Purchase includes free access to book updates online and a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Chapters: 1981 Indycar Season, 1981 Indianapolis 500, 1981 World Rally Championship Season, 1981 24 Hours of le Mans, 1981 Australian Sports Sedan Championship, 1981 James Hardie 1000, 1981 Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing Season, 1981 Australian Touring Car Championship, 1981 Winchester 400, 1981 World Sportscar Championship Season, 1981 European Formula Two Season, 1981 Imsa Gt Championship Season, 1981-82 Usac Championship Car Season, 1981 Australian Grand Prix, 1981 British Saloon Car Championship Season, 1981 Paris-dakar Rally, List of 1981 Motorsport Champions, 1981 Monaco Grand Prix Formula Three, 1981 Indonesian Grand Prix. Excerpt: The 1981 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 49th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 13 and 14 1981. It was also the eighth round of the World Championship for Makes. Pre-race Porsche had a new program for the future Group C regulations in 1982, and had persuaded Jacky Ickx out of retirement. The main reason for entering Le Mans was to test a new engine for the upcoming new car. This 2.6L engine which was derived from an Indianapolis 500 engine which never raced. The new engines were fitted in a pair of 936 chassis. Ickx shared one of the updated 936s with Derek Bell; Jochen Mass, Vern Schuppan and Hurley Haywood drove the other. Shortly after going into semi-retirement, NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough made his only start. This made Yarborough one of the few drivers in history to participate in the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Race The race was run in very hot weather, but the engine test was successful: after the first hour, Ickx and Bell had built a large advance and remained at lead for the rest of the race. They won by an even greater margin than in 1976.The race was marred by the death of Jean-Louis
| | 1981 in Motorsport: 1981 Indycar Season |  | 20.23 |  |