Le Mans legends part 5/10: Hans-Joachim Stuck

AS WE NEAR THE ULTIMATE TEST IN MOTORSPORT, PORSCHE’S LE MANS LEGENDS RELIVE THE HIGHS AND LOWS

Mark Webber posted in Porsche

4y ago

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The 962 is the best race car that I ever drove. Brute force and unbelievable ground effects.

Hans-Joachim Stuck - born 01.01.1951 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Overall winner with Porsche 1986 and 1987 - remembers almost a minute on the Mulsanne straight at over 220mph ...

“My Le Mans moment lasted three minutes and 14.8 seconds. Pole position with the Porsche 962 C, a perfect lap. And because the Mulsanne straight was later defanged through the addition of chicanes, it will likely be a record for posterity.

"The 962 is the best race car that I ever drove. Brute force and unbelievable ground effects. The centrifugal forces were enormous, and there was no power steering. You needed the strength of a bear and a lot of courage. I just had one run because of the tyres. Start, Dunlop curve, left, right through the Esses. At Tertre Rouge I was pushing the traction limits. But the corner is so important for your speed on the Mulsanne straight, and it was right on. Fifty seconds of flooring it, then brake from 360 km/h for the Mulsanne corner and jump back on the gas as soon as possible. Indianapolis, Arnage, Porsche curves, Maison Blanche, Ford chicane, and you’re done.

"In those three minutes my concentration was sharp as a knife. It was just me and that Porsche at Le Mans.”