Porsche’s hopeful Le Mans future meets its illustrious past

Rising sportscar star Adam Smalley had to pinch himself when offered the chance to drive the car that won the world’s most famous enduro in 1987

“You feel every bump. Every single one, even at low speed. I couldn’t imagine going down the Mulsanne Straight at more than 200mph in this car. It must have been bouncing around everywhere. Respect to the guys who raced these cars.”

The car in question is a Porsche 962C, #006, the chassis with which the greatest sportscar design of all claimed a sixth victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1987. The dues being paid go to Derek Bell, Hans Stuck and Al Holbert Jr, the winning line-up in the Rothmans-sponsored factory car 35 years ago, but also perhaps to the hundreds of drivers who raced the 956 and 962 at Le Mans over a period of 17 years.

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Author Gary Watkins

Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.

Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.