Porsche 962 Group C that raced at Le Mans could be yours

Many racing fans and specialists alike regard the Porsche 962 as probably the most triumphant race vehicles within the historical past of motorsports. Launched in 1984 because the successor to the equally exceptional 956, the 962 maintained its aggressive edge effectively into the Nineties, asserting dominance in each Europe’s Group C and North America’s unique IMSA GTP class.

Now you’ll be able to personal that greatness as one of many vehicles, the ultimate 962 chassis constructed, and a automobile initially raced by Swiss workforce Brun Motorsport, together with on the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans, is headed for public sale.

The automobile, which bears chassis quantity 962-177 and was delivered to Brun Motorsport in 1991, will likely be positioned underneath the hammer at an RM Sotheby’s sale in Paris, France, scheduled for Jan. 31.

Brun Motorsport, which noticed earlier successes with earlier 962s, entered chassis no. 962-177 within the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans with workforce founder Walter Brun driving alongside workforce veterans Jésus Pareja and Oscar Larrauri. Regardless of qualifying sixth, laws over engine time meant the workforce needed to begin 14th. They ended up ending tenth total.

As an alternative of the Repsol livery the automobile wore at Le Mans, it presently wears the FAT Worldwide livery it wore throughout a race on the Nürburgring simply a few months after its Le Mans outing. Its ultimate race occurred in Mexico within the tail finish of 1991. Pareja along with Massimo Sigala drove the automobile to an eighth-place end. Three years later, it was absolutely restored by main Porsche buyer workforce Joest Racing.

The pre-auction estimate is between 1.2 million euros and 1.5 million euros (roughly $1.3 million and $1.6 million), which is not unhealthy as the vendor may also have the automobile’s mechanicals checked over by Larbre Compétition earlier than handing over the keys, in response to the itemizing. One other Porsche 962 that solely competed at one race on the Nürburging was listed final yr by Mechatronik for near the upper estimate of the automobile headed to public sale.

The 962 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 2.6-liter flat-6 making about 680 hp, and propelling a chassis weighing lower than 2,000 kilos. Add in ground-effects bodywork formed by legendary Porsche engineer Norbert Singer, and also you had a world beater.

Whereas the 962 might not boast the identical degree of competitiveness because it did in its prime, fans can nonetheless expertise loads of enjoyment because of the rising reputation of historic racing occasions. These gatherings allow outdated racing vehicles to partake in class races, providing a novel and thrilling alternative. A lucky fanatic might purchase this automobile, whether or not for racing on the circuit or just relishing the possession of proudly owning the ultimate instance of considered one of Porsche’s best race vehicles in historical past.