Dauer Sportwagen
Encyclopedia
Dauer Sportwagen GmbH was a German
automotive
company founded by former racing driver Jochen Dauer in Nuremberg
. Initially founded as Jochen Dauer Racing in 1987, the racing team
had several years of participation in the German Supercup
and European Interserie
championships, as well as occasional runs in the World Sports-Prototype Championship
and Camel GT Championships
with the Porsche 962
. Following the demise of sports prototype
racing in the early 1990s, Dauer Racing GmbH was created to begin limited production of road cars, including a road-legal version of the 962, known as the Dauer 962 Le Mans
, which later went on to win the 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans
. Once changing to Dauer Sportwagen, the company sold a continuation of the Bugatti EB110
. The company went bankrupt in 2008 and parts for the EB110 were transferred to Toscana-Motors GmbH.
and its successor championship, the Supercup
. Following the 1986 season, Jochen Dauer purchased a Porsche 962
C, formerly belonging to the John Fitzpatrick team, as well as a Zakspeed
C1/8. Dauer was able to secure sponsorship from the Victor Computer
company, and confirmed a full-season campaign in the Supercup for the 962C, while the Zakspeed car would run in the Interserie
. Jochen Dauer was the sole driver of the machines in both championships. Towards the end of 1987, Dauer also chose to enter the World Sports-Prototype Championship
, with Johnny Dumfries and Harald Grohs
co-driving in the endurance events.
Dauer Racing continued to run their old Zakspeed as well as another newly purchased Porsche in Supercup and Interserie into 1988, and earned their first victory in the Interserie event at Autodrom Most
, followed by a one-two victory at Zeltweg Airfield
with Franz Konrad
in the second entry. Jochen Dauer won the Interserie drivers championship for the year.
In 1989, Dauer Racing chose to concentrate fully on the World Championship and Supercup, only occasionally attending Interserie events. Franz Konrad remained as the co-driver initially, but was later replaced by Will Hoy
. Tic Tacs
replaced Victor Computer as the team's primary sponsor. Dauer Racing struggled in the World Championship, finishing only one race in which they competed in. In Supercup however, the team finished second in the championship behind the dominant Joest Racing
squad, although no victories were earned during the year, nor in the Interserie.
By 1990, the Supercup championship had been canceled. Seeking new areas with which to race the team's 962s, Dauer entered a team in the Camel GT Championship
in North America, while the European squad was merged with Konrad Motorsport
for a joint entry in the World Championship. Both squads struggled to complete races eventually withdrew from their respective championships before the year was completed. Strapped for cash, Dauer Racing made a last-ditch effort at the 24 Hours of Daytona
in 1991, entering two 962s. One car was driven by Mario
, Michael
, and Jeff Andretti
to a fifth place finish overall, while the other featured Al
, Al Jr.
, Bobby
, and Robby Unser
, although it failed to finish. After this, Dauer Racing withdrew from motorsport.
was completed and put on display. Porsche
assisted in providing numerous customer parts that had been developed for the 962, as well as assistance in developing new parts necessary to make the 962 legal for the streets. Once the first car was completed, Porsche approached Dauer about converting the next two chassis to race cars once again, in an attempt to re-enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans
under the new production-based grand tourer
regulations, rather than the 962's previous Group C
class. Running the Dauer 962s under a different class allowed it to use a larger fuel tank and a larger air restrictor.
Successfully completed by June 1994, the next two chassis were entered by the factory Porsche team, running in a production-based classification thanks to new regulations. Drivers Yannick Dalmas
, Hurley Haywood
, and Mauro Baldi
won the race overall, while the second car finished in third place. The following year the regulations were changed once again, and Dauer's 962s were not to race again.
Emphasis returned to production of the 962 Le Mans road cars. Although only a couple were ordered each year, the cars continued to be sold for several more years.
In 1995, Romano Artioli
's Bugatti Automobili SpA
went bankrupt and the company was eventually liquidated. During an auction held in 1997, Dauer Sportwagen bought most of the remains of the company, including spare parts and five unfinished EB110
chassis. Dauer began immediate development and refinement of the EB110's design in hopes of continuing production.
By 2001, Dauer had completed their alterations to the EB110s and offered the five chassis they had finished for sale. The cars, based on the SS version of the EB110, re-added the four-wheel drive
system that had been on the standard EB110 but not included on the original SS models. The increased weight of the four-wheel drive was offset by new carbon fiber
bodywork which was 200 kg lighter than the standard bodywork. The engines were remapped and power was increased to upwards of 705 PS.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
automotive
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
company founded by former racing driver Jochen Dauer in Nuremberg
Nuremberg
Nuremberg[p] is a city in the German state of Bavaria, in the administrative region of Middle Franconia. Situated on the Pegnitz river and the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal, it is located about north of Munich and is Franconia's largest city. The population is 505,664...
