5 times Le Mans winner and double World Champion Derek Bell and 2016 European Le Mans Series champion and ELMS 2020 runner up, 9 times contemporary Le Mans competitor Alex Brundle discussing the Works 956 & 962s, featuring 1985 Works Le Mans entry 962-004.
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Porsche 962-004 Works
The most successful programme in Porsche’s dominant history at Le Mans
One of the three Works Porsche 962s designated for the Rothmans Porsche factory team and used for the 1985 and 1986 World Championships; only six such cars were built
1986 24 Hours of Le Mans pole sitter; three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans participant, 5th overall in 1988
Driven in period by eight Group C Le Mans winners: Derek Bell, Al Holbert, Jacky Ickx, Klaus Ludwig, Jochen Mass, Vern Schuppan, Hans Stuck, and John Winter
One of the most raced factory 962s; campaigned for two further seasons by legendary and full Works-supported Joest Racing
Restored by Porsche Group C expert Trevor Crisp of Katana Ltd.
In full running condition, fitted with a stunning long-tail but accompanied by a short-tail
Reunited with period drivers in the high-speed Group C 40th anniversary demonstrations at Goodwood and Silverstone in 2022
Eligible for some of the finest events around the world including Le Mans Classic and Rennsport Reunion, as well as some of the most prestigious concours events
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No manufacturer is more closely linked to the greatest 24 Hour race than Porsche, with an incredible record of 19 overall victories to date.
Prior to the Group C sportscar era, Porsche had achieved six overall wins, which was still three behind Ferrari. Masterminded by Porsche’s legendary motorsport chief, Nobert Singer, the company’s Group C programme—headlined by the 956 and 962—would become the most successful in its history, and take its tally to 13 wins by 1994.
The 956 was a radical new design for Porsche. The firm had previously relied on a tubular or spaceframe chassis for its prototype sportscars, but the 956 was the first model to feature an aluminium monocoque. The engine was a twin-turbocharged 2.65-litre six-cylinder, which had already won Le Mans with the 936/81. One of the biggest advancements for the 956 was its aerodynamics, with ground-effect being harnessed to generate a huge amount of downforce. Cleverly, the 956 featured two bodywork setups: the long-tail for Le Mans, and a short-tail “Sprint” set up for regular circuits. This adaptability allowed the 956 and 962 to win five consecutive World Sportscar Championships (WSC), something never achieved before or since by one programme.
IMSA regulation changes forced the 956 to subtly evolve into the 962. The wheelbase was increased slightly to allow the pedals to move behind the front axle centre line, and a steel roll cage was integrated into the chassis. Mechanically, the WSC Works-entered Group C 962s remained very similar to their 956 predecessors.
This 962C, chassis number 004, is one of three Works 962s assigned to the Rothmans Porsche factory team for the 1985 and 1986 seasons. Making its debut at the 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans, it was emblazoned in the iconic Rothmans livery. Piloted by John Watson, Vern Schuppan, and Al Holbert, it qualified 5th behind the other factory 962s, which were both fitted with 3-litre engines for qualifying. During the race it established its status as the lead Works car as it maintained 2nd place behind the Joest 956 for over 12 hours, before a crankshaft failure spelled the end of its race after 21 hours of racing.
Following its debut, chassis 004 was pressed into action as Jacky Ickx and Jochen Mass’ regular steed “No. 1” in the 1985 WSC, starting from the pole for the 1000 Kilometres rounds at Hockenheim, finishing 2nd at Mosport, and with a retirement at Spa-Francorchamps. With the retirement of Jacky Ickx from regular duties for the 1986 WSC season, Bob Wollek joined Jochen Mass for an assault on the championship, with chassis number 004 now sporting “No. 2”. The campaign began at Monza and continued at Silverstone before moving on to Le Mans.
Mass and Wollek were joined by Vern Schuppan for the 1986 24 Hour race.
Mass reinforced his stellar reputation by grabbing pole with 0.61 seconds in hand over the eventually victorious sister car of Bell, Stuck and Holbert. During the race the trio battled for the lead before settling in for an almost certain 3rd place. Unfortunately, a mistimed arrival at an oil spill at 3:04 am caused Mass to leave the track and resulting in retirement. Its final Works Rothmans Porsche outing was at the 1000 Kilometres of Nürburgring.
Chassis 004 was then sold to legendary privateer team, Joest Racing, in April 1987. During this time, the team was factory supported and took over the Rothmans sponsorship. The 962C made its debut with Joest at the 1987 1000 Kilometres of Nürburgring. Driven by former factory drivers, Derek Bell and Hans-Joachim Stuck, it scored a fine 2nd-place finish.
