LeMans Miniatures Porsche 962-FATurbo

Historique / Historical background :
R�f. / Item number : 132036M
Code barre / barre code : 3700474500439

Based on a model presented at the Frankfort Exhibition by Jochen Dauer, the strategy and development of the Porsche 962 for the 1994 24 hours of Le Mans began with the optimum interpretation of ACO's regulations by Porsche's N. Singer and R. Joest. By ratifying a sport racing car in the GT category, they succeeded in challenging the very nature of endurance racing. Its success was accomplished by many changes made to the original model.

Never had a Porsche 962 been so long (4995 cm) and with such improved engine performance. This was the work of the wizard R. Joest (cooling system, water cooler with a heat exchanger for the engine oil and cooling the gear oil in the heat exchanger). The talent, tenacity and reliability of drivers were also major factors in achieving the victory. However the narrow width of tires (only 14�), the small diameter of wheels, and the heavy weight of the cars created problems with the tires and suspensions that consequently caused them to waste precious seconds at the end of the race, especially for the number 35 car.

The two qualified in the 5th and 7th positions and immediately mounted a challenge to the pole-sitting and favoured Toyota. While car number 35 was soon threatened with problems of tires and suspension, number 36, driven by Dalmas, showed either some doubt about the reliability of the car. In the evening the time required to change its left rear transmission system relegated it to the 6th position, 3 laps down. After 9 hours racing, only 10 seconds separated the Dauer n�35 and the Toyota in front. In the morning while Boutsen won the fastest lap (3'52�54) the transmission suffered and its change caused them to lose 3 laps on the �Fat� as Irvine continued on his march on victory. Then just 98 minutes from the end, the Toyota with Krosnoff, rolled to a stop on the wrong side of the pit wall with the gear in neutral and lost the lead. The two Porsches ran first and second in the closing stages, one lap apart. Nevertheless, on the next to last lap, Irvine passed the German car number 35 at the Ford Chicane and fended off Boutsen's last challenge at the finish line to give the Porsches a first and third place.

La strat�gie de d�veloppement de la Porsche 962 des 24 Heures du Mans 1994 bas�e sur la 962 Jochen Dauer pr�sent�e au Salon de Francfort repose sur l'exploitation optimale du r�glement A.C.O par Porsche - Norbert Singer et Reinhold Joest. En homologuant une voiture de course en cat�gorie GT, ils sont sans conteste parvenus � d�fier toute logique. Mais c'est sur le travail apport� au mod�le d'origine que la victoire s'est construite.

Jamais en effet une Porsche 962 n'avait �t� aussi longue et n'avait eu une telle capacit� moteur, r�sultat du travail du sorcier Reinhold Joest (syst�me de refroidissement de la bo�te et du moteur par le circuit g�n�ral�). Mais il a aussi fallu compter sur la fiabilit� et la t�nacit� des pilotes. Seul b�mol au succ�s de Porsche, la petite largeur des pneus et le petit diam�tre des roues ainsi que le poids important de la voiture qui ont sollicit� les pneus et les suspensions leur faisant perdre des secondes qui � la fin se sont av�r�es pr�cieuses notamment pour la n�35.
Les deux voitures qualifi�es en 5�me et 7�me positions aux essais menacent d�s les premi�res heures de course les Toyota pourtant favorites. Si la voiture n�35 bute sur quelques sorties de route, des probl�mes de pneus et de suspension, dans le m�me temps on doute de la fiabilit� de la � Fat � pilot�e par Dalmas. Le changement de sa transmission arri�re gauche l'immobilise d'ailleurs en d�but de soir�e et la rel�gue au 6�me rang � 3 tours des leaders.

Apr�s 9 heures de course pourtant dix secondes seulement s�parent la Dauer n�35 de la Toyota de t�te. Mais au matin, alors que Boutsen remporte le record d�finitif du meilleur tour, la transmission souffre et son changement lui fait perdre 3 tours sur la Fat et la Toyota d'Irvine qui continue a priori sa marche triomphale. A 2 heures de l'arriv�e, ironie du sort ou infortune, la Toyota s'arr�te devant les tribunes face aux stands commandes de bo�te de vitesse bloqu�es et perd la premi�re place. A l'avant dernier tour pourtant revirement de situation, au virage Ford Irvine passe devant la Shell et vole la deuxi�me place d�finitive du classement derri�re la Porsche n�36.