After discovering La Sarthe in the mid 1970s in the Group 6/2 liters prototypes class, Sauber became a major player at the 24 Hours during the 1980s, with the advent of Group C. Its partnership with Mercedes made the Swiss manufacturer a potential winner over Jaguar and Porsche. In 1989, thirty-seven years after becoming the first
German manufacturer victorious at Le Mans, Mercedes claimed the podium's highest step.
June 10 & 11, 1989: 57th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
Sauber Mercedes C9 race results
Winners: Manuel Reuter-Stanley Dickens-Jochen Mass (No. 63)
Second: Gianfranco Brancatelli-Kenny Acheson-Mauro Baldi (No. 61)
Fifth: Jean Pierre Jabouille-Jean Louis Schlesser-Alain Cudini (No. 62).
Note
- Longtime Porsche factory driver, it was finally behind the wheel of a prototype powered by Mercedes that the German, Jochen Mass, achieved his one victory at Le Mans.
- The Sauber Mercedes sported the famous silver livery. First appearing in the 1930s, it has ever since become the calling card of the German manufacturer's competing factory cars.
All the Sauber Mercedes C9 pictures are on the 24 Hours of le Mans Facebook Page.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO
Click here to learn more about the Jaguar Type D, also exhibited in Geneva.
