1981 24 Hours of Daytona

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

[1] "Daytona 24 Hours 1981". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved December 7, 2022.

[auto-2] "Daytona 24 Hours 1981". Racing Sports Cars. Retrieved December 7, 2022.

[3] "1981 Daytona 24 Hours | Motorsport Database". Motorsport Database – Motor Sport Magazine.

[1]

[2]

[3]

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