VIN: the works Porsche Dauer 962 LM Sport chassis GT001

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History of chassis GT001 (169)

In return for help to secure type approval for his 962 LM, Jochen Dauer granted Porsche permission to use the model for an attack at the 1994 Le Mans 24 Hours.

However, when the Le Mans organisers got wind of the operation, they introduced a new rule that banned underbody ground effect within a car’s wheelbase. As a result, Porsche were forced to quickly develop a revised variant: the 962 LM Sport.

Compared to the standard 962 LM, the Sport derivative featured a flat bottom and tweaked aerodynamics in an attempt to recover the lost downforce.

Three examples were built, the first of which was chassis GT001.

GT001 started life as a standard 962 tub numbered 169.

The Le Mans organisers (the Automobile Club de l’Ouest) required proof of a road licensed example by March 1994. GT001 was the car to fulfil this role. Painted yellow, it was registered BB-P 962 and gained German type approval on the final day before the deadline expired.

GT001 next appeared at the Le Mans Test day on May 8th for Hans-Joachim Stuck, Mauro Baldi and Thierry Boutsen to drive.

Now fitted with white bodywork, the new car posted third fastest time behind the two Porsche-powered LMP1 class Courage C32 LMs.

For comparison, the quickest ‘legitimate’ GT1 entry was the Bugatti EB110 of privateer Michel Hommell which lapped an astonishing 20 seconds slower than the Dauer.

After its appearance at the Le Mans Test, GT001 was put back into yellow road car trim. It then served as T-car for Le Mans where it was presented alongside the two race cars for the event (GT002 and GT003).

GT003 famously went on to take a controversial win while GT002 was pipped to second by an LMP1-class Toyota 94 CV.

The 1994 Le Mans campaign had been a collaboration between Porsche and the Joest Racing Team.

The experienced Joest outfit supplied most of the personnel and equipment needed for the event as well as the international licence required to compete. As part of his contract with Porsche, Reinhold Joest had a clause that stated if either car won, he would get to keep it.

Accordingly, the race winner (GT003) was gifted to Joest which left Porsche with GT001 and GT002.

Porsche retained both cars for their factory collection. GT002 was kept in its original Shell livery while GT001 was fitted with FAT Turbo Express bodywork to replicate the Le Mans winner.

Notable History

962 chassis 169
Renumbered GT001

Le Mans Porsche Team

Configured as the 962 LM Sport road car for GT1 homologation
Yellow livery
Registered BB-P 962

Changed to White livery

08/05/1994 IND Le Mans Test (H.J. Stuck / M. Baldi / T. Boutsen) 3rd oa, 1st GT1 class (#35)

Changed to Yellow livery

19/06/1994 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (T-car)

Retained by Porsche

Changed to White FAT Turbo Express livery

Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Porsche - https://www.porsche.com