1981 24 Hours of Daytona
| 
 Index: Races | Winners | |||
The 19th Annual 24 Hour Pepsi Challenge Daytona was a 24-hour sports car and GT race held on January 31 – February 1, 1981[1] at the Daytona International Speedway road course. The race served as the opening round of the 1981 World Sportscar Championship and the 1981 IMSA GTX, GTO and GTU Championships. It was the last 24 Hours of Daytona to be part of the World Sportscar Championship. When the World Endurance Championship started in 2012 it would race in the United States at Sebring International Raceway and the Circuit of the Americas.
Victory overall and in the GTX class went to the No. 9 Garretson Racing Porsche 935 K3 driven by Bob Garretson, Bobby Rahal, and Brian Redman by the large margin of 13 laps over the similar No. 5 Porsche 935 K3 of the Bob Akin Motor Racing team driven by Bob Akin, Craig Siebert and Derek Bell[2][3] Victory in the GTU Class and third outright was the No. 62 Kegel Enterprises Porsche 911 SC driven by Bill Koll, Jeff Kline and Rob McFarlin by 18 laps over the No. 23 Datsun 280ZX of Dick Davenport, Frank Carney and Rameau Johnson. Victory in the GTO class and sixth outright went to the No. 14 Bavarian Motors International BMW M1 driven by Walter Brun, Hans-Joachim Stuck and Alf Gebhardt by 23 laps over the No. 58 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR driven by Pete Smith, Chuck Kendall and Steve Earle.
Race results
Class winners denoted in bold and with ‡.
| Pos | Class | No. | Team / Entrant | Drivers | Car | Laps | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | ||||||||
| 1 | GTX | 9 |  Garretson Racing |  Bob Garretson  Bobby Rahal  Brian Redman | Porsche 935 K3/80 | 708 ‡ | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Twin-turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 2 | GTX | 5 |  Bob Akin Motor Racing |  Bob Akin  Craig Siebert  Derek Bell | Porsche 935 K3 | 695 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Twin-turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 3 | GTU | 62 |  Kegel Enterprises |  Bill Koll  Jeff Kline  Rob McFarlin | Porsche 911 SC | 644 ‡ | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 4 | GTU | 23 |  The New Raytown Datsun |  Dick Davenport  Frank Carney  Rameau Johnson | Datsun 280ZX | 626 | ||
| Nissan L28E 2.8 L I6 | ||||||||
| 5 | GTX | 24 |  Jolly Club Italia |  Emanuele Pirro  Martino Finotto  Carlo Facetti | Lancia Montecarlo Turbo | 609 | ||
| Lancia Lampredi 1.4 L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
| 6 | GTO | 98 |  Bavarian Motors International | .svg.png) Walter Brun  Hans-Joachim Stuck  Alf Gebhardt | BMW M1 | 608 ‡ | ||
| BMW M88 3.5 L I6 | ||||||||
| 7 | GTU | 98 |  Kent Racing |  Lee Mueller  Kathy Rude .svg.png) Philippe Martin | Mazda RX-7 | 606 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 8 | GTX | 84 |  Scorpio Racing |  Enrique Molins  Eduardo Barrientos  Carlos Gonzalez | Porsche 935 M16 | 595 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Twin-turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 9 | GTU | 55 |  Mandeville Racing Enterprises |  Roger Mandeville  Amos Johnson  Diego Febles | Mazda RX-7 | 595 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 10 | GTU | 7 |  Kent Racing |  Walt Bohren  Jim Mullen  J. Kurt Roehrig | Mazda RX-7 | 589 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 11 | GTU | 50 |  Downing/Maffucci Racing |  Scott Hoerr  Irv Hoerr  Jim Downing | Mazda RX-7 | 585 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 12 | GTO | 58 |  Chuck Kendall |  Pete Smith  Chuck Kendall  Steve Earle | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 585 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 13 | GTU | 45 |  Autosport Technology |  M. L. Speer  Dwight Mitchell  Ray Ratcliff | Porsche 914-6 GT | 581 | ||
