The Dauer 962 Le Mans is a super car based on the dominant Porsche 962 racing car. Built by German Jochen Dauer, a racing version of this supercar went on to win the 1994 24 Hours of Leman with the support of Porsche through the use of regulation loopholes.
Road car
Dauer produces the 962 Le Mans from actual Porsche 962 chassis which are stripped down for modification. Components of the bodywork are replaced with slightly revised carbon fibre and kevlar panels. The under tray is replaced with a flat version for better stability at high speeds. The interior sees the addition of a second seat and leather is added to the crammped cockpit, as well as a video screen for DVD playback in later years. Luggage was offered to customers through the addition of a small compartment in the front of the car. A hydraulic suspension system has also been added in order to meet German ride height requirements.
For a powerplant, the 962 Le Mans would use nearly the same engine as the original 962: Porsche's water-cooled Type-935 2994cc Flat-6 with two KKK turbochargers. Since the road car did not have to meet racing regulations, the air restrictor was removed allowing for an output of approximately 730hp. A 5-speed racing gearbox was also retained.
The first production car debuted at the 1993 Franfurkt Auto Show. While orders for the cars were taken, Dauer worked with Porsche to develop the two racing cars for the following years' 24 Hours Le Manse. After Dauer's victory, attention returned to the road cars where at least twelve more were built over the years.
Race car
Following rule changes in the World sportscar Championship in 1992 which saw Porsche 962 numbers dwindle in Europe, including at the 24 Hours of Le Manse, Porsche was looking for ways to continue their sports car efforts. Although 962s were still legal at Le Mans, the class in which they ran no longer was capable of competing for overall wins against the top C1 class.
With the re-introduction of production-based grand trouer style cars in 1993, Porsche saw an opportunity to exploit a loophole which existed in this new class. Rules set by the Automobile Club de I'Ouest (ACO) which ran Le Mans stated that GT-class cars merely required a road going example, with no specific quantity or road cars specified in order to meet homologation rules. With Dauer's success in modifying a Porsche 962 into a street-legal car in 1993, Porsche saw an opportunity to bring the 962 back into competition.
With one production car shown to the public in 1993, Porsche had already met that requirement. Another rule in place at the time was the requirement that production-based cars have storage space for a typical suitcase, something which Dauer had been able to do since the road car was able to carry luggage. The flat bottom of the 962 Le Mans also fit with GT rules. Three more modifications were necessary in order to full comply: Narrower tires then the 962 had run in Gtoup C, a larger fuel tank (now up to 120 litres), and another air restrictor for the engine, although this one would be larger then the one they had run in Group C.
The flat bottom and narrow tires of the 962 Le Mans would unfortunately hinder the performance of the car over the long laps at Le Mans even with the increased power from the GT-class air restrictor. However Porsche believed that the larger fuel tank they were allowed in the GT-class would allow them to overcome this lack of speed by spending less time in the pits then normal Group C cars, something which is key for an endurance race.
Arriving at Le Mans with the support of Porsche's factory racing team, Joest Racing, Dauer's two cars showed that they lacked the overall pace of the top Group C cars by qualifying fifth and seventh. However their pace in their class was shattering as the next closest GT1-class car could only muster 12th. The race saw Porsche's plan pan out, as the Dauer 962 Le Mans were able to gradually make their way to the top of the standings while their competitors spent time in the pits or succumbed to mechanical woes. In the end, only a lone Toyota 94C-V in the Group C class could contend with the Dauers, taking second place overall. The Dauer 962 Le Mans of Mauro Baldini would takes the overall win while the second team car would finish one lap behind in third place overall.
Soon after this event the ACO attempted to fix the problems with their GT regulations by setting a minimum requirement for production cars in order to meet homologation standards. With this, the Dauer 962s would never race again, nor would the normal Porsche 962s as the Group C class was finally abandoned.
A total of two Dauer 962 Le Mans racing cars were ever built.
