
Although Porsche were developing 959’s for the Paris-Dakar Rally, the Stuttgart manufacturer harboured a desire for their flagship model to race at Le Mans – an event upon which so much of the firms status was based. For 1986, a crack factory built car known as the 961 was prepared on chassis 10016. It was debuted at the annual Le Mans practice day where Rene Metge easily pre-qualified. An all-French driver line-up would be back for the race in June, the 961 running in its own invitational class (IMSA GTX). It was powered by a twin turbocharged engine to more or less Group C spec, displacement having been 2847cc.

Read about Porsche 961 development
How was Le Man for 961?
Despite a high-speed tyre blowout, Rene Metge and Claude Ballot-Lena finished the 1986 Le Mans 24 Hours in a fine seventh overall. It was a particularly dominant year for the German company, nine of the top ten finishers having been Porsche’s, a feat as yet unmatched. Later on in the year, Porsche entered the 961 in the Daytona 3 Hours. It was the IMSA finale and a useful proving ground to check the 961’s suitability for the annual 24 Hour race held there each February. However, with Daytona’s steep banking loading the tyres beyond their rating, the car suffered two spectacular tyre failures. 10016 was run at a conservative pace thereafter to finish 24th overall. It would not be returning to Florida. 1987 did see the 961 back at Le Mans though, this time in full Rothmans livery as opposed to the sponsorless white bodywork used during 1986. Long-standing Porsche favourite Rene Metge was joined by Claude Haldi and Kees Nierop, the latter unfortunately spinning out whilst 11th after gear selection problems. The career of the solitary 961 was over, Porsche discontinuing the sporadic competition programme but not before it was able to show some very real promise.
Some more specs of Porsche 961:
- The awd system was modified to distribute power more to the rear wheels rather than the balanced distribution of the 959 (20 / 80).
- Twin turbo, peak power 680bhp at 7800rpm .
- 1.4 bar boost pressure
- MAX is around 329 km/h on Mulsane Straight (no Chicane in 1986-87)
- Wheelbase 2310 mm
- No ABS, no Steering assists
- Size of car L x W x H 4380 x 1890 x 1260 mm
- drag coefficient is approximately 0.46
Porsche 961 LM gallery:
Download Porsche 961 LM for Assetto Corsa
version 1.3 (20.02.2021)
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added rain screen
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wiper animation
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car height fix
To download (free post) visit Patreon or direct link to the postÂ
Old versions Change log:
ver 1.2:
⣠Car model converted from pCars. All specs according real data. Max speed, lap time matches real lap time of Porsche 961 in Le Mans 1986. ⣠Working AI. No rainscreen. Sound from 959 Sport is fine.
â„ updated suspension geometry. â„Â added version with BBS and turbo rims
â„ + updated Rothmans skin, Daytona skin and Presentation skin by Paranoid Doge
â„ Updated setup for anti roll bars. Now car has less understeer. â„ Changed stock brake balance. Not car feels more predictable with ABS turned OFF. â„ Added adjustable turbo (up to requests of mates). In stock its 0%. So dont forget to setup boost before going to track. /// to install updates, remove “data” file from both 2 car folder, replace with donwloaded one.
Donate via PayPal for futher development if you are interested in this model. Thank you.


the car need more steering angle. and some texture get lost on the front lights .. cheersgreat work so far
why the car has that steer lock at 270 ° ?