Sauber C8

{{Infobox racing car | Car_name = Sauber C8 | Image = [[File:2011 11 2 Imperial Palace Harrahs Auto collection-1-64 - Flickr - Moto@Club4AG.jpg|250px]] | Category = [[Group C]] [[Le Mans Prototype|Prototype]] | Constructor = [[Sauber|Sauber Motorsport]] | Designer = [[Peter Sauber]] | Predecessor = [[Sauber C7]] | Successor = [[Sauber C9]] | Team = {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Sauber|Sauber Racing]] {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Sauber|Kouros Racing Team]] {{flagicon|FRA}} Noël del Bello | Drivers = {{flagicon|DEN}} [[John Nielsen (racing driver)|John Nielsen]] {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Dieter Quester]] {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Max Welti]] {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Henri Pescarolo]] {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Christian Danner]] {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Mike Thackwell]] | Technical ref = | Chassis = Light alloy monocoque | Front suspension = double wishbones, coil springs over shock absorbers, torsion bar stabilizer | Rear suspension = double wishbones, coil springs over shock absorbers, torsion bar stabilizer | Length = {{convert|189|in|cm|1|abbr=on}} | Width = {{convert|78|in|cm|1|abbr=on}} | Height = {{convert|42.1|in|cm|1|abbr=on}} | Wheelbase = {{convert|106.3|in|cm|1|abbr=on}} | Track = {{convert|63|in|cm|1|abbr=on}} | Engine name = [[Mercedes-Benz M117 engine|Mercedes-Benz M117]] | Capacity =  | Configuration = 5.0 L Turbo 90° V8 | Turbo/NA = Twin [[Kühnle, Kopp & Kausch|KKK]] turbos | Engine position = Mid, longitudinally mounted | Gearbox name = | Gears = 5-speed | Type = [[Manual transmission|Manual]] | Differential = | Weight = {{convert|870|kg|lb|1|abbr=on}} | Fuel = [[Robert Bosch GmbH|Bosch]] Motronic MP 1.2 Fuel Injection | Lubricants = | Tyres = [[Dunlop Tyres|Dunlop]], [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]] | Debut = [[1985 24 Hours of Le Mans]] | Races = 7 | Wins = 1 | Cons_champ = 0 | Drivers_champ = 0 | Teams_champ = 0 | Poles = 0 | Fastest_laps = 0 }}

The '''Sauber C8''' was a [[Group C]] [[prototype]] race car introduced in 1985 for the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] as the first in a partnership between [[Sauber]] and [[Mercedes-Benz]].

== Design == Mercedes decided not to put forth the money for a full effort on their own until they had time to develop the production-based M117 5.0L Turbocharged V8. Therefore, Mercedes turned to Sauber to create a chassis for them and initially to run the team before Mercedes took on a larger role. Sauber chose to evolve the previous [[Sauber C7|C7]] prototype for the C8, although modifications were needed to house the larger V8 instead of the C7's previous Inline-6.

== Racing history == In its debut at the [[1985 24 Hours of Le Mans]], Sauber was able to qualify 17th. However, an accident at the [[Mulsanne Straight]] with [[John Nielsen (racing driver)|John Nielsen]] at the wheel caused enough damage that the car was not able to participate in the race.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-23|title=Hold Onto Your Jaws: A Sauber Mercedes C9 Has Hit The Market @ Top Speed|url=https://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/hold-onto-your-jaws-a-sauber-mercedes-c9-has-hit-the-market/|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Top Speed|language=en}}</ref> The team promised to appear at a few more races in the [[World Sportscar Championship]] season, but never showed.

For 1986, the team became known as Kouros Racing Team, and the C8 was entered in the full season of the [[1986 World Sportscar Championship season]]. For the first two races the C8 showed promise, with an 8th and a 9th. However, later in the season two C8s were entered in the [[1986 24 Hours of Le Mans]] where neither car finished. For the [[1000km Nürburgring|1000km of Nürburgring]], the team was able to achieve its first victory<ref>{{Cite web|title=The five coolest cars at the 2019 Monza Historic|url=https://www.goodwood.com/grr/race/historic/2019/9/the-five-coolest-cars-at-the-2019-monza-historic/|access-date=2021-08-08|website=www.goodwood.com}}</ref> with drivers [[Henri Pescarolo]] and [[Mike Thackwell]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-05-11|title=Sauber's half centenary|url=https://www.historicracingtechnology.com/2020/05/saubers-half-centenary/|access-date=2021-08-08|website=Historic Racing Technology|language=en}}</ref> made all the more important by being won in front of the [[Mercedes-Benz]] executives in attendance. With this victory the Kouros Racing Team was able to end the season 5th in the teams championship.

In 1987, the Kouros team switched to the newer [[Sauber C9]], while C8 chassis #2 was sold to privateer French team Noël del Bello, which entered the [[1987 24 Hours of Le Mans]] and [[1000km Nürburgring|1000km of Nürburgring]], but failed to finish either race. Noël del Bello continued into 1988, but failed to finish any of the races it entered again.

=== Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results === {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95% |- ! Year ! Class ! No. ! Team ! Drivers ! Laps ! Pos. ! Class Pos. |- align="center" | [[1985 24 Hours of Le Mans|1985]] | [[Group C|C1]] | 61 | align="left"| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Sauber|Sauber Racing]] | align="left"| {{flagicon|DEN}} [[John Nielsen (racing driver)|John Nielsen]] {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Dieter Quester]] {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Max Welti]] | — | DNS | DNS |- align="center" | rowspan=2| [[1986 24 Hours of Le Mans|1986]] | [[Group C|C1]] | 61 | align="left"| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Sauber|Kouros Racing Team]] | align="left"| {{flagicon|DEN}} [[John Nielsen (racing driver)|John Nielsen]] {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Mike Thackwell]] | 61 | DNF | DNF |- align="center" | [[Group C|C1]] | 62 | align="left"| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} [[Sauber|Kouros Racing Team]] | align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Henri Pescarolo]] {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Christian Danner]] {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Dieter Quester]] | 86 | DNF | DNF |- align="center" | [[1987 24 Hours of Le Mans|1987]] | [[Group C|C1]] | 42 | align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Noël del Bello † | align="left"| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Pierre-Alain Lombardi {{flagicon|FRA}} Gilles Lempereur {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Guillot | 4 | DNF | DNF |- align="center" | [[1988 24 Hours of Le Mans|1988]] | [[Group C|C1]] | 42 | align="left"| {{flagicon|FRA}} Noël del Bello Racing † | align="left"| {{flagicon|Switzerland}} Bernard Santal {{flagicon|FRA}} Noël del Bello {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Bernard de Dryver]] | 157 | DNF | DNF |} † Privateer team

==See also== *[[Mercedes-Benz motorsport]]

== References == <references /> {{Sauber}} {{Mercedes-Benz Sportscar Racers}}

[[Category:Group C cars]] [[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans race cars]] [[Category:Sauber Motorsport]]