Porsche 935 race car coming to Australian F1 Grand Prix
Porsche's modern take on one of its most iconic historic race cars is set to complete some demonstration laps at Melbourne’s Grand Prix circuit.
Porsche is set to debut its limited-edition, track-only 935 – a modern take on its iconic 1978 LeMans racer, a car known as "Moby Dick" due to its daring design – at the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne this weekend.
The 935 will be on display at Porsche’s stand in the F1 paddock area over the weekend, and is scheduled to complete a handful of demonstration laps of the GP circuit on Sunday morning.
Only 77 of the modern 935 are to be produced as a tribute to the 70th anniversary of Porsche’s first production car, the 356.
In Europe, the modern 935 costs €701,948 (AU$1,205,300) before taxes. All examples are believed to have been sold even though it is only a race car and cannot be driven on the road.
Built on the underpinnings of the 911 GT2 RS, the modern 935’s body has been restyled by use of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic body panels to create a modernised version of the classic.
Above: 1978 Porsche 935 "Moby Dick".
The modern car is an amalgam of pieces from Porsche’s motorsport history. The aero-style wheels mirror the ones used on the 1978 race car. Dual titanium tailpipes are inspired by those on the 1968 version of the 908. The side mirrors and wind endplates with integrated LED rear lights are taken directly from Porsche's 911 RSR Le Mans race car.
The 935 is larger than the 911 GT2 RS in all dimensions, coming in at 4.86 metres long, 2.03m wide and 1.36m tall. The wheelbase remains the same as the 911 GT2 RS.
Powered by a 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged flat six-cylinder engine that takes most of its parts from the road-going 911 GT2 RS, Porsche says the modern 935 should have "largely identical" outputs of 515kW and 750Nm as the donor car.
The modern 935 wears 18-inch wheels and Michelin racing tyres, with power sent through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and limited slip differential.
Stability control, traction control and anti-lock braking systems settings can be adjusted by the driver.
The track-only model also features a single Recaro racing bucket seat with six-point harness, roll-cage, air jack system and fire extinguisher. A passenger seat can be optioned.
The modern 935 was originally shown in 2018 at the Californian Rennsport Reunion VI, the world's largest classic Porsche meeting.
Porsche will also feature its 911 GT2 RS Clubsport in this year’s Speed Comparison event – an exhibition race that sees a road car, track-tuned car and F1 car complete a one-lap sprint with a staggered, handicapped start time to show fans the true performance of Formula 1 cars.
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