| Porsche 2.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 14 | GTX | 07 | .svg.png) Heimrath Racing | .svg.png) Ludwig Heimrath .svg.png) Ludwig Heimrath Jr. | Porsche 935 | 575 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Twin-turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 15 | GTO | 34 |  Drolsom Racing |  George Drolsom  Rob Hoskins  Bill Johnson | Porsche 911 Carrera | 563 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 16 | GTX | 2 |  BMW Motorsport |  Dieter Quester  David Hobbs .svg.png) Marc Surer | BMW M1 | 555 | ||
| BMW M88 3.5 L I6 | ||||||||
| 17 | GTO | 27 |  Southard Motor Racing |  Steve Southard  Jay Kjoller  Jean Kjoller | Porsche 911 Carrera | 548 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 18 | GTX | 3 |  Martini Lancia Racing |  Riccardo Patrese  Hans Heyer  Henri Pescarolo | Lancia Montecarlo Turbo | 545 | ||
| Lancia Lampedri 1.4 L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
| 19 | GTO | 42 |  Mac's Bar Spec./Kend Co. |  Nort Northam  Ed Kuhel  Dick Neland | Chevrolet Camaro | 532 | ||
| Chevrolet V8 | ||||||||
| 20 DNF | GTO | 04 |  T&R Racing |  Tico Almeida  Rene Rodriguez  Miguel Morejon | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 526 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 21 | GTX | 02 |  Firestone Tire & Rubber |  John Morton  Tom Klausler | Ford Mustang | 517 | ||
| Cosworth BDA 1.6 L I4 | ||||||||
| 22 | GTO | 36 |  Herman & Miller |  Paul Miller  Pat Bedard  Skeeter McKitterick | Porsche 924 Carrera GTR | 515 | ||
| Audi EA831 2.0 L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
| 23 DNF | GTU | 82 |  Trinity Racing |  Bob Bergstrom  John Casey  Jim Cook | Mazda RX-7 | 513 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 24 DNF | GTX | 51 |  Andial Racing/Meister Homes |  Rolf Stommelen  Harald Grohs  Howard Meister | Porsche 935 M16 | 500 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Twin-turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 25 | GTU | 16 |  Corp Racing Ltd. |  Jim Burt  Doug Grunnet .svg.png) Steve Paquette | Mazda RX-7 | 471 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 26 | GTU | 52 |  Beach Ball Racing |  Tom Cripe  Dick Gauthier  Jack Swanson | Porsche 911 | 450 | ||
| Porsche Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 27 | GTO | 43 |  Bob Gregg Racing |  Bob Young  Len Jones  Bob Gregg | Porsche 911 Carrera | 446 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 28 | GTU | 81 |  Trinity Racing |  Tom Winters  Steve Dietrich  Carter Alsop | Mazda RX-7 | 429 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 29 | GTU | 70 |  Chris Doyle |  Chris Doyle  Hubert G. Phipps  Robert Overby | Mazda RX-7 | 429 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 30 | GTO | 46 |  Pedro de Narváez |  Honorato Espinosa  Pedro de Narváez  Jorge Cortes | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 385 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 31 DNF | GTX | 65 |  Prancing Horse Farms Racing |  Tony Adamowicz  Rick Knoop | Ferrari 512 BB LM | 373 | ||
| Ferrari Tipo F102B 4.9 L Flat-12 | ||||||||
| 32 DNF | GTO | 01 |  Kirby-Hitchcock Racing |  Siegfried Brunn  Robert Kirby  John Hotchkis | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 361 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 33 DNF | GTO | 25 |  Red Lobster Racing |  Kenper Miller  Dave Cowart  Ricardo Londoño | BMW M1 | 346 | ||
| BMW M88 3.5 L I6 | ||||||||
