• 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.
• Offered 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
• The first time a Works-campaigned Porsche 962 C has ever been publicly offered for sale or at auction

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, Norbert 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 962 C, 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 962 C 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, so it is fair to state that the opportunity to acquire such a car presents itself incredibly rarely. Chassis 004 has been the star of a major Group C collection since 2007.

This Porsche was specifically singled out by Valentino Rossi to drive at the 2015 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. The sale of chassis 004 represents the first time that one of the factory Rothmans Porsche 962 Cs has been offered publicly, and presents an unmissable opportunity to acquire not only a factory Porsche prototype, but one with a remarkable history as a 24 Hours of Le Mans pole-sitter, and a driver roster that counts among its number many of Porsche’s legendary factory drivers.

1985 Porsche 962C 004       RaceDateEntrantNo.DriversQualifyingOverall FinishClass Finish24 Hours of Le Mans15/16 June 1985Rothmans Porsche3Watson/Holbert/Schuppan5thDNF 1000 Kilometres of Hockenheim14 July 1985Rothmans Porsche1Ickx/Mass1stDNF 1000 Kilometres of Mosport11 August 1985Rothmans Porsche1Ickx/Mass2nd2nd2nd1000 Kilometres of Spa1 September 1985Rothmans Porsche1Ickx/Mass6thDNF 360 Kilometres of MonzaApril 20, 1986Rothmans Porsche2Mass/Wollek10th6th6th1000 Kilometres of Silverstone4 May 1986Rothmans Porsche2Mass/Wollek8thDNF 24 Hours of Le Mans31 May/1 June 1986Rothmans Porsche2Mass/Wollek/Schuppan1stDNF 1000 Kilometres of Nürburgring24 August 1986Rothmans Porsche2Mass/Wollek5thDNF (Heat 1: 7th) 1000 Kilometres of Nürburgring30 August 1987Joest Racing (Rothmans)7Bell/Stuck6th2nd2nd1000 Kilometres of Spa13 September 1987Joest Racing (Rothmans)7Bell/Stuck/Wollek8th5th5th500 Kilometres of Kyalami (Heat 1)November 28, 1987Joest Racing (Camel)8Wollek2nd1st1st500 Kilometres of Kyalami (Heat 2)28 November 1987Joest Racing (Camel)8Wollek2nd2nd (2nd on aggregate)2nd800 Kilometres of Jerez6 March 1988Joest Racing (Blaupunkt)7Wollek/Ludwig5th3rd3rd360 Kilometres of Jarama13 March 1988Joest Racing (Blaupunkt)7Wollek/Ludwig6thDNF 24 Hours of Le Mans11/12 June 1988Joest Racing (Blaupunkt)7Hobbs/Theys/Konrad20th5th5thSupercup - Diepholz (Heat 1)6 August 1988Joest Racing (Abtei)5Konrad10t