1984 Porsche 956 114
The rarest of all 956s, this is one of just four chassis built initially for the 1984 World Championship, to what journalists in period christened '956B' specification.
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Overview
3 x World Championship seasons with Fitzpatrick
Substantially featured in Porter Press’s ‘Fitz Group C Porsche
Led and a podium at Le Mans in 1984
4th at Le Mans in 1985 and 1986
2nd at 1000km Nurburgring 1984
2nd at 1000km Mosport 1984
Secured Derek Bell the world drivers title in 1986
Highly successful in Historic Group C racing 2002-2006
Recent full restoration and reunited with original engine
Feature car with Marino Franchitti, Mike Wilds and Anthony Reid
Goodwood Members & Silverstone Classic Group C demos & FOS
Part of the Historic Collection since Feb 2006
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The rarest of all 956s, this is one of just four chassis built initially for the 1984 World Championship, to what journalists in period christened '956B' specification.
The 956/84 or ‘B’ is a customer version of the 1983 works Rothmans 956, with the same bespoke Singer profile chassis underside improvements and importantly with an engine running full Bosch Motronic engine management. It may not sound like a big deal, but it was. Fully electronic and integrated ignition and injection made much closer control of the combustion process possible.
There were three distinct benefits: more power, better fuel consumption and a more progressive throttle response, largely because Motronic permitted much high compression ratios to be used. Although the first factory 956 was fitted with Motronic late in 1982, it would not be until 1984 that a full works specification 956 was offered to the select lead privateer teams of Fitzpatrick (114) Kremer (115) Brun (116 - W/O) and Joest (117 - the double LM winner)
956 114 was one of the most successful of these and raced continuously across three full seasons with Fitzpatrick, the first year in the iconic Skoal Bandit livery, then in the American 100 colours for 1985 and finally in the Danone livery for 1986, the final season the 956 raced.
In 1984, this car really took the battle to the factory Rothmans team, starting from pole at the Spa 1,000kms in the hands of Thierry Boutsen, who also won the Norisring 200 Meilen in July in this car.
There were also World championship second places in 1000km races at both the Nurburgring, which it looked set to win until a power cut and fuel rig issues, and also at Mosport, where it finished still on the lead lap.
Significantly in 1984, the car led and ultimately finished on the podium at Le Mans followed up twice with 4th places at Le Mans in both 1985 and 1986.
114 also famously secured Derek Bell the world driver’s title in 1986, which was decided by a tie breaker based on the race result at the Norisring that year.
Returned to Skoal Bandit livery when sold to Dauer in 1987, the livery it still is wearing today, the car was acquired by Porsche racer Martyn Konig and won at Spa in one of the first historic Group C races in his hands and was acquired from Martyn by the current owner in 2005, who went on to score multiple class wins in the Historic Group C races in 2006.
Mechanically expertly restored in recent years, taking great care to fully preserve the sensational originality, incredibly the original engine is fitted and the car starred in the 2022 Group C anniversary celebrations at Goodwood and Silverstone and the Porsche celebrations at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2023.
1984 Season
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Race Date
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Race
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
23/04/1984
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Race
1000Km Monza
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Drivers
T.Boutsen / D.Hobbs
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Car No.
#33
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
13/05/1984
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Race
1000 Km Silverstone
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Drivers
T.Boutsen / D.Hobbs
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Car No.
#33
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Result
8th
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Race Date
16-17/06/1984
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Rac24 Hours Le Mans
24 Hours Le Mans
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Drivers
D. Hobbs/ P. Streiff/ S. van der Merwe
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Car No.
#33
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Result
3rd
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Race Date
15/07/1984
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Race
1000 Km Nurburgring
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Drivers
T.Boutsen / D.Hobbs
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Car No.
#33
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
05/08/1984
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Race
1000 Km Mosport
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Drivers
D.Hobbs
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Car No.
#33
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
02/09/1984
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Race
1000 Km Spa
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Drivers
T.Boutsen / D.Hobbs
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Car No.
#33
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
16/09/1984
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Race
1000 Km Imola
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Drivers
D.Theys / Dievonne
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Car No.
#33
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
02/12/1984
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Race
1000 Km Sandown Park
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Drivers
T. Boutsen / D. Hobbs
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Car No.
#33
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Result
DNF
1985 Season - American 100’s Sponsorship
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Race Date
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Race
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
28/04/1985
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Race
1000 Km Monza
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Drivers
J. Gartner / K. Acheson
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Car No.
#33
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
12/05/1985
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Race
1000 Km Silverstone
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Drivers
D. Hobbs / J. Gartner
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Car No.
#33
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
17-18/06/1985
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Race
24 Hours Le Mans
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Drivers
D. Hobbs / J. Gartner / G. Edwards
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Car No.
#33
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Result
4th
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Race Date
06/10/1985
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Race
1000 Km Fuji
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Drivers
J. Gartner / M. Roe
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Car No.
#33
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
01/12/1985
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Race
800 Km Shah Alam
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Drivers
F. Konrad / A. Miedecke
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Car No.
#33
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Result
4th
1986 Season - Danone Sponsorship
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Race Date
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Race
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
20/04/1986
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Race
Kouros Cup Monza
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Drivers
J. Gartner / K. Niedwiedz
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Car No.
#10
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Result
8th
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Race Date
09/05/1986
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Race
1000 Km Silverstone
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Drivers
E. de Villota / F. Velez
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Car No.
#33
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Result
5th
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Race Date
31/05/1986
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Race
24 Hours Le Mans
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Drivers
E. de Villota / G. Fouche / F. Velez
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Car No.
#33
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Result
4th
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Race Date
29/06/1986
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Race
100 Meilen Norisring
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Drivers
D. Bell
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Car No.
#33
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Result
11th
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Race Date
20/07/1986
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Race
1000 Km Brands Hatch
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Drivers
E. de Villota / F. Velez
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Car No.
#33
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
03/08/1986
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Race
Trofeo Silk Cut Jerez
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Drivers
E. de Villota / F. Velez
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Car No.
#33
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Result
5th
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Race Date
24/08/1986
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Race
1000 Km Nurburgring
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Drivers
E. de Villota / F. Velez
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Car No.
#33
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Result
3rd
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Race Date
15/09/1986
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Race
1000 Km Spa-Francorchamps
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Drivers
E. de Villota / F. Velez
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Car No.
#33
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Result
11th