1980 Porsche 935 JLP-2

TGR Staff

Over the last 40 years, this Porsche 935 competition car enjoyed a successful racing career in the hands of Porsche’s Works drivers and privateers around the world, including the well-known American father-and-son team of John Paul Senior and Junior.

Starting with the 935 JLP-1 of 1978, the Pauls’ JLP Racing would construct a series of ever-more-radical 935-based racing machines, culminating in the ground-effect aerodynamics-equipped JLP-4. These cars would take the team to incredible heights, including wins at the 1982 Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours in JL-3. Successful in its own right, JLP-2 also represents an important development milestone between the team’s first 935 and the more extreme cars (which ultimately used few Porsche-supplied chassis and body components) still to come.

Following the 1979 racing season and the destruction of JLP-1, the team decided to build a new 935 from the ground up. Starting with a chassis, engine, and other components purchased from Porsche, the so-called JLP-2 was wrapped in Kremer K3 bodywork. The build incorporated everything the team had learned about the 935 so far; in addition to the proven performance-enhancing and weight-shaving efforts developed by Kremer, there was a particular focus on improving chassis rigidity, in part to help tame the car’s ferocious 3.2-liter forced-induction flat-six. Equipped with twin KKK turbochargers and a Kugelfischer fuel injection system and mated to a four-speed transaxle, this engine could produce well in excess of 740 horsepower, depending on the boost level.

Today, this significant Porsche 935 is presented by RM Sothebys in its 1980 24 Hours of Le Mans livery, including the striking light blue and yellow JLP Racing color scheme.