VIDEO: Hotchkis Porsche 962 laps up Laguna Seca
GTP Hotchkis Porsche 962 -- click image above to watch the video
In the mid-Eighties, Porsche released the 962, a long-wheelbase variant of the 956, to compete in IMSA's GTP class and later in Group C (as the 962C). Even though IMSA's GTP rules stipulated that only one (unfortunately named) KKK turbocharger could be used, the 962 was bloody-your-nose fast.
This past weekend at the Monterey Historics, Mark Hotchkis proved just how fast the 962 was/is by lapping half the field in his class during a ten lap race. That's kinda ridiculous. In fact, the only car that gave Hotchkis any trouble at all was a nine-year newer ALMS Kremer-Porsche Spyder K8 (the same type of car Derek Bell raced at his final Le Mans). Anywho, we've got a righteous video of the 962 quite literally eating up Laguna Seca at 10/10s after the jump. Oh, and that metal wheel Hotchkis's left hand keeps fiddling with? That's the boost dial which can summon up to 50 pounds of pressure. Put another way, crank your computer's volume all the way up. Thanks to Dan K for the video.
[Source: Grand Touring Prototype]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Das Borgen 5:09PM (8/18/2009)
JIMP eek :D
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jjmcubed 5:10PM (8/18/2009)
Amazing how little engine noise there is. That is the only draw back from turbo charging in my book.
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John P. 5:08PM (8/18/2009)
I remember that car back in the day. 962's were amazing. I loved watching the Lowenbrau cars with Al Holbert.
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Fooman 5:09PM (8/18/2009)
Wow... the speed on the Rahal back straight is amazing, I have never seen anything clear the runup to the corkscrew that fast. He is taking it a bit easy on turn 1 though... He is also going alot faster then it looks like in that video,
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RG 5:09PM (8/18/2009)
To me, the 956/962 are the greatest racing cars ever.
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83gtragtop 5:14PM (8/18/2009)
I'm going to have to go with the 917, revolutionary. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_917
83gtragtop 5:10PM (8/18/2009)
Pretty fast, in comparison, just to show how fast modern sports cars have gotten, that is close to 15 sec slower around Laguna then modern ALMS LMP1 cars.
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timwang2006 5:11PM (8/18/2009)
I've read somewhere that the old Group C racers are faster than some of the modern LMP cars due to less restrictive technologies. I guess the same claim has been made for group B rally and modern WRC. Is there any truth to any of this?
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timwang2006 5:12PM (8/18/2009)
83gtragtop commented as I was writing the above so sorry about that. If anyone can clear up the rally part too, that would be great.
83gtragtop 5:21PM (8/18/2009)
I was just going of the fact that he seemed to be running around 1m23s based on my rough calculation using the video timer, the best LMP1 & 2's have run in qualifying is around 1m10s I believe.
chris 1:14AM (8/23/2009)
It looks like the last IMSA GTP/Gr. C cars were about as fast as the latest LMP cars. Aero rules were almost free for the GTP cars (around twice the downforce at the same speed). Power and weight seem to be similar with the modern diesels having higher torque. The new cars are 100-200kg heavier than the old cars. I would suspect the similarity in times has a lot to do with better tire technology.
sources:
mulsannescorner.com
http://wsrp.ic.cz/imsa1992.html
scappy 8:34PM (8/18/2009)
Keep in mind that the porsche was running in traffic and being a historic race car I doubt it was being pushed 100%.
Mike 5:19PM (8/18/2009)
It must have been uncomfortable to drive that car back in the day when you had to sit on top of those huge balls.
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scott 3 5:30PM (8/18/2009)
I was there back in the day. The 962 was not the fasest or the meanest car. But it was fast and bullet proof.
The best sound went the the Group 44 Cats or the V12 Castrol cats.
The most powerful went to Nissan and The Vette GTP. The always were fast but no where near as bullet proof. Nissan did better later but it took a while to sort out the cars.
Even the Pontiac Spice and the Acura Spice cars were hard to beat in the GTP light class.
GTO and GTU were great. There has been no better racing since.
About a year ago I was in a meeting with Hotchkis and and we talked about the old IMSA and I was shocked to find they kept this car. I am glad he is able to show what once was.
As for the top Porsche the 917-30 has yet to be topped. To see one run is to understand.
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John P. 6:08PM (8/18/2009)
Totally agree about the Group 44 V-12's Their sound was downright sexy! 962's on the other hand sounded like vaccuum cleaners or something. :)
Duncan 12:21AM (8/19/2009)
I always loved the Nissans and the Jags. Of course, by the time they could beat the 962, Porsche was moving on to the next thing...
Ian 5:30PM (8/18/2009)
Also KKK turbos = Borg Warner turbos. You could say Borg Warner to be nicer.
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Kaveh 7:53PM (8/18/2009)
ahh, one of the best Porsche race cars, and those Lowenbrau versions always looked good. Would have loved to see one flying by when they use to race them in Miami.
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summazooma 8:46PM (8/18/2009)
Hey, since this was a "customer" car, does it qualify for production car lap record at Laguna Seca?
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summazooma 9:18PM (8/18/2009)
Ironically enough, I was just perusing youtube the other day for vintage racecars and came across a few Matra V12 prototypes, followed by Mazda 767P laps. Even the Furai concept car (a clip of which showed nearly raw footage at Laguna Seca at surprisingly high speeds) had/has quite a set of lungs on it...
The Hotchkis family always amazed me, one of the few true "gentlemen" racing families I can think of... and, for the sake of the Hotchkis family, please don't mistake that as an insult; I know they were/are serious racers, not superficial dilettantes
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