Motorsport News

BELL TO HEADLINE THE GROUP C ICONS AT SILVERSTON­E

Five-time Le Mans winner to roll back the years in Rothmans Porsche

- By Paul Lawrence

Derek Bell will lead a celebratio­n of 40 years of Group C cars during two demonstrat­ion sessions at this weekend’s Classic at Silverston­e.

Five-time Le Mans winner Bell, 80, will be back behind the wheel of the final factory Rothmans Porsche 962; the car he shared with Hans Stuck at the start of the 1987 season.

Up to 12 Porsche 956s/962s will share the track on both Saturday and Sunday with four Group C Jaguars and two Saubers. Other drivers expected on-track include Alex Brundle in the 1987 World championsh­ipwinning Jaguar XJR8 his father Martin raced in period and Kenny Acheson, who will be back in a Sauber-Mercedes C9, similar to his 1989 car.

John Fitzpatric­k will be reunited with the recently restored 956 he shared with Derek Warwick to win the 1983 Brands Hatch 1000kms, while three early V12 Jaguar XJR6s will line up together.

Back in May 1982, Bell shared a Rothmans 956 with Jacky Ickx to take Group C victory in the

Silverston­e six-hour race, the first race for Porsche’s new racing sportscar.

“It’s just amazing to think it was 40 years ago that Group C started at Silverston­e,” said

Bell. “It was the greatest era of sportscar racing and I was just so lucky to be around and available at that time – those amazing cars are what made my career.

“I’m really looking to being back at the Classic driving the Rothmans 962 I last raced to a podium finish at a somewhat different Silverston­e 35 years ago. It’s going to be a wonderful celebratio­n.”

 ?? Photos: Paul and Ben Lawrence ?? The 956 made its race debut in 1982
Photos: Paul and Ben Lawrence The 956 made its race debut in 1982

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