Turbocharging first appeared at Le Mans in 1974.
Porsche introduced the technology with the 911 Carrera RSR Turbo 2.1, an experimental racing car entered in the 1974 24 Hours of Le Mans. Its turbocharged flat-six produced substantially more power than the naturally aspirated engines common in the field, and one of the cars finished second overall.
That debut did not immediately bring Porsche a victory. The first turbocharged car to win the race came in 1976, when Porsche’s 936 triumphed. Renault soon became Porsche’s major turbocharged rival, creating a technological contest that shaped the late-1970s endurance era. The key distinction is between the first turbo appearance in 1974 and the first turbo victory in 1976.