| 34 DNF | GTX | 30 |  Momo/Penthouse |  Gianpiero Moretti  Charles Mendez  Mauricio de Narváez | Porsche 935 J | 339 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Twin-turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 35 DNF | GTU | 57 |  Personalized Autohaus |  Jeff Scott  David Goodell  Volker Bruckmann | Porsche 914-6 GT | 339 | ||
| Porsche 2.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 36 DNF | GTO | 71 |  Philip Keirn |  Philip Keirn  Gail Engle  Bard Boand | Chevrolet Corvette C3 | 328 | ||
| Chevrolet V8 | ||||||||
| 37 DNF | GTO | 67 |  Levi's Team Highball |  Dennis Shaw  Steve Whitman  Les Blackburn | AMC Spirit AMX | 303 | ||
| AMC 5.0 L V8 | ||||||||
| 38 DNF | GTO | 03 | .svg.png) Angelo Pallavicini | .svg.png) Angelo Pallavicini  John Sheldon .svg.png) Neil Crang | Porsche 934 | 290 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 39 DNF | GTX | 0 |  Interscope Racing |  Ted Field  Milt Minter  Danny Ongais | Porsche 935 K3/80 | 287 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 40 DNF | GTO | 11 |  Holbert Racing |  Al Holbert  Rick Mears  Doc Bundy | Porsche 924 Carrera GTR | 263 | ||
| Audi EA831 2.0 L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
| 41 DNF | GTX | 4 |  Martini Lancia Racing |  Michele Alboreto  Piercarlo Ghinzani  Beppe Gabbiani | Lancia Montecarlo Turbo | 235 | ||
| Lancia Lampedri 1.4 L Turbo I4 | ||||||||
| 42 DNF | GTX | 23 |  Bayside Disposal Racing |  Hurley Haywood  Jürgen Barth  Bruce Leven | Porsche 935/80 | 232 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 43 DNF | GTO | 78 |  Howey Farms |  Clark Howey  Tracy Wolf  Dale Koch | Chevrolet Camaro | 208 | ||
| Chevrolet V8 | ||||||||
| 44 DNF | GTO | 19 |  Van Every Racing |  Lance van Every  Ash Tisdelle  Rusty Bond | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 194 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 45 DNF | GTX | 20 |  Chris Cord Racing |  Chris Cord  Jim Adams | Chevrolet Monza | 191 | ||
| Chevrolet 6.0 L V8 | ||||||||
| 46 DNF | GTX | 80 | .svg.png) Maurice Carter Racing | .svg.png) Maurice Carter .svg.png) Eppie Wietzes  R. J. Valentine | Chevrolet Camaro | 188 | ||
| Chevrolet V8 | ||||||||
| 47 DNF | GTU | 38 |  Case Racing |  Ron Case  Dave Panaccione  Ren Tilton | Porsche 911 | 169 | ||
| Porsche Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 48 DNF | GTX | 1 |  Kremer Racing |  John Fitzpatrick  Jim Busby  Bob Wollek | Porsche 935 K3/80 | 167 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 49 DNF | GTU | 22 |  Personalized Autohaus |  Wayne Baker  Dan Gilliland  Frank Harmstad | Porsche 914/4 | 143 | ||
| Volkswagen 411E 1.6 L Flat-4 | ||||||||
| 50 DNF | GTU | 33 |  Zotz Garage |  Harro Zitza  Doug Zitza  Ara Dube | Porsche 914-6 GT | 128 | ||
| Porsche 2.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 51 DNF | GTO | 17 |  Bavarian Motors International |  Bruno Beilcke  Kurt König  Rudi Walch | BMW 3.5 CSL | 126 | ||
| BMW M30B35 3.5 L I6 | ||||||||
| 52 DNF | GTX | 37 |  Pepe Romero |  Pepe Romero  Mandy Gonzalez  Luis Méndez | Porsche 935 M16 | 121 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 53 DNF | GTO | 40 | .svg.png) David Deacon Racing | .svg.png) Rudy Bartling .svg.png) Mike Freberg .svg.png) David Deacon | BMW M1 | 118 | ||
| BMW M88 3.5 L I6 | ||||||||
| 54 DNF | GTO | 54 |  Montura Racing |  Tony Garcia  Albert Naon  Luis Sereix | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 112 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 55 DNF | GTO | 99 |  Gassaway/Oftedahl |  Dave Heinz  Chris Gleason  Joe Cogbill  Mike Gassaway | Chevrolet Camaro | 108 | ||
| Chevrolet V8 | ||||||||
| 56 DNF | GTO | 60 |  Bob's Speed Products |  Vicki Smith  Sam Miller  Bob Lee | AMC Spirit AMX | 87 | ||
