DOUG NYE

T’S HARD TO BELIEVE IT’S 30 YEARS SINCE world-class endurance racing virtually died on its feet. Only eight FIA World Sportscar Championship rounds were run in 1991, and in general this entirely noble form of racing was being strangled by the near-total pre-eminence of Formula 1. Back at the end of 1988, new 3.5-litre naturally-aspirated engine rules had been announced for the category, despite doubts amongst manufacturers of how attractive such a prospect might be. The governing FISA body extended the life of the preceding turbocharged cars