Porsche: Kris Richard tests the 935 🎥

FOLLOWER OF THE "MOBY DICK" AutoSprintCH sent GT3 driver Kris Richard on a test drive with three different Porsche sports cars. The last one he takes under the microscope is the new edition of the legendary 935. Thun GT3 racer Kirs Richard drives and explains the Porsche 935-19 in the video. The Porsche 935-78 Group 5 race car, also known as "Moby Dick," has been available since [...]

Editorial - October 25, 2019

Thun GT3 racer Kirs Richard drives and explains the Porsche 935-19 in the video.

The Porsche 935-78 Group 5 race car, also known as "Moby Dick," has been available in new splendor since this year. Porsche has given itself a present for its birthday and launched a production version of the 935 based on the GT2 RS.

77 for 701,948
The first deliveries of the limited series of 77 units took place in the summer. Three have already been seen in a sprint race for GT2 sports cars at the 24 Hours of Spa.

701,948-that's the minimum amount of Euros you have to transfer to become the owner of a Porsche 935. All 77 examples were sold out immediately. Porsche used a scoring system for this, which assessed potential buyers according to various criteria and which ultimately helped in the allocation of the 700-horsepower monster.

Development opportunities
This car has style - indeed, it looks almost magical. Since the designers and developers did not have to adhere to any homologation, they could give free rein to their creative abilities.

When you look into the cockpit, you immediately notice the analog timer and the display for the turbocharger pressure. Just like in the old days. A special feature of the 935 and GT2 RS Clubsport is the water injection on the intercooler. This lowers the intake air temperature and increases power. After a one-hour sprint, 20 liters have to be topped up.

After a short briefing by test and development driver Marco Holzer, I start my hussar ride on the Porsche 935-19 at the Lausitzring.

And off we go
At the end of the pit lane, I switch off the speed limiter, which is limited to 60 km/h, and then the 700 horses of the 3.8-liter Boxer biturbo engine unleash their full power. The 4.87-meter-long, 2.03-meter-wide, 1400-kilogram bullet is a blast. The turbochargers whistle around my ears, and the sound in the cockpit immediately gives you the feeling of immense power development.

Noticeable difference to the GT2 Clubsport
In terms of handling, the 935 should be the same as the 911 GT2 RS Clubsport ( to the report GT2 RS Clubsport). However, I feel subtle differences. Besides the fact that I'm two seconds slower with the 935 than with the GT2, the car feels slightly sluggish on the throttle.

Although the engines are identical, I have the feeling that the famous "turbo lag" is greater in the 935 than in the GT2. Porsche may have made an electronic change here to give the driver the feeling of 1978. However, this does not detract from the driving fun at all.

Good on the brakes
The new "Moby Dick" is not only a beast when it comes to acceleration; the homage model also cuts a fine figure when it comes to deceleration. As soon as the ABS or traction control are working, yellow or blue lights flash in the dashboard. A useful tool, I can train my braking foot and try to get only as far as just before the ABS control, thereby increasing braking performance and at the same time conserving the tires.

The modern descendant of a legendary Group 5 race car is hardly slower over a lap on a normal circuit today than it was in 1978.

A look at the history
The launch of the Porsche 935 based on the 911 Turbo 3.0 in accordance with Group 5 regulations took place in 1976, and numerous successes in the one-make World Championship, Le Mans and the German Racing Championship were to its credit.

The "Moby Dick" was a special edition for the 1978 season. Due to minor problems and too frequent fuel stops, it was only used in four races. Its performance figures were fearsome for those times: 845 hp, top speed 366 km/h on the Hunaudières straight at Le Mans. After winning the trial run at Silverstone with Mass/Ickx, only eighth place was achieved at the 24-hour race with Manfred Schurti and Rolf Stommelen at the wheel. No other 911 devirate ever achieved such engine performance again.

There comes joy
But it didn't turn out that badly for the 2019 model. The buyer doesn't just want to screw and refuel, but drive as much as possible and have fun.

On request, the Porsche 935 is available in special retro paint finishes, such as the legendary Martini Racing design or the former tobacco partner John Player Special.

So anyone who was able to get hold of a copy and doesn't yet have it in the garage can rejoice.