The Unstoppable Return: Lanzante’s Road-Legal Porsche 935 Dominates Goodwood
Every year, the Goodwood Festival of Speed becomes a pilgrimage for motoring enthusiasts, celebrating the rarest, fastest, and most groundbreaking vehicles in the world. In 2024, all eyes were on Lanzante, a UK-based company renowned for transforming purebred race cars into road-legal marvels. Their latest triumph? A road-legal version of the Porsche 935, a legendary racer revived and adapted for street use.
Reviving a Legend
Back in 2018, Porsche astonished the automotive world by resurrecting one of its most iconic race cars—the 935—based on the formidable 911 GT2 RS. The car captured the collective heart of gearheads with its nostalgic design and performance dynamics reminiscent of the original. Fast forward to 2022, Lanzante took this breathtaking machine and commenced a rigorous 18-month transformation to make it street-legal. Their awe-inspiring work was unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, leaving crowds spellbound.
Road-Legal Reimagining
Known for their exceptional skill in converting track-only vehicles like the Pagani Zonda Revolucion and the McLaren P1 into street-legal forms, Lanzante ensured their Porsche 935 project was nothing short of perfection. The conversion process was extensive, involving the design and installation of a completely new suspension system, custom wheels, a re-engineered braking system, and even a hand brake. To meet road safety regulations, Lanzante had to fabricate headlights from scratch for the Porsche 935, a backbreaking feat when considering the original model lacked these altogether due to its race-only design.
Unyielding Power
The heart of this road-legal miracle is a monster 3.8-liter twin-turbo flat-six engine, the exact powerplant residing in the GT2 RS. This beastly engine delivers a formidable 700 horsepower, ensuring that Lanzante’s road-legal 935 stays true to its racing pedigree. Given that only 77 units of the Porsche 935 were ever produced, Lanzante’s achievement isn't just technically impressive; it's a celebration of rare automotive artistry. The attention to intricate details, particularly the handmade headlights, underscores the intent to keep the car’s essence intact while making it daily-drivable.
Racing Heritage Reborn
Adding to the undeniable allure, both road-legal 935 models displayed at Goodwood were adorned in iconic motorsport liveries. One showcased a red and white design reminiscent of the Marlboro chevron (sans the actual cigarette branding), while the other sported a modern homage to the timeless Martini livery. These liveries not only brought an emotional connection to the original race cars but also engaged fans and collectors by revisiting one of the most picturesque eras in motorsport.
A Spectacular Showcase
Lanzante’s presence at Goodwood wasn’t limited to the sensational 935s. Their stand was a playground for car aficionados, featuring an assortment of legendary McLaren vehicles. Highlights included the P1 HDK, a redefined Speedtail, an F1 GTR-97, a P1 GTR-18, and a Senna GTR. They also flaunted a TAG Turbo, powered by a 1980s Formula 1 engine. The spectacle was rounded off with the debut of the TAG Championship, a new iteration limited to only 11 units.
Goodwood’s Hidden Gem
The excitement didn’t stop there. Lanzante unveiled a collaboration with ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett, presenting the ‘MadMac’ drift car. This partnership celebrated a decade since Mad Mike introduced drifting to Goodwood. It was a fitting tribute to the ever-evolving motorsport culture and added another layer of excitement to Lanzante’s already stellar lineup. Overall, Lanzante ensured the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024 left an indelible mark on every attendee, perfectly blending heritage, innovation, and unmatched performance.