“This is the pinnacle of ’80s engineering,” said Collins as he gets ready to take his seat behind the wheel of the 962, a car that evolved from the 956 with a longer wheelbase and steel roll cage integrated into the chassis. “Big wings, massive power, and colossal speeds,” said Collins of the racer. He had just 30 minutes to enjoy the car at Donington, and he was immediately blown away by the potency of this machine.
Weighing in at around 1,874 pounds, the 962 is lighter than a Mazda MX-5 Miata, yet the 2.6-liter Boxer engine with twin turbochargers makes around 630 horsepower. Collins does acknowledge some lag from the turbos, being an older design, but once they spool up, the 962’s thrust is still immense.
The aerodynamic body of the 962 keeps it pinned firmly to the ground and through the corners, and it was capable of reaching over 200 mph through the Mulsanne Kink and the Indianapolis corner at Le Mans.
