Group C Racing

Group C was a category of auto racing, introduced into sports car racing by the FIA in 1982, along with Group A for touring cars and Group B for GTs and ran in varying forms from 1982 until 1993 (when a change of engine regulations then stopped it as a viable form of racing).

The 1980s were, perhaps, the golden age of racing with the sight and sound of Jaguar racing against Mercedes against Porsche and the massed ranks of the Japanese manufacturers (notably Mazda, Nissan and Toyota), with supporting roles played by Aston Martin, Spice, Ecurie Ecosse and many others.

Group C started, as most good racing ideas do, at Le Mans. In 1978 Renault had won with a Group 6 (open 2 seater) sports car, fitted with a bubble top to aid aerodynamics, a small slit in front (for visibility) and a hole in the top (to ensure the car remained 'open' and complied with the rules). This was probably the catalyst for the GT prototype class which also started at Le Mans. With similarities to the great sports cars of the late 60s and early 70s (such as the Porsche 917s) these cars were basically closed group 6 cars.

The Kremer brothers built a Porsche 917 and raced it in a handful of sports car races including Le Mans and Brands Hatch in 1981. 1982 saw the first Porsche 956s arriving on the racing scene; derived from Porsche's 936 group 6 car this featured an enclosed cockpit and is, to many, the archetypal racing Sports car shape.

The 956 and the later 962 (differing mainly in moving the drivers feet behind the front wheels when the FIA rules fell in step with the IMSA rules the 962 was originally built for) became the mainstay for Group C, the way the 935 had for Group 5.

Porsche no longer make Group C cars although there are regular races and race series involving 936, 956 and 962 Group C cars.

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