If you’re a Porsche Motorsport fan, the 962 needs no introduction. This racing icon defined endurance racing in the 1980s, winning everything from Le Mans to Daytona and more. It replaced the 956 to meet U.S. IMSA safety rules, and became a benchmark for aerodynamics, turbocharging, and reliability, setting new standards that shaped prototype racing for years and is one of Porsche’s top motorsport models to date.
During its racing prime, the Porsche 962 C went up against some of the most advanced teams of the era, Jaguar’s XJR-9, and the Sauber-Mercedes’ C9. The 962 was also where Porsche tested the first iteration of its now famous (Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe) PDK dual-clutch system, technology that eventually trickled down to road-going 911s.
Nearly four decades later, His Royal Highness Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, now 46, took to the wheel of Hans-Joachim Stuck’s 1987 ADAC Würth Supercup-winning Porsche 962 C at Mantorp Park in Sweden, for a few demonstration laps. For the Prince, who grew up watching the German racer dominate, this was personal.
The restored 962 C produces around 700 horsepower from its twin-turbocharged flat-six and weighs roughly 1,874 pounds, giving it an extraordinary power-to-weight ratio of about 0.37 horsepower/pound. Still impressive by today’s standards, considering a modern 911 GT3 RS’ figure sits at ~0.16.
The car was fully rebuilt at Porsche’s Development Center in Weissach in 2021, back to its 1987 specification, complete with its red-and-yellow Shell and Dunlop livery and gold BBS wheels. After its racing career, chassis number 009 became an aerodynamic test car at Weissach before joining the Porsche Museum collection. For its restoration, Porsche reunited original team members, including legendary Porsche engineer Norbert Singer and designer Robert Powell, ensuring accuracy down to the smallest detail.
Prince Carl Philip, a veteran of the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia since 2008, is no stranger to serious machinery. His regular 911 GT3 Cup weighs 2,778 pounds and produces about 503 horsepower, but the 962 is an entirely different experience. “It’s not easy to drive, but it goes incredibly well once you get the tyres up to temperature,” he said after his laps. Porsche replaced the original slicks with treaded tires to help reach optimal grip faster. Alexander Klein, Head of Porsche Heritage Operations, praised his confidence behind the wheel after just a few laps.
The royal family’s bond with Porsche runs deep. King Carl XVI Gustaf still owns his 1973 911 Targa, and his uncle, Prince Bertil, earned the nickname “the motor prince.” So when Prince Carl Philip took the 962 C out during the 2025 Carrera Cup Scandinavia finale, it wasn’t just a tribute. It was Porsche history, revived and driven hard by someone who understands its legacy from both sides of the steering wheel.
Images: Porsche
