- Owned from new by Hotchkis Racing and raced by the Hotchkis family for decades, 1986 Porsche 962 IMSA GTP makes its auction debut at RM’s flagship Monterey sale, August 15–16 in California
- Eligible to compete in various vintage racing events, including the Daytona 24 Hour Classic, the Le Mans Classic, the Monterey Historics, and the Rennsport Reunion
- Held during the world-famous Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Monterey Historics, RM sale to feature more than 120 blue-chip collector cars
- Further event information and a frequently updated list of entries available online at www.rmauctions.com
BLENHEIM, Ontario (July 17, 2014) – RM Auctions, the world’s largest collector car auction house for investment-quality automobiles, will shine the spotlight on a superlative roster of sports and racing cars when its flagship Monterey sale returns to California from August 15 to 16. Among the latest highlights to join the starting grid, a 1986 Porsche 962 IMSA GTP.
Porsche’s amazing 962 endurance prototype holds a special place in the history books as one of the most successful and dominant racing designs in history. Highly competitive, it proved formidable on the track for almost a full decade from its introduction. Purchased new from the Porsche factory by the Hotchkis family and its racing team, the example on offer, chassis 962/F01 (HR3F), is no exception, boasting an impressive race record in both IMSA’s Camel GTP series and vintage racing.
Powered by an awesome, latest-spec 3.2 single-turbo 750-brake horsepower 962 engine that was built by Porsche Motorsport North America, the car on offer is described by its owner as being fully race-prepared and actively maintained for the track. Carrying the livery of Wynn’s Engine Oil Products Company, it was originally tested at Watkins Glen, New York, by the late Al Holbert prior to the mid-season Camel Continental 500 on July 6, 1986. There, driven by Jim Adams and John Hotchkis, it qualified 13th and finished 8th. The Hotchkis/Wynn’s team went on to race their 962 extensively over the ensuing years, proving very competitive in the IMSA Camel GTP series before the car was retired in 1991.
Its break from the racing scene was, however, short-lived, with the car returning to the track as a vintage racer in 1997. Among a long list of vintage racing highlights are numerous wins and top-five finishes at Historic Sports Car Racing events between 1998 and 2001 and, more recently, a win in the GTP category race at the 2009 Monterey Historics. This car also proved competitive at Laguna Seca’s 2011 Rennsport IV Porsche festival, claiming 4th overall in the Stuttgart Cup.
“Beyond all the auction and concours excitement, vintage racing is at the core of the Monterey week,” says Ian Kelleher, Managing Director, RM Auctions’ West Coast division. “It’s hard to imagine a more exciting vintage race car than this fully developed 962. It is a perfect fit for the Monterey week, and we’re truly honoured to have been entrusted with its sale by its long-term owner. It’s already proven itself successful with its racing pursuits on the Monterey Peninsula and we look forward to replicating this success on the auction stage.”
This 962’s presence at auction next month represents the first time it has been offered for public sale. It is accompanied at auction by its original tub and one spare set of new BBS wheels.
The 962/F01 (HR3F) joins a spectacular roster of more than 120 blue-chip collector cars at RM Auctions’ flagship Monterey sale, being held from August 15 to 16, during the famed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance week in California. For further information on the sale, or to view a frequently updated list of entries, visit www.rmauctions.com or call +1 519 352 4575.