RE: PH Blog: Driving a Porsche 962

[Felix7]

Chris Harris said:

There's actually no point in doing a full-on 956/962 video because the existing (make that real) footage is so compelling. In car 956 is bonkers. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to drive one and attempt to explain what makes it special, but that run down the Mulsanne at light-bending velocity, complete with knob-twiddle after the kink, says more than I could in a three-hour documentary.

In Car 956 is epic, apart from the Ring and Le Mans, also includes Brands Hatch amongst others.

DB is still fast behind the wheel of a 962, watching him floor the Kenwood 962 up the runway at Dunsfold flying through the gears was really something special, as was the noise and then watching him blat around the Top Gear circuit. A huge shame the weather was torrential for the Group C race at Le Mans a few weeks ago.

DB will be taking part in parade laps the 1987 962 that Chris drove at Goodwood across the Saturday lunchtime of the Le Mans Classic i.e. in a few days time! He will also become a proper Bentley Boy and drive a 1929 Blower Bentley at the Classic Le Mans as well.

[1point7bar]

Dr Imran T said:

Don't forget at its peak the Pug was pushing 730 BHP, plus extra down-force better brakes etc. It would leave the iconic 962 behind.

The last 962s made over 750bhp and where did Peugot get the extra downforce from?

[Evo]

The two best liveries in Motorsport IMHO are the Rothmans Porsches and Martini Lancia's, Group C or rally i'm not fussed

Edited by Evo on Tuesday 3rd July 13:12

[CJP80]

How fast do you think this thing would go up the hill Chris?

[hairykrishna]

Dr Imran T said:

Honey Badger said:

On the progress front it really is a double edged sword.
Something like the 962 (or at the extreme of the drama scale the 787b) has so much occasion however for it's purpose of going fast the modern cars are in a different league.

A quick look at Wiki has the 962 race record at 3:23.3 (239.551 km/h) from '86, which I would assume is minus chicanes but the R15 in 2010 did 3:19.074 (246.463 km/h) including the chicanes.

I think the lap record was set by a 908 Peugeot HDI not an Audi.

Don't forget at its peak the Pug was pushing 730 BHP, plus extra down-force better brakes etc. It would leave the iconic 962 behind.

That said, I have to say the 962 and the 917 are some of the greatest race cars ever produced and ones that really stir the soul.

Great little article - indeed CH is one lucky man think about all that hospitality food & drink!

I'd be surprised if the downforce was massively different. We can model it better now, but there are more rules restrictions. Later 962's had plenty more than 730bhp. Brakes are better but not that much better over a flying lap - the big improvement at Le Mans has been in their durability. The big thing that differentiates the two times is tyre tech. Stick modern tyres on the Porsche and it'd be much, much closer I think.

[1point7bar]

May I take this opportunity to point out:
The 908 is not a ground effect car.
It has a flat underside between the axles.
The Porsche has a full length venturi and is a ground effect car.
You decide which can make more downforce without lowering the ride height until it makes sparks on the tarmac.

The 962 brakes are Brembo, who still support the spec.

Edited by 1point7bar on Tuesday 3rd July 17:33

[herebebeasties]

More Rothmans, this time semi-airborne:


Ford Escort RS by HereBeBeasties, on Flickr

And was Chris wearing a red chequered helmet?


Porsche 962 by HereBeBeasties, on Flickr

[marka1781]

Really mega motor spot on they need space to really use all that power and gound effect.
FoS it's all about the sound,noise,smell and history.
Bumped into Mr Harris on Friday had to congratulate you on the video's for pistonheads couldn't help but notice you seemed in your element!! A true petrolhead in everysense.
Let's get monkey harris on the reasonably priced car section on Top Gear

[Dr Imran T]

1point7bar said:

May I take this opportunity to point out:
The 908 is not a ground effect car.
It has a flat underside between the axles.
The Porsche has a full length venturi and is a ground effect car.
You decide which can make more downforce without lowering the ride height until it makes sparks on the tarmac.

The 962 brakes are Brembo, who still support the spec.

Edited by 1point7bar on Tuesday 3rd July 17:33

I see what you and Hairykrishna are saying.

Perhaps I should have put it differently. The lap times of the 908 are a lot quicker despite the track changing to include chicanes and the run in to the Mulsanne is different now.
I think the track is now slower, despite this I believe the 908 was running 3 min 18's at some point. That is a big difference and I personally think it has more to do with just the change in tyre technology.

