page_title: Porsche 959
section_title: LeMans and IMSA
hierarchical_section_title: Porsche 959 / Racing / LeMans and IMSA
caption_attribution_description: English: A 1986 Porsche 961 inside the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg (Germany).
context_page_description: The Porsche 959 is a sports car manufactured by German automobile manufacturer Porsche from 1986 to 1993, first as a Group B rally car and later as a road legal production car designed to satisfy FIA homologation regulations requiring at least 200 units be produced.
  The twin-turbocharged 959 was the world's fastest street-legal production car when introduced, achieving a top speed of 317 km/h, with some variants even capable of achieving 339 km/h. During its production run, the 959 was considered as the most technologically advanced road-going sports car ever built, and forerunner of all forthcoming sports cars. It was one of the first high-performance sports cars with all-wheel drive, providing the basis for Porsche's first all-wheel drive 911 Carrera 4 model. Its performance convinced Porsche executives to make all-wheel drive standard on all turbocharged versions of the 911 starting with the 993. The twin-turbo system utilised on the 959 also made its way to future turbocharged Porsche sports cars. In 2004, Sports Car International named the 959 number one on its list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s.
context_section_description: The 959 was modified for LeMans class racing (now called the 961) and participated in the 1986 and 1987 seasons. It also participated once in IMSA class racing.
  In 1986, the racing variant of the 959, the Porsche 961, made its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Driven by René Metge partnering Claude Ballot-Léna, it finished first in its class and 7th overall. It returned in 1987 but while in 11th place Canadian/Dutch driver Kees Nierop mis-shifted from 6th into 2nd gear and crashed into the guard-rail. Upon re-joining the track, the car was observed on TV monitors in the Porsche pits to be on fire and the driver was told to stop and get out of the car. Sadly Nierop pulled over between marshal stations and this extra time taken to get to the car by the marshals allowed the fire to consume most of the rear end and destroy the car. It was later repaired and put on display at the Porsche Museum.
caption: The 961 was the 959's racing counterpart
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