The No. 14 Lowenbrau Porsche 962 that claimed back-to-back wins in 1986 and 1987 will join the exhibit of overall Rolex 24 At Daytona championship cars to celebrate the 50thanniversary of the twice-around-the-clock challenge on Jan. 28-29.
The No. 14 Lowenbrau Porsche 962 is one of only two multiple race winners in Rolex 24 history with the other being the 2007, 2008 and 2011 Rolex 24-winning No. 01 BMW Riley from Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.
In 1986, despite mechanical problems, Al Holbert, Derek Bell, and Al Unser Jr. claimed victory in the No. 14 car by a margin of one minute, 49 seconds over the Preston Henn Porsche, the first time in event history that the top two cars finished on the lead lap.
“We had trouble all night long,” Bell said. “I didn’t think we would ever regain the lead, to be honest.”
In 1987, they pulled off the repeat with Bell, Chip Robinson, Unser Jr. and Holbert, who had his name on the driver’s list but planned on only serving as the team’s manager. But after the No. 14 car lost the driver’s side window, drivers were exhausted by the hot air that was blowing into the car. Holbert quickly grabbed his helmet and took a turn at the wheel.
The. No. 14 Lowenbrau Porsche 962 joins the growing field of prestigious championship cars previously announced in the exhibit:
- 1968 Rolex 24-winning Porsche 907
- 1970 Rolex 24-winning No. 2 Gulf Porsche 917
- 1977 Rolex 24-winning No. 43 Porsche 911 RSR
- 1978 Rolex 24-winning No. 99 Porsche 935
- 1981 Rolex 24-winning No. 9 Bob Garretson’s Style Auto Porsche 935
- 1982 Rolex 24-winning No. 18 JLP Porsche 935
- The Preston Henn Porsches from the 1983 and 1985 Rolex 24s
- 1984 Rolex 24-winning No. 00 Kreepy Krauly Porsche-March
- 1995 Rolex 24-winning No. 10 Kremer Porsche K8 Spyder
- 2003 Rolex 24-winning No. 67 Porsche GT3RS
- 2009 Rolex 24-winning No. 58 Porsche Riley
- 2010 Rolex 24-winning No. 9 Porsche Riley
To view the complete list online, visit http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/Vanity-Pages/50th-Rolex-24/50-Years-of-Champions-Display.aspx. Additional cars will be announced as they are secured to be part of this one-of-a-kind exhibit.
In addition to the 50th anniversary display during the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the championship cars will also be on display at the Rolex 50 Years of Champions, a charity gala on Thursday night, January 26th at the Ocean Center. Daytona International Speedway has partnered with the Halifax Health Foundation to host the event with the admissions proceeds benefiting the Halifax Health Foundation, which includes the area’s only Level II Trauma Center. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Halifax Health Foundation office at (386) 254-4111.
The Rolex 24 At Daytona, the kick-off event to Speedweeks 2012 as well as the international motorsports calendar, showcases the world’s best drivers competing against each other lap after lap for 24 hours on Daytona International Speedway’s challenging and demanding 3.56-mile road course.
Tickets for the 50th anniversary of the Rolex 24 At Daytona are on sale online at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP.
Source: DIS
