VIN: the works Porsche Dauer 962 LM Sport chassis GT003
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History of chassis GT003 (176)
Chassis GT003 was one of three Dauer 962 LMs built to Sport specification by the Porsche factory.
Jochen Dauer granted Porsche permission to race cars built under his name in return for technical assistance with type approval for the 962 LM.
Porsche’s reason for wanting to race the Dauer 962 LM in the GT1 class was clear: GT1 rules allowed engines with 100bhp more than LMP1 machinery plus fuel tanks that were 50% bigger. Only one type approved road car had to be built to qualify.
Unless another manufacturer pulled a similar ruse, Porsche would have a massive advantage over the rest of the field.
Once they got wind of Porsche’s plan, the Le Mans organisers tried to exclude the Dauers but to no avail.
However, in January 1994, the ACO did manage to introduce a flat-bottom rule for the GT1 class that banned ground effect devices within a car’s wheelbase. This caused Porsche a headache as ground effect was how the 962 derived most of its downforce.
Porsche therefore had to hurriedly create a revised variant with updated bodywork and spoilers: the Dauer 962 LM Sport.
Three cars were built: GT002 and GT003 for the race and GT001 for homologation. GT001 also served as the spare car at Le Mans.
Because the Porsche works team had last raced at the top level in 1988, they lacked much of the necessary equipment. Neither did they have the international licence required to compete. Consequently, Reinhold Joest’s experienced team were brought on board to help manage the operation.
Chassis GT003 appeared at Le Mans with backing from FAT Turbo Express. It was driven by Yannick Dalmas, Hurley Haywood and Mauro Baldi. All three took it easy in qualifying and GT003 started seventh on the grid.
In the race, Baldi was quickly up to second and, when the first placed Toyota came in for fuel, he inherited the lead. Baldi then built a sufficient gap that he was able to emerge from his fuel stop still at the head of the field.
Unfortunately, when Yannick Dalmas took over, GT003 lost time as Dalmas failed to engage the reserve fuel tank towards the end of his stint. A push from the marshals was required to reach the garage.
GT003 subsequently recovered to second place but then fell back down the order when Haywood suffered a broken driveshaft out on the circuit. Haywood crawled back to the pits where the offending item was replaced. Twelve minutes later, he was on his way again.
Consistent lapping overnight saw GT003 move back up the order and, as dawn broke, it once again lay second.
The car looked to be heading for the runner’s up spot but, when the lead Toyota stopped for 13 minutes with an hour-and-a-half to go, Baldi, Dalmas and Haywood found themselves in first position.
They ultimately finished 90 seconds ahead of the Toyota with the sister car (GT002) in third.
After the race, GT003 was gifted to Reinhold Joest who had a contract that if either car won he would get to keep it.
Joest in turn sold GT003 to the owner of FAT Turbo Express.
Notable History
962 chassis 176
Renumbered GT003
Le Mans Porsche Team
White FAT Turbo Express livery
19/06/1994 IND Le Mans 24 Hours (M. Baldi / Y. Dalmas / H. Haywood) 1st oa, 1st GT1 class (#36)
Gifted to Reinhold Joest
Sold to the owner of FAT Turbo Express
Text copyright: Supercar Nostalgia
Photo copyright: Porsche - https://www.porsche.com
