonathan Palmer, and even finished sixth on his debut at Le Mans.

In 1984, he teamed up with Jonathan Palmer, and at the wheel of the Canon-liveried Porsche 956, they won at Brands Hatch (picture below), right under the noses of the factory team! Podiums followed at Monza, the Nürburgring, Sandown Park and Imola, but retired at Le Mans, where they were in a position to win.

Jan Lammers later won the 1988 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Andy Wallace and James Weaver at the wheel of a Silk Cut Jaguar entered by Tom Walkinshaw.