Ultimate Works Porsche 962: The Definitive History

MOST BOOKS OVERSELL THE word ‘definitive’, but as this threevolume, 1400-page labour of love proves, sometimes the word can be somewhat understated.

The Porsche 962’s effect on endurance racing is something that should not be understated, either. Although the marque’s 956 began the winning streak in the Group C era, the evolutionary leap to the 962 was even more remarkable, given that Norbert Singer had just three months to build a successor to the 956 to fulfil IMSA’s demands.

This story, plus the oftenrancorous discussions between Porsche and IMSA, is extensively detailed in the first volume, which covers the official Works years, 1984-87. Serge Vanbockryck had unprecedented access to the letters, faxes and characters involved.

Although the 962’s competitive debut with the Andretti clan at the wheel didn’t end with a victory, it’d soon be pretty much the default choice for Group C privateers. It debuted in the World Sportscar Championship in 1985, in which Porsche won the overall title while Hans-Joachim Stuck and Derek Bell took the drivers’ title. It was, however, a bruising year for the marque. Several members of the www.porterpress.co.uk

Works team were severely injured in a pitlane fire at Hockenheim, and Manfred Winkelhock perished when his Kremer 962 crashed at Mosport Park, Canada – and then there was the Spa 1000km.

The fatal collision between Stefan Bellof’s 956 and Jacky Ickx’s Works 962 is detailed with frame-by-frame photography. Yet it is the written testimony, in particular that of Massimo Sigala, that proves most haunting.

The following year was far more challenging – although the Works team took the opening round at Monza and won overall at Le Mans, the competition was heating up.

Porsche was also competing in IndyCar and Formula 1, and following victory at Le Mans ’87, it officially pulled out of sportscar racing. It fell to Joest to fight the flag in a semi-Works capacity; the subject of volume two. The postWSC wilderness presented one last chance for 962 success, via a road-car loophole. The result was the Dauer 962, which gave Porsche its 13th Le Mans victory, in 1994.

Finally, the third volume profiles the Works drivers and cars. For the latter, the profile goes deep – in some cases, lap-by-lap reports, diff settings and more. Yet this is no dry, technical slog for the ardent 962 enthusiast only. Vanbockryck’s description of each race weekend reads with the pace of a gutsy fiction title, while the human sides of motor racing are never far away.

Add in the extensive archive imagery and bespoke photography, and this limited-to-962 edition is a must for any Group C aficionado.

Prices start at £850.