. Initially founded as Jochen Dauer Racing in 1987, the racing team
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
had several years of participation in the German Supercup
Supercup
The series was initially sponsored by sport auto magazine during its inaugural season, then replaced by Würth the following two years. Television network Sat.1 sponsor the championship's final year.-Format:...
and European Interserie
Interserie
Interserie is the name of a European-based motorsport series started in 1970 that allows for a wide variety of racing cars from various eras and series to compete with less limited rules than in other series....
championships, as well as occasional runs in the World Sports-Prototype Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
and Camel GT Championships
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
with the Porsche 962
Porsche 962
The Porsche 962 was a sports-prototype racing car built by Porsche as a replacement for the 956 and designed mainly to comply with IMSA's GTP regulations, although it would later compete in the European Group C formula as the 956 had...
. Following the demise of sports prototype
Sports prototype
A sports prototype, also referred to as simply a prototype, is a form of racing car that is used as a top category in sports car racing. These purpose-built racing cars differ from street-legal and production-based racing cars that also compete in sports car racing.Prototype racing cars have...
racing in the early 1990s, Dauer Racing GmbH was created to begin limited production of road cars, including a road-legal version of the 962, known as the Dauer 962 Le Mans
Dauer 962 Le Mans
The Dauer 962 Le Mans is a sports car based on the Porsche 962 racing car. Built by German Jochen Dauer's Dauer Racing, a racing version of this car went on to win the 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans with the support of Porsche through the use of regulation loopholes.- Road car :Dauer Racing produced...
, which later went on to win the 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans
1994 24 Hours of Le Mans
The 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 62nd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 19 and 20, 1994.-Race:The 1994 race was won by a car that had its roots in a 10 year old design...
. Once changing to Dauer Sportwagen, the company sold a continuation of the Bugatti EB110
Bugatti EB110
The Bugatti EB110 is a mid-engine sports car from Bugatti Automobili SpA. It was unveiled on September 15, 1991, in both Versailles and in front of the Grande Arche at La Défense in Paris, France, exactly 110 years after Ettore Bugatti's birth....
. The company went bankrupt in 2008 and parts for the EB110 were transferred to Toscana-Motors GmbH.
Early racing
For several years, Jochen Dauer had run for a number of teams, mainly in the Deutsche Rennsport MeisterschaftDeutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft or simply DRM as it was known, was a touring car and Sportscar racing series...
and its successor championship, the Supercup
Supercup
The series was initially sponsored by sport auto magazine during its inaugural season, then replaced by Würth the following two years. Television network Sat.1 sponsor the championship's final year.-Format:...
. Following the 1986 season, Jochen Dauer purchased a Porsche 962
Porsche 962
The Porsche 962 was a sports-prototype racing car built by Porsche as a replacement for the 956 and designed mainly to comply with IMSA's GTP regulations, although it would later compete in the European Group C formula as the 956 had...
C, formerly belonging to the John Fitzpatrick team, as well as a Zakspeed
Zakspeed
Zakspeed is a motor racing team from Germany, founded in 1968 by Erich Zakowski and nowadays run by his son Peter Zakowski. Their home town of Niederzissen is located not far away from the Nürburgring race track.-1973 to 1981: Saloon and sports car racing:...
C1/8. Dauer was able to secure sponsorship from the Victor Computer
Sirius Systems Technology
Sirius Systems Technology was a personal computer manufacturer in Scotts Valley, California. It was founded in 1980 by Chuck Peddle and Chris Fish, formerly of MOS Technology and capitalized by Walter Kidde Inc. In late 1982 Sirius acquired Victor Business Systems from Kidde and changed its name...
company, and confirmed a full-season campaign in the Supercup for the 962C, while the Zakspeed car would run in the Interserie
Interserie
Interserie is the name of a European-based motorsport series started in 1970 that allows for a wide variety of racing cars from various eras and series to compete with less limited rules than in other series....
. Jochen Dauer was the sole driver of the machines in both championships. Towards the end of 1987, Dauer also chose to enter the World Sports-Prototype Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
, with Johnny Dumfries and Harald Grohs
Harald Grohs
Harald Grohs is a race driver and team owner from Essen, Germany.Grohs took part in more than 50 24 Hours endurance racing races, mainly 24 Hours of Le Mans and 24 Hours Nürburgring.- Career as driver :...
co-driving in the endurance events.
