VIN: the works Porsche Dauer 962 LM Sport chassis GT002
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History of chassis GT002 (173)
Although Porsche had been the most successful manufacturer in terms of Le Mans wins during the 1980s, the firm’s last victory had come in 1987. Since then, a global economic downturn and outdated models had hampered sales.
Thankfully, the new 993 (launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1993) helped reinvigorate the firm.
Also unveiled at the Frankfurt show was Jochen Dauer’s 962 LM super sports car. It immediately got Porsche’s motorsport engineers thinking about using the Dauer as a potential GT1 entry for the 1994 Le Mans 24 Hours. Only one road car had to be produced to qualify for GT1 and it seemed as though Dauer had done most of the hard work already.
The factory helped Dauer gain type approval for the 962 LM and, in return, Porsche were given permission to build and race their own examples at la Sarthe.
The Porsche works team had last raced at the top level in 1988. They lacked much of the equipment needed and also the international licence required to compete. As a result, Reinhold Joest’s experienced team were brought in to help manage the on-track operation.
Chassis GT002 was the second of three Dauer 962 LM Sports built. Porsche were forced to develop the Sport variant as the Le Mans organisers introduced a flat bottom rule to try and limit the car’s speed. To recover the lost downforce, a new nose and tail were created.
Two Dauer 962 LM Sports raced at Le Mans, both in different liveries. GT002 ran with backing from Shell while FAT Turbo Express sponsored GT003.
GT002 was entered for Hans-Joachim Stuck, Thierry Boutsen and Danny Sullivan. They conservatively qualified fifth fastest while the sister car was seventh.
During the race, Stuck span on the opening lap while challenging for the lead which dropped him to eighth. However, at the two hour mark, the Shell entry had recovered to second behind the sister car at the head of the field.
A left-rear puncture later cost Sullivan eleven minutes and he re-joined sixth.
After six hours, GT002 was back up to fourth.
During the night, Stuck took a trip across the sand at the second Mulsanne chicane. Shortly afterwards, the car lost more time when its nose flew off when Boutsen hit a bump in the road.
A subsequent driveshaft problem cost GT002 another three laps and meant only GT003 seemed to have a realistic chance of catching the lead Toyota.
The Dauers were running second (GT003) and third (GT002) with 90 minutes to go when the lead Toyota lost 13 minutes for a broken gear linkage to be repaired. This promoted the 962s to first and second but Eddie Irvine eventually passed Boutsen on the penultimate lap to take second for Toyota.
Boutsen nevertheless posted fastest lap of the race.
After its third place finish at Le Mans, GT002 was subsequently retained by Porsche for their factory collection.
Notable History
962 chassis 173
Renumbered GT002
Le Mans Porsche Team
White Shell livery
19/06/1994 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (H.J. Stuck / T. Boutsen / D. Sullivan) 3rd oa, 2nd GT1 class (#35)
Retained by Porsche
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Porsche - https://www.porsche.com