| AMC 5.0 L V8 | ||||||||
| 57 DNF | GTX | 94 |  Whittington Brothers Racing |  Don Whittington  Bill Whittington  Dale Whittington | Porsche 935 K3 | 84 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 58 DNF | GTO | 75 |  Z&W Enterprises | .svg.png) Eddy Joosen .svg.png) Dirk Vermeersch .svg.png) Jean-Paul Libert | Mazda RX-7 | 83 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 59 DNF | GTX | 6 |  Joest Racing |  Volkert Merl  Jochen Mass  Reinhold Jöst | Porsche 935 J | 59 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 60 DNF | GTX | 18 |  JLP Racing |  John Paul  John Paul Jr.  Gordon Smiley | Porsche 935 JLP | 53 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 61 DNF | GTX | 44 |  Stratagraph |  Terry Labonte  David Pearson  Billy Hagan | Chevrolet Camaro | 50 | ||
| Chevrolet V8 | ||||||||
| 62 DNF | GTO | 87 |  Bob Beasley |  George Stone  Bob Beasley  Werner Frank | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 48 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 63 DNF | GTO | 15 |  D. L. Performance Engineering |  Doug Lutz  Robin Boone  Dave White | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 47 | ||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 64 DNF | GTX | 09 |  Thunderbird Swap Shops |  Preston Henn  Bob Bondurant  Dale Whittington | Porsche 935 K3 | 30 | ||
| Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| 65 DNF | GTO | 28 |  NTS Racing |  Sam Posey  Fred Stiff | Datsun 280ZX Turbo | 29 | ||
| Nissan L28ET 2.8 L Turbo I6 | ||||||||
| 66 DNF | GTU | 66 |  Richard J. Dunham |  Jack Dunham  John Maffucci  Stanton Barrett | Mazda RX-7 | 20 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 67 DNF | GTU | 49 |  Alfred Cosentino |  Bob Speakman  Al Cosentino | Mazda RX-7 | 12 | ||
| Mazda 1.3 L Rotary | ||||||||
| 68 DNF | GTO | 06 |  Crevier Imports |  Pete Halsmer  Joe Crevier  Al Unser Jr. | Ferrari 365 GTB/4 | 9 | ||
| Ferrari Tipo 251 4.4 L V12 | ||||||||
| 69 DNF | GTX | 10 |  Jolly Club |  Carlo Facetti  Martino Finotto | Ferrari 308 GTB Turbo | 4 | ||
| Ferrari F106AB 2.9 L Turbo V8 | ||||||||
| DNS | GTX | 00 |  Interscope Racing |  Ted Field  Milt Minter  Danny Ongais | Porsche 935 K3/80 | |||
| Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||||
| DNS | GTO | 88 |  Herb Adams VSE |  Herb Adams  Jerry Thompson  Don Sherman | Chevrolet Camaro | |||
| Chevrolet V8 | ||||||||
| DNS | GTO | 05 |  T&R Racing |  Tico Almeida  Rene Rodriguez  Fred Flaquer | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | |||
| Porsche 3.0 L Flat-6 | ||||||||
| DNS | GTO | 69 |  Southwind Enterprises |  Tico Almeida  Rene Rodriguez  Fred Flaquer | Plymouth Volaré | |||
| Chrysler V8 | ||||||||
| DNS | GTU | 89 |  Klaus Bitterauf |  Klaus Bitterauf  James Moxley  Jim Leo | Porsche 911 S | |||
| Porsche Flat-6 | ||||||||
| DNQ | GTX | 13 |  Kemp Motoracing |  Charlie Kemp  Art Pasmas  Carson Baird | Ford Mustang II Cobra II | |||
| Ford Cleveland 5.8 L V8 | ||||||||
| DNQ | GTX | 73 |  Z&W Enterprises | .svg.png) Jean-Paul Libert .svg.png) Hervé Regout .svg.png) Jean Xhenceval | Mazda RX-7 | |||
| Mazda Rotary | ||||||||
| DNQ | GTX | 74 |  Z&W Enterprises |  Pierre Honegger .svg.png) Pierre Dieudonné  Ernesto Soto | Mazda RX-7 | |||
| Mazda Rotary | ||||||||
| DNQ | GTO | 97 |  The Cummings Marque |  Don Cummings  Bill McDill  Guido Levetto | Shelby GT350 | |||
| Ford V8 | ||||||||
| Source:[2] | ||||||||
References
- ^ "Daytona 24 Hours 1981". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ a b "Daytona 24 Hours 1981". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ "1981 Daytona 24 Hours | Motorsport Database". Motorsport Database – Motor Sport Magazine.