<< Prev Page 2 of 3 Next >> The Sauber team returned the following year with two new C8 chassis, liveried in the dark blue Kouros colours. Both cars managed to start the race, but retired with engine and gearbox problems before night fell. Tweaks to the aerodynamics had made the cars more stable on the straights, but they weren't quite as fast as in 1985. One of the C8s was sold to privateer Noel del Bello, while Sauber and Mercedes were busy working on a replacement for the 1987 season. The C8 was raced twice more at Le Mans by the Frenchman, but again with little success.
Logically dubbed the C9, the 1987 Sauber racer was again a development of its predecessor. The rear suspension and the body were brand new, while the engine was a further Mader development. The Saubers made a better impression at Le Mans in 1987, qualifying seventh and eight. In the opening stages of the race, Johnny Dumfries was running as high as fourth before retiring with a gearbox problem after only 37 laps. The second car faired not much better, eventually succumbing to its second drivetrain related problems at around midnight.
Surprisingly Mercedes-Benz was not deterred and dramatically upped their involvement in 1988 to full factory backing. This paid off immediately as a Sauber Mercedes C9 was driven to victory in the Jerez 800 km, one lap clear of the dominant Jaguars. That year's Le Mans was an even bigger disappointment than the previous editions with both C9s forced to be withdrawn before the start. The combination of higher speeds and higher downforce had increased the loads on the tires too much, causing the rear tires to burst on one of the C9s at very high speed during qualifying. Starting the race was considered too dangerous.
For 1989 Mercedes-Benz provided a completely new development of the alloy V8 engine, known as the M119. The biggest change was a full four valve head with double overhead camshafts. This bumped the power to 720 bhp and 810 Nm in race spec. The new quad-cam V8 engine was fitted to the proven C9 chassis. The Germans' involvement in the Sauber program was visibly increased as the cars were now painted silver; a clear drawback to the successful Silver Arrows of years past. << Prev Page 2 of 3 Next >>
Ultimatecarpage.com
> Cars by brand
> Switzerland
> Sauber Mercedes
Racing cars
> Group C / IMSA GTP
The Sauber team returned the following year with two new C8 chassis, liveried in the dark blue Kouros colours. Both cars managed to start the race, but retired with engine and gearbox problems before night fell. Tweaks to the aerodynamics had made the cars more stable on the straights, but they weren't quite as fast as in 1985. One of the C8s was sold to privateer Noel del Bello, while Sauber and Mercedes were busy working on a replacement for the 1987 season. The C8 was raced twice more at Le Mans by the Frenchman, but again with little success.