Porsche 962 1988 IMSA Championship Winner

 

Photo Album Porsche 962 DR-1

The provenance of DR1 is exceptional. It is the last IMSA Championship winning Porsche 962. As such, it is truly a noteworthy example of the Porsche marque and worthy  in any important collection of Porsches or sports racing cars. Even today it would be a fearsome competitor in historic sports prototype racing.

Drivers:

962 DR1 Competition History:

1988 IMSA Camel GT Championship
West Palm Beach – Price Cobb / James Weaver – 3rd
Lime Rock – Price Cobb / James Weaver – 6th
Mid-Ohio – Price Cobb / James Weaver – 4th
Watkins Glen – Price Cobb / James Weaver – DNF (Suspension)
Road America – Price Cobb / James Weaver – 3rd
Portland – Price Cobb / James Weaver – 5th
Sears Point – Price Cobb / James Weaver – 4th
San Antonio – Price Cobb / James Weaver – 1st
Columbus – Rob Dyson / Scott Pruett – 18th
Del Mar – Rob Dyson – DNF (Retired)

1990 IMSA Camel GT Championship
Daytona 24 Hour – Bill Adam / Richard Laporte – DNF (Engine)
Miami – Bill Adam / David Seabroke – 7th
Sebring 12 Hour – Bill Adam / Scott Harrington – DNF (Accident)

1991 IMSA Camel GT Championship
Sebring 12 Hour – James Weaver / John Paul Jr. – DNF (Suspension)

Background:

For three years, from 1985 through 1987, the Porsche 962 dominated sports car racing in North America, winning three GTP Manufacturer’s Championships in a row. In 1988, however, rule changes quickly loosened Porsche’s stranglehold on the IMSA Camel GT Championship. New restrictor-plate rules greatly reduced the effectiveness of the 962’s turbocharged motor, as the limitations of its mechanically-controlled waste gates became painfully pronounced. Consequently, the 1988 season was quickly dominated by another turbocharged car, the
Electramotive Nissan ZX-T, which featured an electronically-controlled waste gate. With no development support from the Porsche factory, it was left to the ingenuity of the customer teams to defend the Manufacturer’s Championship.

Rob Dyson knew if he wanted to win a fourth consecutive North American Porsche Cup for Dyson Racing, he would need something completely new for the 1988 season. Dyson turned to Silverstone-based Richard Lloyd Racing/GTi Engineering for a solution. RLR’s re-engineered, Nigel Stroud-designed GTi 962 chassis were renowned throughout Europe for their superior aluminum composite honeycomb construction and state-of-the-art suspension and brake design. Dyson purchased RLR 202, the fifth of six GTi 962 chassis constructed, and commissioned FABCAR to further develop the car for IMSA sprint events. Upon completion, RLR 202 was renamed DR1 and subsequently sent out hunting.

When DR1 appeared at West Palm Beach for the fifth round of the Championship, it was the quickest of the 962s, finishing Third Overall. Throughout the remainder of the 1988 season, DR1 would take two more podiums, including Porsche’s final win of the season at San Antonio, where it broke Nissan’s eight race winning streak. As the points-leading 962 of the 1988 season, DR1 is largely credited with clinching Porsche’s final IMSA Manufacturer’s Championship, beating Nissan by one point. In addition, DR1 secured Dyson Racing’s fourth North American Porsche Cup and carried Price Cobb and James Weaver to Third and Fourth in the Driver’s Championship, behind Nissan’s Geoff Brabham and Jaguar’s John Nielsen. At the end of the 1988 season, Dyson retired DR1. The car was later campaigned in selected IMSA events during the 1990 and 1991 seasons. Some time later, DR1 was acquired by noted collector George Stauffer, who subsequently sold it to enthusiast and vintage racer Larry Wilson.

While owned by Mr. Wilson, DR1 was entered in several exhibition events, including Rennsport Reunion 11 (2004) and the Concours de Graylyn Car Festival (2006). The car was then sold to Rolex Sports Car Series driver Steve Goldin, who entered the car at Rennsport Reunion III (2007). DR1 has since been purchased by its current owner, who has continued to keep up its maintenance and care.

Since being retired from professional racing in 1991, DR1 has had no traumatic experiences on or off the track. More importantly, during its thirteen race career in the hands of, among others, Price Cobb, Rob Dyson, John Paul Jr., James Weaver, and Bill Adam, it never suffered any significant or irreparable damage. DR1 still retains its original RLR/GTi chassis.

Restored some years ago by Porsche specialist Paul Willison, DR1 has since been maintained by both Mr. Willison and specialists at SpeedWerks, in North Carolina. DR1 has recently undergone a thorough race preparation, at which time its single-turbo, air-cooled, 3.2-liter motor had its bearing seals, rings, and waste gates renewed, as well as having all four corners overhauled and a new fuel bag installed. As the car was constructed in 1988, it is eligible for all foreign and domestic IMSA GTP/Group C vintage events without restriction.

2012 Auction Results:

Other race cars @ The Madison Zamperini Collection