Why we Love 1985

Forty years ago motor racing witnessed one of its most spectacular seasons, which is why in December, Motor Sport is hosting a gala dinner for stars of the track, including many who competed in period. As part of our celebrations we're running a three-part paean to F1, sports cars and WRC in '85. In part two, Gary Watkins takes us through a Porsche-packed pearler of endurance racing

- Gary Watkins

Privateers (still) on parade

Porsche, or rather the factory team, had stayed away from the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1984. A late change in the rules resulted in the withdrawal of its Rothmans-sponsored 956s from the big one in June. Yet the German manufacturer continued its winning ways on the Circuit de la Sarthe, the privateers running the ubiquitous Group C design stepping up to the plate. Leading was Joest Racing, which headed home a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 Porsche block-out with Klaus Ludwig and Henri Pescarolo.

Fast-forward 12 months, and the works was back and the result was the same. Victory for Joest, this time with Ludwig sharing with Paolo Barilla and 'John Winter'. Joest's 1985 triumph against the factory has long gone down in endurance racing folklore, an example of what just might be possible for an independent. It is a key chapter in the story of the Porsche privateer, one recalled by the German manufacturer in the modern era as it made its 963 LMDh available to customer teams from the get-go.

How Joest did it