Porsche has lovingly restored this 1980s 924 Le Mans racer

Here’s a proper good news story to cheer your Friday. What you’re looking at is a 1980 Porsche 924 Carrera GTP, fresh from a thorough restoration to working order 35 years after it last raced in competition. The story of how the GTP arrived in such stunning condition is a rather happy one. But first, here’s what you need to know about this utterly mean-looking 924.

Three 924 Carrera GTPs were entered by Porsche into the 1980 24 Hours of Le Mans. This #2 car, the British arm of the entry – appropriately liveried in red, white and blue – was driven by Tony Dron and Andy Rouse to 12th place in the race. Its sister car (numbers 3 and 4) wore liveries inspired by the American and German flags respectively. They finished 13th and 6th in the 1980 event.

2016 marks the fortieth anniversary of Porsche’s transaxle cars, and this GTP is one of the most serious examples. Based on the 210bhp 924 Carrera GT road car, the legendary Norbert Singer led a team to race-prep it, with mods including an aluminium roll cage, plastic panels, titanium springs and driveshafts, and a totally locked differential. This necessitated a lot of grip. So, the GTP was blessed with a sublime set of box-section arch flares. Underneath, 11-inch slicks went on the front, 12-inchers on the rear, with gorgeous aero covers adorning each wheel.

Up front, the 2.0-litre engine’s breathing was improved by relocating the turbocharger. New fuel injection and dry-sump lubrication was installed. Result? A leap in power to 320bhp at a screaming 7000rpm, plus a 40 per cent torque surge. Small wonder brakes had to be taken from the 917 prototype. Meanwhile, the team’s body mods unlocked a 150kg weight cut, bringing the total down to just 930kg.

Now, back to this particular #2 car. To resurrect it, four UK Porsche Classic centres got stuck into an aspect of the car, which had been stored at Porsche’s Stuttgart museum since its racing heyday. While Porsche Glasgow set to work on the suspension, wheels and brakes, Porsche’s Hatfield arm refreshed the gearbox. Porsche Leeds looked after the new electrics and plumbing, while Porsche Swindon sourced a working period-correct GTP race engine.

Once fighting fit, the car was sent to a Porsche-approved body shop in Manchester to have its panels, paintwork, decals and trim brought back to life. The result, you’ll agree, looks splendid.

After being displayed at this weekend’s Silverstone Classic race meeting, Porsche’s going to tour the reborn 924 Carrera GTP around its UK centres, as a demonstration of what its personnel can do to revive a neglected machine. Food for thought if you’ve got a classic Porker tucked away in need of some TLC…