Two turbochargers, 700 PS, and simply 850 kilograms in weight. Efficiency figures that sound mightily spectacular even at the moment, by no means thoughts practically 40 years in the past when Hans-Joachim Caught first piloted his well-known Porsche 962 C to championship victory within the 1986 and 1987 seasons of the ADAC Würth Supercup.
The long-lasting racing automobile was additionally the unique motorsport check mattress for the progressive Porsche-Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) system and through its illustrious profession was raced with each automated and handbook transmission. In 2021, the automobile underwent a full and thorough restoration on the Weissach Growth Centre – the place it was initially constructed – returning it to its 1987 specification, full with the putting pink and yellow livery with Shell and Dunlop sponsorship.
The championship-winning 962 C appeared on the closing spherical of the 2025 Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia season at Mantorp Park for just a few exhibition laps – pushed by seasoned racing driver His Royal Highness Prince Carl Philip of Sweden. Forward of the large day, HRH took to the observe for a few follow classes to familiarise himself with the extraordinarily highly effective automobile.
A royal childhood dream on the racetrack
“It’s a boyhood dream come true,” he admitted because the 962 C was unloaded from the Porsche Motorsport truck. “I’m extremely grateful for this chance.”
The racing royal is definitely effectively certified for the duty, having competed within the Porsche Carrera Cup since 2008 and celebrated his 100th race begin within the sequence earlier this 12 months – in addition to having amassed quite a lot of expertise racing in different classes, such because the Swedish Touring Automobile Championship and Swedish GT sequence.
It’s maybe no shock that he harbours such an curiosity in automobiles, being from a line of avid motor fans and Porsche followers. His father, His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, was famously photographed driving a 911 Targa in 1973 together with his now spouse Queen Silvia early of their courtship. The King’s automotive ardour has led him to rising a formidable assortment of automobiles from a number of marques – a group through which his 1973 Porsche 911 Targa nonetheless resides. His Majesty additionally takes nice satisfaction in repeatedly attending the season finale of the Carrera Cup Scandinavia to look at his son race. Prince Carl Philip’s nice uncle, the late Prince Bertil, was affectionately generally known as ‘the motor prince’ and in addition owned a number of examples of Porsche sports activities automobiles throughout his life.
On observe: energy, precision and keenness
Hopping from his normal 911 GT3 Cup – which weighs 1,260 kg and produces an influence output of 510 PS – and into the 962 C, Prince Carl Philip instantly famous the massive variations. Maybe most obvious was the compactness of the older automobile’s cockpit. Regardless of its unique driver’s lofty stature, the cabin might solely be described as ‘comfortable’.
However, HRH rapidly acquired to grips with the 962 C, his lap occasions getting progressively faster as he turned extra comfy and the large slick tyres approached their optimum temperature. “It’s not simple to drive, but it surely goes extremely effectively when you get the tyres as much as temperature,” he mentioned after his first session on observe. “And the facility when the turbochargers kick in … effectively, that’s one thing you’ve acquired to be prepared for!”
Alexander Klein, Head of Heritage Operations and Communication, was impressed by the Prince’s driving. “It’s not simple to get into such a quick automobile and drive it so quick after simply a few laps,” says Klein. “You possibly can inform that the prince is each an skilled and assured driver.”
The Porsche 962 C: a technological milestone reborn
After its lively racing profession, 962 C chassis quantity 009 turned an aerodynamics check automobile at Weissach earlier than finally changing into a part of the Porsche Heritage and Museum assortment. “For years, we’d walked previous this automobile within the warehouse,” explains Armin Burger, Coordinator of Historic Motorsport at Porsche. “Then, [in 2020], we determined to deliver it out, take it to Weissach and begin work on it.”
Members of the group that initially labored with the automobile have been introduced in to help with the restoration – together with legendary engineer Norbert Singer and designer Robert Powell, the person initially chargeable for the enduring pink, yellow and black livery design. “After we gathered all the proper individuals collectively to work on the automobile, every little thing instantly turned clear,” says Burger. “We realized an unimaginable quantity from Singer and Powell who have been proper there when all of it occurred.”
For the exhibition laps within the sunshine at Mantorp Park, the automobile’s gold BBS wheels have been fitted with treaded tyres that might stand up to temperature a lot faster than the slicks – and the Prince was definitely not shy of discovering the restrict. “I had grip within the tyres right away,” HRH defined. “With solely three exhibition laps in entrance of the gang, it’s extra enjoyable for them if I dare to push a little bit – and extra enjoyable for me too!”
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