How Vern Schuppan’s 1992 Porsche 962R Plan Brought a Group C Race Car to the Street

A racer adapted for roads

Schuppan’s road-car project grew from a Le Mans long-tail Porsche 962. The red car shown was a Stuttgart-built 962, chassis number 962/123, originally raced in IMSA by the Primus team.

Schuppan rebuilt it as a Group C car and took it to Le Mans in 1988. Driven by Brian Redman, Jean-Pierre Jarier and Eje Elgh, it ran as high as sixth and finished tenth.

The car was commissioned by Art Sport Division, an exotic-machinery company headed by Toshio Terada. Its owner, Japanese real-estate executive and racing sponsor Hiroyuki Miyake, wanted a Le Mans car with minimal changes for road use.

A limited production plan

The planned Team Schuppan 962CR used “C” for Group C and “R” for road. It was to receive unique GT bodywork and comfort features, with a stated price of $1,620,000.

Art Sport Division said it would sell 50 cars worldwide, with 17 intended for the United States. The project’s production models were to use Schuppan’s carbon-fiber monocoque chassis and bodywork made from carbon fiber and Kevlar, rather than the Porsche panels, which were mostly fiberglass.

Engineering for road use

Making a full-spec Group C car meet road regulations proved more involved than Schuppan and associate Howden Ganley had expected. Ganley was an ex-racer who ran the Tiga race-car company.

U.S. and Japanese rules required a three-way catalytic system. Two converters were fitted in the rear air-exit ducts, while Bosch Motronic MP 1.2 engine management provided electronic controls; emissions requirements were met without reducing maximum power from 680 horsepower.

The chassis side sections already held water and oil radiators and turbo intercoolers. Schuppan’s team added two electric fans to help cool the car in traffic, along with air conditioning housed below the passenger door.

A more manageable 962

The car started from cold with a turn of the key and idled at about 1,500 rpm without attention. Its engine note was described as muted but authentic to the Porsche.

The 962CR was intended to be easier to live with than the Le Mans car. The stiff, single-plate clutch engaged abruptly, requiring careful coordination of pedal and engine speed when changing gears.

The brake pedal required effort to operate the large Alcon calipers, though it was not considered unduly heavy. The steering was lighter than expected at gentle cruising speed.