Dauer Racing continued to run their old Zakspeed as well as another newly purchased Porsche in Supercup and Interserie into 1988, and earned their first victory in the Interserie event at Autodrom Most
Autodrom Most
Autodrom Most is a motorsport race track near Most in the northwest of the Czech Republic.- External links :*...
, followed by a one-two victory at Zeltweg Airfield
Zeltweg Airfield
Zeltweg Airfield, now known as Fliegerhorst Hinterstoisser, is a military airfield in Styria, Austria near Zeltweg. It is the main airfield of the Austrian Air Force.-Motorsports:...
with Franz Konrad
Franz Konrad
Franz Konrad is a former race driver and founder of Konrad Motorsport in 1976.As a driver, he won the 1983 German Formula 3 Championship in an Anson SA4-Toyota. In 1990, he took a career best 2nd in the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans driving a Jaguar, then followed this with an overall victory in the...
in the second entry. Jochen Dauer won the Interserie drivers championship for the year.
In 1989, Dauer Racing chose to concentrate fully on the World Championship and Supercup, only occasionally attending Interserie events. Franz Konrad remained as the co-driver initially, but was later replaced by Will Hoy
Will Hoy
William Ewing Hoy , was a British racing driver and the 1991 British Touring Car Champion, the highlight of a 20-year career in motor racing. Born in Melbourn, Cambridgeshire, Hoy did not begin racing until his late 20s and first raced at international level in 1985, taking on the full World...
. Tic Tacs
Tic Tac (candy)
Tic Tac is a brand of small, hard mints manufactured by the Italian confectioner Ferrero. The individual candy pieces are commonly called Tic Tacs themselves....
replaced Victor Computer as the team's primary sponsor. Dauer Racing struggled in the World Championship, finishing only one race in which they competed in. In Supercup however, the team finished second in the championship behind the dominant Joest Racing
Joest Racing
Joest Racing is a racing team that was established in 1978 by former Porsche works racer Reinhold Joest...
squad, although no victories were earned during the year, nor in the Interserie.
By 1990, the Supercup championship had been canceled. Seeking new areas with which to race the team's 962s, Dauer entered a team in the Camel GT Championship
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
in North America, while the European squad was merged with Konrad Motorsport
Konrad Motorsport
Konrad Motorsport is an auto racing team initially from Austria but now residing in Germany. Founded by Austrian racer Franz Konrad in 1989, the team has mostly run Porsches, although they have also run Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Saleens over their existence.-History:Initially competing in the...
for a joint entry in the World Championship. Both squads struggled to complete races eventually withdrew from their respective championships before the year was completed. Strapped for cash, Dauer Racing made a last-ditch effort at the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
in 1991, entering two 962s. One car was driven by Mario
Mario Andretti
Mario Gabriele Andretti is a retired Italian American world champion racing driver, one of the most successful Americans in the history of the sport. He is one of only two drivers to win races in Formula One, IndyCar, World Sportscar Championship and NASCAR...
, Michael
Michael Andretti
Michael Mario Andretti is a retired American CART and Formula One driver and owner of the Andretti Autosport team in the IndyCar Series. Andretti is the son of Mario Andretti. His son is Marco Andretti.-Early career:...
, and Jeff Andretti
Jeff Andretti
Jeff Andretti is an American race car driver. He competed in CART, and was the series' Rookie of the Year in 1991.-Racing career:...
to a fifth place finish overall, while the other featured Al
Al Unser
Alfred "Al" Unser is a former American automobile racing driver, the younger brother of fellow racing drivers Jerry and Bobby Unser, and father of Al Unser, Jr....
, Al Jr.
Al Unser, Jr.
Alfred Unser, Jr. , nicknamed "Little Al", "Al Junior" or simply "Junior" is a retired American race car driver and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner.-History:...
, Bobby
Bobby Unser
Robert William "Bobby" Unser is a retired U.S. automobile racer. He is the brother of Al Unser, Jerry Unser and Louie Unser, the father of Robby Unser, and the uncle of Al Unser, Jr. and Johnny Unser...
, and Robby Unser
Robby Unser
Robby Unser is a former Indy Racing League driver and eight time winner of the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb. He was the IRL rookie of the year in 1998. Robby made two starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of 5th in 1998. He also finished second twice in the 1998 season, his best...
, although it failed to finish. After this, Dauer Racing withdrew from motorsport.
