For 1979, Martini and Porsche were no longer present to battle for the outright victory with the type 936 prototype. Instead, private teams would have to carry the flag by competing with the former factory 936s and customer 934s and 935s. And carry it they did!
Lubrifilm Racing hired Herbert Müller to share the driving duties with Lubrifilm regulars, Angelo Pallavicini and Marco Vanoli. The Swiss trio drove a fantastic race, keeping the pressure on without relent. They held the lead in Group 4 from flag to flag, finishing the grueling event more than 30 laps ahead of their nearest Group 4 competitor, another Porsche 934. The #82 car finished in 4th place overall, having covered 2,468.58 miles at an average speed of 102.85mph.
The real story is that the Lubrifilm Racing entry finished a mere lap behind the third place Hawaiian Tropic Porsche 935/77, and just two laps behind the second place 935/77 of Porsche Kremer Racing, both cars that many would have considered to be much faster! The outright winner was a very advanced Porsche Kremer Racing prepared 935 K3. The privately entered 936s, incidentally, failed to finish.