Sauber C9

Sauber C9

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
Races Wins Poles F.Laps 21 13 7 5
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. 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

• 

  The 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning #63 Sauber-Mercedes C9 on display in the Mercedes-Benz Museum.

• 

  Sauber-Mercedes C9 rounding Becketts corner at Silverstone during the 1988 Silverstone 1000 km.

• Paris - Retromobile 2012 - Sauber Mercedes C9 - 1989 - 016.jpg

  The 1989 C9 at the Paris Rétromobile show in 2012.

• Sauber-Mercedes C9 - Flickr - exfordy.jpg

  A Sauber-Mercedes C9 No. 53 car that raced in the 1000 km Nürburgring on show in 2008.

See also

• Mercedes-Benz motorsport

External links

• Sauber F1 Team – corporate history

Awards
Preceded by McLaren MP4/4	Autosport Racing Car Of The Year 1989	Succeeded by Tyrrell 019