Porsche, special livery for the1000 km Suzuka

The livery Joest Racing used to win Le Mans in 1984 and 1985 will be featured on a Porsche 911 GT3-R driven by reigning World Endurance Championship champions Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor at the Intercontinental GT Challenge round in Suzuka on September 14.

Porsche to race an iconic livery on the 911 GT3-R

For the 1000 km of Suzuka, Absolute racing team has chosen to pay tribute to its motorsport history by bringing back the legendary Joest Racing livery, with which the German team achieved two memorable victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1984 and 1985. This iconic livery will be applied to the GT3-R driven by the reigning World Endurance Championship champions, Kevin Estre and Laurens Vanthoor, during the Intercontinental GT Challenge round scheduled for September 14 at Suzuka. The nod to a glorious past not only celebrates Porsche’s winning roots but also adds a historic charm to the event, blending tradition with cutting-edge performance at the prestigious Japanese circuit: https://www.suzukacircuit.jp/eng/

Porsche 956 Lh: the monster that conquered Le Mans

The Porsche 956 LH, where “LH” stands for Langheck (long tail in German), remains one of the most iconic race cars in endurance motorsport history. Designed specifically to dominate the fast straights of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the long-tail version of the 956 featured enhanced aerodynamics that allowed it to achieve blistering top speeds with reduced drag.

First introduced in 1982 to comply with Group C regulations, the Porsche 956 quickly established itself as a benchmark. But it was in 1984 that the 956 LH made headlines once again—this time not with the factory team, but with the privateer outfit Joest Racing. In a remarkable upset, Joest’s Porsche 956 LH won the 24 Hours of Le Mans, breaking the official Porsche team’s winning streak.

Piloted by Klaus Ludwig alongside Henri Pescarolo, the car delivered a flawless performance, combining speed, reliability, and strategic excellence. Powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.65-liter flat-six engine producing around 620 horsepower, the 956 LH could exceed 350 km/h on the Mulsanne Straight, thanks to its elongated tail and efficient aerodynamics.

It was also the first Porsche to feature an aluminum monocoque chassis—a leap forward in structural design that paved the way for future prototypes.

The 1984 Joest Racing livery—featuring striking red, white, and blue accents—has since become legendary. It’s no surprise that Porsche is paying tribute to this historic car with a retro-inspired livery for the upcoming 1000 km of Suzuka, reviving the spirit of one of its greatest long-distance racers

Engine:

• Type: 6-cylinder flat (boxer), air-cooled
• Displacement: 2,650 cm³ (2.65 liters)
• Turbocharging: Twin KKK turbochargers
• Power: Around 620 hp (460 kW) at 8,200 rpm
• Torque: Approximately 630 Nm