Converting 962s
Shortly after Dauer Racing was closed, Jochen Dauer began work on converting a Porsche 962 so that it could be used by the public on the street. Dauer Sportwagen was created from the remnants of Dauer Racing, and conversion of Porsche 962 chassis #169 began. By the Frankfurt Auto Show of 1993, the first Dauer 962 Le MansDauer 962 Le Mans
The Dauer 962 Le Mans is a sports car based on the Porsche 962 racing car. Built by German Jochen Dauer's Dauer Racing, a racing version of this car went on to win the 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans with the support of Porsche through the use of regulation loopholes.- Road car :Dauer Racing produced...
was completed and put on display. Porsche
Porsche
Porsche Automobil Holding SE, usually shortened to Porsche SE a Societas Europaea or European Public Company, is a German based holding company with investments in the automotive industry....
assisted in providing numerous customer parts that had been developed for the 962, as well as assistance in developing new parts necessary to make the 962 legal for the streets. Once the first car was completed, Porsche approached Dauer about converting the next two chassis to race cars once again, in an attempt to re-enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
under the new production-based grand tourer
Grand tourer
A grand tourer is a high-performance luxury automobile designed for long-distance driving. The most common format is a two-door coupé with either a two-seat or a 2+2 arrangement....
regulations, rather than the 962's previous Group C
Group C
Group C was a category of motorsport, introduced by the FIA in 1982 for sports car racing, along with Group A for touring cars and Group B for GTs....
class. Running the Dauer 962s under a different class allowed it to use a larger fuel tank and a larger air restrictor.
Successfully completed by June 1994, the next two chassis were entered by the factory Porsche team, running in a production-based classification thanks to new regulations. Drivers Yannick Dalmas
Yannick Dalmas
Yannick Dalmas is a former racing driver from France. He participated in 49 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on 18 October 1987, but qualified for only 24 of them. His best result in F1 was a 5th place at the 1987 Australian Grand Prix, but he was not eligible for World Championship points at...
, Hurley Haywood
Hurley Haywood
Hurley Haywood is an American race-car driver who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1977 , 1983 and 1994 and is the most successful driver at the 24 Hours of Daytona with 5 wins . He won the 12 Hours of Sebring in 1973 and 1981...
, and Mauro Baldi
Mauro Baldi
Mauro Baldi is an Italian former Formula One driver who raced for the Arrows, Alfa Romeo and Spirit teams.He started his career in rallying in 1972 and turned to circuit racing in 1975 with the Italian Renault 5 Cup...
won the race overall, while the second car finished in third place. The following year the regulations were changed once again, and Dauer's 962s were not to race again.
Emphasis returned to production of the 962 Le Mans road cars. Although only a couple were ordered each year, the cars continued to be sold for several more years.
Purchase of the remains of Bugatti
In 1995, Romano Artioli
Romano Artioli
Romano Artioli is an Italian entrepreneur and one-time owner of Bugatti and Lotus automobile makers.Artioli was born in Moglia of the Province of Mantua, and raised in Bolzano where he in the 1980s ran one of the largest Ferrari dealerships in the world, selling in northern Italy and southern...
's Bugatti Automobili SpA
Bugatti
Automobiles E. Bugatti was a French car manufacturer founded in 1909 in Molsheim, Alsace, as a manufacturer of high-performance automobiles by Italian-born Ettore Bugatti....
went bankrupt and the company was eventually liquidated. During an auction held in 1997, Dauer Sportwagen bought most of the remains of the company, including spare parts and five unfinished EB110
Bugatti EB110
The Bugatti EB110 is a mid-engine sports car from Bugatti Automobili SpA. It was unveiled on September 15, 1991, in both Versailles and in front of the Grande Arche at La Défense in Paris, France, exactly 110 years after Ettore Bugatti's birth....
chassis. Dauer began immediate development and refinement of the EB110's design in hopes of continuing production.
By 2001, Dauer had completed their alterations to the EB110s and offered the five chassis they had finished for sale. The cars, based on the SS version of the EB110, re-added the four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
system that had been on the standard EB110 but not included on the original SS models. The increased weight of the four-wheel drive was offset by new carbon fiber
Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber, alternatively graphite fiber, carbon graphite or CF, is a material consisting of fibers about 5–10 μm in diameter and composed mostly of carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are bonded together in crystals that are more or less aligned parallel to the long axis of the fiber...
bodywork which was 200 kg lighter than the standard bodywork. The engines were remapped and power was increased to upwards of 705 PS.