The Le Mans GT1 racing cars have a great pedigree; the McLaren F1, the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR and the Porsche 911 GT1 caused a sensation in the 1990s as cultural and spiritual successors to the Ford GT40. One car that did not make such an impression before it was lost in the sands of time is the 962 Le Mans.
Based on the Porsche 962, the successor to the legendary Porsche 956, his place as an automotive hero was determined even before production began. With a 3-liter twin-turbo Porsche six-cylinder boxer engine, a 5-speed manual gearbox with a rear-mid engine, and a rear-wheel drive layout, some would say it’s the perfect vehicle. This was perhaps proven by his Le Mans victory in 1994 and his streak as the fastest street-legal production car before the Bugatti Veyron was released.
In 1992, when the regulations changed, the Porsche 962 racing car became less competitive in Group C. The duration 962 was the answer to that. With only minor modifications, the 962 was able to compete in the GT class at Le Mans.
Now let’s look back on this incredible ride and what made it so special.
Introduction to the 962 Le Mans duration
Joest Racing, under constant dedication, drove the car to first and third places in the 1994 Le Mans 24 Hours, proving that the then 13-year-old design still battles cars like the Bugatti EB110 and McLaren F1 could. These achievements alone are impressive, but even more impressive are the steps that the Porsche engineers have taken to make the car fit for the track under the name of Dauer.
At that time it was stated in the regulations that there had to be only one street-legal car; the old Porsche 962 Group C car was converted to street legal. This car is currently owned by a private collector in Switzerland. Since there was a street legal version of the car, the engineers were able to use it to build a GT1 class racing car. This was done by Dauer, who had previously bought five 962 rail cars to convert them into street-legal vehicles. These cars made their debut at the IAA in Frankfurt in 1993 before entering Le Mans in 1994.
Track performance and history
After the unveiling of the car, there were regulations that declared GT1 cars must have flat floors. This banned ground effects that offered an aerodynamic advantage and, in turn, removed modified 962 vehicles from entry. However, the longtime engineers have created a revised version that addresses these limitations.
On the track, the duration 962 did not lead in practice, it was heavier and behind the technological curve in the class, but with a larger tank the car had to refuel two or three laps less often. The car held out in the endurance race and came from behind as an outsider. However, the race did not go quite according to plan. After a flat tire, the team lost the lead to Toyota, which fell behind in the last few hours due to welding defects. This allowed the duration 962 LM to see the checkered flag.
The Duration 962 has a great story, an underdog story, and a win to back up its credentials, but it’s getting lost in the history of other Le Mans racers. Even so, there are a multitude of reasons to love it and pay attention to this ride. First, the car is a marvel of engineering that demonstrates Porshce’s persistence in continuing to rank high in motorsport. It’s impressive enough to bend the rules to bring an inappropriate car into the event, but when it’s in the GT1 class it gets even more impressive.
Second, it does not mean that it should be forgotten because it has the now corrupted name of Duration. Jochen Dauer experienced a scandal, but the company was not involved. The Le Mans racing car was driven by Porsche’s factory racing team, Joest Racing; effectively the car is a Porsche entry-level.
Final thoughts on the 962 Le Mans duration
The GT1 class of the 90s created the first holy trinity of hypercars, namely the McLaren F1, the Porsche 911 GT1 and the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR, each of which are racing variants of legendary street cars. It was almost impossible to stand out among such a crowd, especially when tied to a brand like Dur, which didn’t carry as much weight.
Of the thirteen cars made, the Sultan of Brunei is believed to own six. As the owner of one of the largest and most notorious collections of automobiles in the world, the Sultan has an eye for quality, and that he owns six shows the quality of the Permanent 962 LM. It’s safe to say that its 962s duration will be parked alongside its contemporaries such as those found in the EB110, Jaguar XJ220, and McLaren F1.
In 1995 the FIA introduced new rules to ban the 962 and its variants from further competition, a tragic but understandable decision due to the dominance of the chassis throughout its racing career. The painful result of this is that the true potential of the 962 has never been demonstrated; with modifications, the model could have remained competitive for a few more seasons and even prevented the reign of the McLaren F1 GTR.
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About the author
Douglas Hamilton
(5 articles published)
Douglas Hamilton is a British driven man with a degree in literature. He grew up surrounded by F1, Need For Speed and classic cars. He has a worrying obsession with Jaguar.
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The post That’s what we love about the 962 Le Mans first appeared on monter-une-startup.
