I often say just one of the coolest items about the Paris-Dakar Rally is the motley assortment of major-obligation support auto capable of maintaining up with the off-street race cars and trucks. But one particular famous truck stands previously mentioned them all: a initially-gen Mercedes Porsche won Dakar in 1984. So when the automaker decided to introduce its new 959 rally autos at the 1985 race, the tension was on. It determined to update its guidance car or truck (which was a Volkswagen T3 van with a Carrera six-cylinder engine), so it bought Mercedes’ new Gelandewagen.
The 1985 Dakar did not go nicely for Porsche. The minimum of team’s challenges was that the 155-horsepower Mercedes struggled to hold up with the race cars. In additiona, all three Porsche 959s were compelled to retire. The factory racing staff went back to the drawing board and upgraded the autos with twin-turbocharged engines. The direct engineer, Roland Kussmaul, determined to also slam a 320-horsepower Porsche V8 into the G Wagon chase auto (borrowed from a 928 S4).
The staff nicknamed the truck the Porsche im Schafspelz, which is German for “Porsche in sheep’s apparel.” Thinking about how gnarly square-entire body G Wagons search, I could disagree. But it is a amazing identify nonetheless. Then they painted the truck up in Rothmans livery to match the workforce.
Prior to the large 1986 Dakar race, Porsche determined to form the new powertrains out at Egypt’s Rallye des Pharaons. And through desert screening matters went from negative to worse: one particular of the 959s burst into flames ahead of the race commenced. It was much as well harmed for the race, leaving the Porsche workforce with one particular entry slot. So Kussmaul resolved to enter the motor-swapped G Wagon. And to drive it himself.
The 320-horsepower G Wagon much more than stored up with the race vehicles. One of Porsche’s freshly-turbocharged 959s gained the race. Hot on its heels was Kussmaul in the G Wagon, for a 2nd place end.
For the G Wagon services truck, beating out most of the race vehicles for a podium complete at the Egypt rally would understandably be the substantial position of its career. And the Rallye des Pharaons have to have banged it up pretty superior, since it broke down throughout Dakar that calendar year.
What did Kussmaul do when he dropped his assist car or truck? Strip out 1 of his Porsche 959 race cars and pack it to the roof with equipment and spare pieces. And of program, he drove it himself. The regular 959 race cars finished Dakar initially and next. In his overloaded 959 “support auto,” Kussmaul finished sixth in general.