Alex Unleashed on Cars- Dauer 962 LM (Cheaters Always Win)
1993 saw big changes in the world of endurance racing. Group
C had collapsed following the rule changes to favour 3.5 litre naturally
aspirated engines in 1991, GT racing was on the rise and manufacturers knew
this. The 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans saw a tidal wave of entrants into the GT1, 2
and IMSA GT classes. Everything from a Bugatti EB110 to 3 Honda NSX's were being entered. But 1 manufacturer had a plan on how to exploit the rules. Dauer was
an unheard-of brand at the time and still is, but in collaboration with
Porsche, they planned to homologate a Group C Porsche 962 into a limited-run
road car and then enter it into the top GT1 class.
Now this isn’t the first time car makers have bent the rules
to win races, hell this wasn’t even the first time Porsche had cheated to win
Le Mans, they did it back in 1969 with the 917 and then again in 1996 with the
911 GT1 (which would later win Le Mans in 1998 after extensive modifications).
But anyways. Dauer’s plan was set, with backing from Porsche, they made 13 road
going Dauer 962 LM’s and entered 2 racers for Le Mans, these cars notably had
bigger fuel tanks than Group C 962’s but the same chassis as the Porsche. The engine was the same 3 litre twin
turbo Flat 6 that had powered the 962 and 956 Group C cars throughout the 80s
and early 90s. It weighed just over a tonne and would supposedly reach 60 in
just 2.8 seconds and a top speed of 251 MPH!
Now you’re probably thinking, “why haven’t I heard of this
car if it’s so fast?” well, although the 962 did achieve 251 MPH in 1998, this
was not in the presence of a Guiness World Record official, so the top speed is
technically not official and hence why it has remained a very obscure car.
Your also probably thinking, “isn’t this a bit convoluted?”
“Why couldn’t Porsche just build their own GT1 car?” well they did, the 911
Turbo S LM and later GT2 EVO was reliable but was no match for the bigger
Venturi’s, Ferrari F40, Bugatti EB110 and later the McLaren F1 on the track.
And considering they were using a well proven and reliable base for the Dauer
962; you can sort of see the method in their German madness.
Both Dauer’s qualified 5th and 7th,
miles ahead of the next GT1 car, a Ferrari F40 in 14th. So as
expected their only competition were the Prototypes, and for a majority of the
race it was Toyota who were leading with their 94C-V, but in the late stages of
the race, problems hit Toyota and so the #36 Dauer took the lead and the win.
This was the first time a non-prototype car had won the event, though
considering the 962 is literally a Group C car except with narrower tyre and a
boot, it’s hardly a road car in the same sense as a Ferrari F40 or a Porsche
Turbo.
The Dauer 962 is fundamentally a cynical car, built solely
to win a race that had already been won several times by Porsche seemingly out
of pure greed. But there is that level of mysterious interest about it. A
company no one had ever heard of, working in cohorts with Porsche to take one
of the most successful endurance racers of all time into a road car and then
race it again. There is something fascinating about it, it’s not the only
road-going version of the Porsche 962, Koenig and Schuppan have both made their
own versions, but neither have quite the story as the Dauer or a screen for DVD
playback!
Year Produced: 1993-1997
Engine: 3 Litre Twin Turbo Flat 6
Power: 720 BHP
Torque: 517 Ib/ft
Top Speed: 251 MPH
0-60: 2.8 Seconds
Price: £700,000
Rivals: McLaren F1 LM, Ferrari F40 Competitzione, Koenig C62
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