The car would feature successfully in more WSC rounds and Supercup races, but its final bow at Le Mans would be at the 1988 edition of the 24 Hour race, dressed in Blaupunkt colours. Driven by David Hobbs, Didier Theys, and Franz Konrad, it ran a textbook race with no troubles and finished a creditable 5th overall and ahead of the second factory Shell Dunlop 962.
Chassis 004 was sold to a collector in the USA at the end of the 1988 season. Of its two sister cars, chassis 002 also sold in 1989 to a prominent Porsche collector in the United States, with the current owner acquiring the car from him in 2004. Chassis 003 was sold to the current US-based owner in 1993. Chassis 004 has been the star of the Historic Group C Collection since 2007.
This Porsche was specifically singled out by Valentino Rossi to drive at the 2017 Goodwood Festival of Speed while in 2022 it was demonstrated at both Goodwood and the Silverstone Classic, being reunited with Derek Bell and John Watson. In 2018, a restoration by marque expert, Trevor Crisp, of Katana Ltd. was completed.
Statistically, Porsche’s Group C programme with the 956 and 962 is the most successful in endurance racing history, and it established the marque as the dominant force at Le Mans.
962-004 Works Competition History
1985 Season
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Race Date
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Race
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
17/18/06/1985
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Race
24hrs Le Mans
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Drivers
A.Holbert / J. Watson / V. Schuppan
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Car No.
#3
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
14/07/1985
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Race
1000Km Hockenheim
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Drivers
J. Mass / J. Ickx
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Car No.
#1
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
11/08/1985
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Race
1000Km Mosport Park
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Drivers
J. Mass / J. Ickx
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Car No.
#1
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
01/09/1985
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Race
Spa-Francorchamps 1000Km
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Drivers
J. Mass / J. Ickx
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Car No.
#1
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Result
DNF
1986 Season
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Race Date
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Race
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
20/04/1986
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Race
Kouros Cup, Monza
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Drivers
J. Mass / B. Wollek
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Car No.
#2
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Result
6th
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Race Date
05/05/1986
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Race
1000Km Silverstone
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Drivers
B. Wollek / J. Mass
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Car No.
#2
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
31/05 - 01/06/1986
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Race
24hrs Le Mans
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Drivers
B. Wollek / J. Mass
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Car No.
#2
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
24/08/1986
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Race
1000Km Nurburgring
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Drivers
J. Mass / B. Wollek
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Car No.
#2
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Result
DNF Acc.
1987 Season
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Race Date
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Race
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Colours
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
28/06/1987
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Race
200 Milen Norisring
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Colours
Blaupunkt
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Drivers
F. Jelinski/ K. Ludwig
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Car No.
#9
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
05/07/1987
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Race
ADAC Preis Hockenheim
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Colours
Blaupunkt
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Drivers
F. Jelinski
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Car No.
#9
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Result
3rd
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Race Date
02/08/1987
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Race
Wunstorf, I.S
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Colours
Sat
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Drivers
F. Jelinski
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Car No.
#3
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Result
4th / DNF
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Race Date
30/08/1987
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Race
1000 Km Nurburgring
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Colours
Joest
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Drivers
D. Bell / H. Stuck
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Car No.
#7
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Result
2nd
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Race Date
13/09/1987
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Race
1000 Km Spa
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Colours
Joest Rothmans
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Drivers
H. Stuck / B. Wollek
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Car No.
#7
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Result
5th
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Race Date
28/11/1987
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Race
500Km Kyalami
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Colours
Camel
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Drivers
B. Wollek
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Car No.
#8
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Result
2nd
1988 Season
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Race Date
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Race
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Colours
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Drivers
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Car No.
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Result
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Race Date
06/03/1988
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Race
800Km Jerez
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Colours
Blaupunkt
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Drivers
B. Wollek / K. Ludwig
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Car No.
#7
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Result
3rd
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Race Date
13/03/1988
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Race
360Km Jarama
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Colours
Blaupunkt
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Drivers
K. Ludwig / B. Wollek
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Car No.
#7
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
11 - 12/06/1988
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Race
24 Hours Le Mans
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Colours
Blaupunkt
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Drivers
D. Hobbs / D. Theys / F. Konrad
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Car No.
#7
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Result
5th
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Race Date
26/06/1988
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Race
200 Meilen Norisring
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Colours
Blaupunkt
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Drivers
F. Konrad
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Car No.
#5
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Result
DNF
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Race Date
07/08/1988
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Race
ADAC Diepholz
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Colours
Abtel
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Drivers
F. Konrad
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Car No.
#5
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Result
6th
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Race Date
25/09/1988
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Race
ADAC Supersprint Nurburgring
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Colours
Blaupunkt
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Drivers
F. Konrad
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Car No.
#5
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Result
8th
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Race Date
26/11/1988
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Race
500Km Kyalami
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Colours
Sachs
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Drivers
John Winter / F. Jelinski
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Car No.
#3
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Result
4th