Sauber C9
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| Category | Group C Prototype | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constructor | Sauber Motorsport | ||||||||
| Designer(s) |
Peter Sauber Heini Mader | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Sauber C8 | ||||||||
| Successor | Mercedes-Benz C11 | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Light alloy monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbones, coil springs over shock absorbers, torsion bar stabilizer | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbones, push-rod operated coil springs over shock absorbers, torsion bar stabilizer | ||||||||
| Length | 189 in (480.1 cm) | ||||||||
| Width | 78 in (198.1 cm) | ||||||||
| Height | 42.1 in (106.9 cm) | ||||||||
| Axle track | 63 in (160.0 cm) | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 106.3 in (270.0 cm) | ||||||||
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz M119 4,973 cc (303.5 cu in) HL 90° 5.0L Turbo V8 Twin KKK Turbos Mid engined, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | 5-speed Manual | ||||||||
| Weight | 905 kg (1,995.2 lb) | ||||||||
| Fuel | Bosch Motronic MP 2.7 Fuel Injection | ||||||||
| Tyres | Michelin | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants |
 Kouros Racing Team Sauber Mercedes | ||||||||
| Notable drivers |
Jochen Mass Manuel Reuter Stanley Dickens Mauro Baldi Kenny Acheson Gianfranco Brancatelli Jean-Louis Schlesser Jean-Pierre Jabouille Alain Cudini | ||||||||
| Debut | 1987 1000km of Spa | ||||||||
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| Teams' Championships | 1 (1989) | ||||||||
| Constructors' Championships | 1 (1989) | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 1 (Jean-Louis Schlesser, 1989) | ||||||||
The Sauber C9 (later named the Sauber Mercedes C9 or Mercedes-Benz C9) was a Group C prototype race car introduced in 1987 as a continuation of the partnership between Sauber as a constructor and Mercedes-Benz as an engine builder for the World Sportscar Championship. The C9 replaced the previous Sauber C8.
History
For its debut season in 1987, the cars were run by Kouros Racing, named after the fragrance brand of its sponsor, Yves Saint Laurent, although officially backed by Mercedes-Benz. The team managed a mere twelfth in the teams standings, scoring points in only a single round. For 1988, Kouros was dropped as a sponsor, forcing the team to be renamed Sauber Mercedes. As a result, Mercedes used AEG-Olympia for sponsor – AEG being owned by Daimler-Benz at the time. They managed to finish second in the championship behind the Jaguar XJR-9 with five wins for the season. Unfortunately at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the team suffered an embarrassing setback when they were forced to withdraw due to concern over their Michelin tires.
Finally, in 1989, the car was able to achieve great success. Beside replacing the black color scheme for its national plain silver scheme, reducing AEG as a minor sponsor, the older M117 5.0L turbocharged V8 engine was upgraded to the M119, which replaced steel heads with new aluminium. The C9 was able to win all but one race in the 1989 season, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans. During qualifying for Le Mans, the C9 recorded a speed of 247 mph (398 km/h) on the Mulsanne Straight, a record. Mercedes driver Jean-Louis Schlesser would end up taking the driver's championship that season.
The C9 would be replaced by the Mercedes-Benz C11 from the second race onwards of the 1990 season, where it took one final win.
Achievements
Reaching 248.0 mph (400 km/h) during the qualifying sessions of the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Sauber C9 has set one of the fastest top speeds ever in the history of the competition at Le Mans. These speeds led to the cessation on the huge Le Mans Mulsanne Straight and the introduction of two chicanes, from 1990 onwards.
The C9's top speed was only beaten by the WM Peugeot prototype, with a speed of 251.1 mph (405 km/h) in the 1988 race.[1] However the WM, optimized for a low drag setup and high straight line speed, suffered from handling problems elsewhere on the circuit and the engine was prone to overheating. Indeed the car's fastest time was set with tape applied over the ducting for aerodynamic purposes and was withdrawn as soon as a new record was set to avoid an expensive rebuild.
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | Class | No. | Team | Drivers | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | C1 | 61 | Kouros Racing |
 Mike Thackwell Henri Pescarolo Hideki Okada |
123 | DNF | DNF |
| C1 | 62 | Kouros Racing |
 Chip Ganassi Johnny Dumfries Mike Thackwell |
37 | DNF | DNF | |
| 1988 | C1 | 61 | Team Sauber Mercedes |
Mauro Baldi James Weaver Jochen Mass |
— | DNS | DNS |
| C1 | 62 | Team Sauber Mercedes |
Klaus Niedzwiedz Kenny Acheson |
— | DNS | DNS | |
| 1989 | C1 | 61 | Team Sauber Mercedes |
Mauro Baldi Kenny Acheson Gianfranco Brancatelli |
384 | 2nd | 2nd |
| C1 | 62 | Team Sauber Mercedes |
Jean-Louis Schlesser Jean-Pierre Jabouille Alain Cudini |
378 | 5th | 5th | |
| C1 | 63 | Team Sauber Mercedes |
Jochen Mass Manuel Reuter Stanley Dickens |
389 | 1st | 1st |
Gallery
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The 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning #63 Sauber-Mercedes C9 on display in the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
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Sauber-Mercedes C9 rounding Becketts corner at Silverstone during the 1988 Silverstone 1000 km.
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The 1989 C9 at the Paris Rétromobile show in 2012.
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A Sauber-Mercedes C9 No. 53 car that raced in the 1000 km Nürburgring on show in 2008.
See also
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Bamsey, Ian (2006). Sauber-Mercedes C9: The Return of the Silver Arrows. Crowood AutoClassic Series. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wilts, UK: The Crowood Press. ISBN 186126836X.
- Starkey, John (2002). Sauber-Mercedes, World Champions: The Group C Cars, 1985–1991. St. Petersburg, FL, USA: Gryfon Publishers. ISBN 0970325967.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sauber C9. |
- Sauber F1 Team – corporate history
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by McLaren MP4/4 |
Autosport Racing Car Of The Year 1989 |
Succeeded by Tyrrell 019 |
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