Group C Sports Cars, the thunder of the '80s

Duke Video and their production team, puts an in-car camera in a works Rothmans Porsche 956 with Derek Bell, giving you a terrific driver’s-eye view as he takes you ’round seven of the world’s greatest racing circuits at up to 220 mph!  These circuits include Silverstone in Silverstone, England, the Nurburgring Nordschleife in West Germany, Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, Le Mans, France, Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, England, Fuji Speedway near Mount Fuji in Fuji, Japan, and Kyalami circuit in Kyalami, South Africa.

https://motorsport.tv/duke-classic-videos/video/in-car-porsche-956/3870

Before we delve back into reviewing the races of the Group C  championship, there are some special videos coming up, that highlight a few of the teams taking part in the Group C championship circa 1984.  One, is about Rothmans Porsche… “In Car 956”, where Le Mans winner Derek Bell tours some of the greatest circuits in all of Europe aboard the aforementioned race car, and the other special, will be a two part look into the Skoal Bandit Porsche effort led by former driver, turned team owner, John Fitzpatrick.  So, do stay tuned for these special features, coming up on Group C Sports Cars… The Thunder of the ’80s.

The second race of the 1984 World Sports Car Championship.

The Silverstone 1,000 Kilometer race is the second round of the 1984 World Endurance Series.  After the controversy at Monza and engine problems for all the leading teams, the race at Silverstone was to be the most competitive race for many years.  We join commentator Brian Kreisky, for the call of the action in the battle between Porsche and Lancia, and a massive entry of cars, taking part in the race.

https://motorsport.tv/duke-classic-videos/video/1984-world-sports-car-silverstone/3867

The 1984 World Endurance Championship for drivers is to be decided in the 11th and final round of the series, at Australia’s first ever World Championship race at Sandown Park Raceway.  Brian Kreisky is your commentator for this motor race.  In December of 1984, Australia is set for their first ever World Sports Car Championship race, and yet, the wonderful animals of the Australian outback, koala bears and kangaroos, well, they’d rather pay attention to their outback wilderness habitat.

https://motorsport.tv/duke-classic-videos/video/1984-world-sports-car-sandown-park/3864

 

We return to the majestic Spa Francorchamps circuit, for the 1985 Spa 1,000 Kilometers, an event that would prove both historic, and tragic.  World Champion driver, Stefan Bellof, is killed, during this event, in a fatal accident.  So, be warned.  This race, much like the one that highlighted Manfred Winkelhock’s ultimately fatal accident at Mosport, may be hard to watch if you are of nervous disposition, get emotionally distressed by racing accidents, or, are squeamish.  It’s a historic race, but one of both triumph, and tragedy, as we join Brian Kreisky, for the race call.

https://motorsport.tv/duke-classic-videos/video/1985-world-sports-car-spafrancorchamps/3047

In consecutive order, we go from Mosport, to Brands Hatch in Kent, England which saw the very next event on the 1985 World Sports Car Championship calendar.  This is the eighth event of the 1985 drivers’ championship.  Once again, Brian Kreisky is your race commentator, as we look forward to a thriller of a battle between Porsche, Lancia, and Jaguar.

https://motorsport.tv/duke-classic-videos/video/1985-world-sports-car-brands-hatch/3039

The only North American race of the World Sports Car Championship for 1985, sees the triumphant return of Jaguar to international sports car racing, (for the first time in 25 years), and tragedy, as the great driver, Manfred Winkelhock, suffers an accident later on in this event, and would pass away from his injuries suffered in the accident, days later.  Rest In Peace, Manfred Winkelhock.  We dedicate this post, to his memory.

We join race commentator Brian Kreisky for the sixth event of World Sports Car Championship season.

https://motorsport.tv/duke-classic-videos/video/1985-world-sportscar-mosport/3038

The fifth race of the 1983 World Sports Car Championship in the inaugural year of the Group C prototype regulations, takes place at the daunting Circuit de Spa Francorchamps in the Ardennes forest of Belgium.  Once again, race commentator for Videovision Broadcast International, race commentator and program producer, Brian Kreisky has the play-by-play.

https://motorsport.tv/duke-classic-videos/video/1983-world-sports-car-spafrancorchamps/2988

October, 1985, Fuji, Japan.  This is the penultimate race of the 1985 World Sports Car Championship.  The ninth event of the season.  We join Brian Kreisky on the microphone, for the action.  Can Derek Bell and Hans Stuck clinch the World Championship?  We’ll find out.

https://motorsport.tv/duke-classic-videos/video/1985-world-sports-car-fuji/3016

This is the story of the 1985 World Sports Car Championship Hockenheim 1,000 Kilometers at the Hockenheimring in Hockenheim, Bader-Wurtemberg, West Germany, a bizarre and yet triumphant event to be sure as you will see.  For this year, and this year only, it moved to Hockenheim, from it’s traditional home at the Nurburgring.  Brian Kreisky calls the action from the commentary box.

https://motorsport.tv/duke-classic-videos/video/1985-world-sports-car-hockenheim/2990