First Porsche LMP1 Rages Up Goodwood Hill Climb

The LMP1-98 is one of a kind these days and it made some glorious noise up the famed vintage-racing hill climb.

Few events draw out quite so many priceless Porsches as the Goodwood Festival of Speed. With its throwback lifestyle appeal and array of rare vintage cars, it deserves its top billing among classic events. This year saw the running of the only Porsche of its kind left in the world, the LMP1-98.

Our favorite Italian YouTuber 19Bozzy92 headed to southern England in the summer to get his trademark audiophile recordings of several cars. This WSC-98 started its life, curiously enough, as a Tom Walkinshaw Racing (the “TWR” in the name) Jaguar.

After racing for a season an XJR-14, two of the TWR cars went into mothballs. Joest Racing modified them in 1995 with Porsche backing, converting them to open-cockpit prototypes. With Jaguar claiming their V12 engines back after ending the Group C program, Joest instead dropped in the twin-turbo flat-six engines from a Porsche 935.

This car was the second one, chassis #002. The first, #001, went on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1996 and 1997. That remains a remarkable achievement in a chassis designed more than five years prior. It also stands testament to the 935 engine’s capability.

When it came time to update for LMP1 regulations in 1998, both cars received updated engines and other bits relevant to the regulations. This was an interesting year for Le Mans regulations with the GT1 class superseding the new-for-’98 LMP1 class in pace. However, Joest entered both their LMP1-98s and the (eventual race-winning) 911 GT1 for Porsche.

The LMP1-98s both suffered DNFs at Le Mans, although chassis #001 would go on to finish second place in the first-ever Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta (above).

After their retirement, chassis #001 was restored to WSC-95 spec while the one that Bozzy spotted at Goodwood remains as-raced at Le Mans in 1998. And it sounds fantastic.