I know the aero package on the 908 was very good and it was extensively tested in the wind tunnel. Not sure how this compares with the Porches?

Also the 908 was also a super stiff Monocoque and had pushrod suspension etc

I do not preach as an expert here so I am happy to be corrected, but the 908 has seriously moved the game forward in terms of development. Whilst I love the 962 era of Le Mans cars, the difference in pace (with modern Le Mans cars) is in my opinion down to a number of changes.

[365daytonafan]

Honey Badger said:

On the progress front it really is a double edged sword.
Something like the 962 (or at the extreme of the drama scale the 787b) has so much occasion however for it's purpose of going fast the modern cars are in a different league.

A quick look at Wiki has the 962 race record at 3:23.3 (239.551 km/h) from '86, which I would assume is minus chicanes but the R15 in 2010 did 3:19.074 (246.463 km/h) including the chicanes.

Agreed but there is one area where the new cars are leagues ahead of the 962, and that's in driver safety. The accidents that Alan McNish and Mike Rockenfeller had at Le Mans last year would not have been survivable in a 956/962.

[fatboy69]

Jaykaybi said:

While only vaguely 'related' I trust it's reasonable to mention here that, today, at Wilton House, we took delivery of exhibit A):



This is Stefan Bellof's 956, THE car with the Nurburgring lap record of 6.11.13.
My dear fellow PH'ers, I am gobsmacked. It'll be on show on the 5th August.

Sorry for cutting in; please continue the thread! I for one was gutted to have to miss the FoS this year, and this would have been high up my list of 'things to have a good poke around.'

Mr Harris, I'm often called a jammy st and largely deservedly so, however I'm going to direct all future accusers to you

I had forgotten just how achingly beautiful the 956 is. Just about perfect, rather like the Lotus 79 F1 car. It just, somehow, works doesn't it?

Only thing missing are the Rothmans decals however I understand why they are not on the car.

I thnk that if that car was in my custody I would, right now, be sat inside her in the quiet just trying to imagine exactly how the late Stefan Bellof managed to get around the Ring in 6.11.13.

That car is beautiful. You, Sir, are a very lucky man to have that car in your care for a while.

A priceless piece of automotive art. Could we please have some more photos of the 956?

[BERGS2]

Dr Imran T said:

I see what you and Hairykrishna are saying.

Perhaps I should have put it differently. The lap times of the 908 are a lot quicker despite the track changing to include chicanes and the run in to the Mulsanne is different now.
I think the track is now slower, despite this I believe the 908 was running 3 min 18's at some point. That is a big difference and I personally think it has more to do with just the change in tyre technology.

I know the aero package on the 908 was very good and it was extensively tested in the wind tunnel. Not sure how this compares with the Porches?

Also the 908 was also a super stiff Monocoque and had pushrod suspension etc

I do not preach as an expert here so I am happy to be corrected, but the 908 has seriously moved the game forward in terms of development. Whilst I love the 962 era of Le Mans cars, the difference in pace (with modern Le Mans cars) is in my opinion down to a number of changes.

does anyone have a reasonable grasp of the tyre tech to have a punt as to how much different a 908 on 'older' tyres or a 962 on modern rubber would be?

could a 908 lap the ring quicker than bellof's time?

genuinely interested into what has got 'better' other than aero/tyres - power is just power - right?

[paul0843]

Felix7 said:

Chris Harris said:

There's actually no point in doing a full-on 956/962 video because the existing (make that real) footage is so compelling. In car 956 is bonkers. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to drive one and attempt to explain what makes it special, but that run down the Mulsanne at light-bending velocity, complete with knob-twiddle after the kink, says more than I could in a three-hour documentary.

In Car 956 is epic, apart from the Ring and Le Mans, also includes Brands Hatch amongst others.

DB is still fast behind the wheel of a 962, watching him floor the Kenwood 962 up the runway at Dunsfold flying through the gears was really something special, as was the noise and then watching him blat around the Top Gear circuit. A huge shame the weather was torrential for the Group C race at Le Mans a few weeks ago.

DB will be taking part in parade laps the 1987 962 that Chris drove at Goodwood across the Saturday lunchtime of the Le Mans Classic i.e. in a few days time! He will also become a proper Bentley Boy and drive a 1929 Blower Bentley at the
Classic Le Mans as well.

Yes..was having a work related chat with one of my customers during the week who just happened to mention
that db had driven his 962 and would be driving his blower bentley..
Go Martin..