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Porsche 962 C Long Tail

PrototypePorsche
680 hp
Horsepower
850 kg
Weight
RWD
Drivetrain
1988
Year

Porsche 962 C Long Tail (Prototype)

The Porsche 962 C Long Tail is one of the most iconic endurance racers ever built, developed from Porsche’s legendary 956/962 platform for Group C competition in the 1980s. This long-tail variant was designed to maximize top-end speed and aerodynamic efficiency for high-speed circuits like Le Mans, pairing a lightweight chassis with Porsche’s famous turbocharged flat-six power.

Key Specs (BoP-dependent, typical sim values)

  • Powertrain: 3.0L air-cooled/air-to-oil-cooled twin-turbo flat-6, rear-mounted, longitudinal

  • Total Output: ~680 hp

  • Redline: ~8,200–8,500 rpm

  • Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox

  • Weight: ~850 kg

  • Dimensions: ~4,780 mm long × 2,000 mm wide × 1,000 mm tall | Wheelbase ~2,720 mm

  • Tires: Racing slicks on period-style center-lock wheels

  • Brakes: Ventilated disc brakes with race calipers

  • Layout: Rear-engine, rear-wheel drive

In the Simulator Feel

The 962 C Long Tail is a fast, demanding, old-school Prototype that rewards bravery, smooth inputs, and respect for turbo lag. It is lighter and more mechanical than modern prototype racers, with a raw sense of speed that comes from minimal driver aids, long gearing, and a chassis that can feel nervous at the limit. Once the turbos wake up, it delivers a serious punch that makes every straight feel urgent and every exit a commitment.

Engine & Sound: The twin-turbo flat-six has a distinctive hard-edged howl mixed with deep turbo spool and wastegate chatter. Below boost, it can feel a little sleepy; once on song, it surges forward with that classic Group C punch that made Porsche’s endurance cars so feared. The sound is mechanical, metallic, and endlessly charismatic.

Handling Characteristics:

  • Cornering: Sharp but reactive, with plenty of rotation if you lift or trail brake aggressively.

  • Traction: Good once settled, but turbo delivery and rear-engine balance can bite if you get greedy on throttle.

  • Braking: Strong for its era, though the car still asks for a measured approach compared to modern GT and prototype machinery.

  • Top Speed: Excellent, especially in long-tail trim where aero efficiency really shines on fast tracks.

Driving Style Tip: Keep the car balanced and let the chassis do the work. Smooth steering, patient throttle application, and clean exits are the key to extracting lap time. It thrives at endurance venues with long straights and flowing high-speed corners, where its low drag and turbo power can fully come alive.

Livery & Aesthetics: The long-tail bodywork is pure Group C theater — stretched rear bodywork, low roofline, wide stance, and unmistakable Porsche motorsport details. It looks purposeful, elegant, and brutally fast, especially in classic endurance liveries like Rothmans and factory test schemes.

Whether you're chasing hot laps or reliving the golden age of endurance racing, the Porsche 962 C Long Tail is a beautifully raw prototype with huge character and historic significance — one of the all-time greats.