DRIVEN | Sauber-Mercedes C9 Group C Legend

The Group C era of the late 1980s and early 1990s is one of sportscar racing’s most celebrated. ‘Silk Cut’ Jaguars versus ‘Silver Arrow’ Mercedes and ‘Rothmans’ Porsches to name but a few...
Spectacular, closed-roof prototypes racing wheel-to-wheel at speeds of up to 250mph - that’s 400kph - along the Mulsanne straight at Le Mans.
These are the cars that our man, Sam Hancock, fell in love with as a child and these are the cars that render, even the most hardened motor sport fans, misty-eyed.
Join Sam on a wet and windy day as he tests one of the all time greats: the 1987 Sauber-Mercedes C9.
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Intro music credit - Car Songs by Epocha

[@stevemcrichards8768]

The last car to win Le Mans when the Les Hunaudieres was a 250mph blast down the Mulsanne with a flat out kink. Group C was a magic era.

[@stevenPounder-p4b]

Another plus is they sound great compared to today’s turbocharged V8s, though I suspect the open wastegates and larger turbines might have something to do with that.

[@Dan-vt9vk]

One of the most beautifully insane racecars of all time! What a privilege to ride onboard.

[@f-4gww458]

Nothing will ever be better than Group C

[@iangarrett3308]

The Group C and "Exotic Prototypes" were decades ahead of their time, especially the technology that went into the development of these race cars!! Even today 30 years later, these cars still look futuristic, absolutely LEGENDARY!!! I am so glad I was able to watch and experience the Camel GT Grand Prix races from 1987,1988,1989,1990,1991,1992 and 1993!! You had to see it to believe it, incredibly powerful race cars, outstanding drivers!!!

[@markanthonyhurston]

well said ...

[@Inazuma68]

As a Swiss I was always proud of Sauber. In those days that thing was mindblowing. I have seen maybe that exact car once at a hillclimb in Reitnau. Sauber was doing some showruns. Also there is one C11 competing in classic car races of Peter Auto. When it is grumbling trough the pitlane it sounds like an angry predator.Long life Sauber - go Switzerland 🇨🇭 By the way...it is my dream too, to drive that car

[@NewtonInDaHouseYo]

Inazuma MR Yes, long live Peter Sauber and Sauber F1! I had the pleasure to do my engineering diploma thesis for them, way back in 2004.

[@Syd-41]

The sound resonating beautifully from the exhaust is epic. Group C was and remains my favorite racing series ever. The cars were and still are the epitome of what is a “race car”.

[@garethnoble3378]

Please do a full podcast about group c guys. I cannot think of a better subject.

[@johnmano1439]

The most beautiful car to have ever graced the tracks IMO.🏹

[@istvanburuzs9843]

One of the most beautiful racecars ever built. You see its speed even while standing still.

[@markanthonyhurston]

hmmm not sure , but ok

[@jamesf2656]

You know a video is going to be good when you get chills at beginning... Wow, incredible video out of a new-ish channel. Will be looking for more.

[@hankr.1943]

I'm currently racing in a series on Project Cars 2 in VR, using this car. This video popped up in my YT feed, and wow, I am shocked by how well the sound and the cockpit are captured in the game. So fun to drive, it's like I'm really in the thing. Nice video, thanks.

[@KazuyaFin]

That engine sound is eargasmic...😎

[@jorgecristovao5642]

Quite spectacular to discover such a car in this very personal and upclose way. Brutal machine. Great Video! Cheers!

[@seanmoore4653]

Very personal and upclose way lol... hahaha stupid comment.

[@bradhardy100]

One of the best car videos I've watched..

[@markanthonyhurston]

check out Chris Harris interviewing Norbert Singer ... very cool stuff

[@phil993cup]

What a nice, informed driver’s perspective video! More of these please!

[@TheCharnwoodCyclist]

Fantastic video, I first heard the C9 at Donington a few years ago and was mesmerised by the engine note, the sound as it howled down the back straight drowning out every other car was incredible. I’ve seen plenty of in car footage but none comes close to the intimate way this is shot and it provides a real sense of how the car must feel especially in damp conditions. 👍

[@NebulaTraveler2956]

What a masterpiece from MERCEDES BENZ. ❤

[@neilgardner2316]

Sam, great work! I was lucky enough to be at Donington in '89 and witnessed Mauro Baldi's pole lap in the C9 from Old Hairpin. He was flat down through the Craners on quali boost.... utterly mind bending. I must admit I was confused about the year of this car, as I thought the car ran the epic black AEG livery then. Anyway, it shows I need to brush up on my Group C history! 🤓 Thank you for such a brilliant video, I could feel your excitement and it brought back some great memories. I'm looking forward to the warmer weather test - as I'm sure you are! 😂

[@Quadrant14]

@Neil Gardner , mate as far as I knew the 1987 car was the KOUROS sponsored car, if this is the true C9 then it is from 89, AEG sponsored this in 1988 in the all Black/Midnight Blue livery. I watched Mouro Baldi take a screaming Pole at the WEC Race at Sandown Racetrack in Melbourne , Australia in 1988, he was a brilliant driver along with the never spoken of Kenny Acheson. Schlesser and Mass , Baldi, Acheson they were masters of this car

[@craigyirush3492]

Wonderful video. Sam is so good at conveying his passion for cars, as well as how they are to drive. Bring on part 2.

[@louscannonmagoo9989]

That brings back memories .in 1987 at the age of 10. I was taken to Donnington by my father to watch these. He had complimentary tickets from AEG one of the sponsors. We saw these race and I came away with a signed by Jochen Mass poster of the C9 lights ablaze, which I still have. An epic day stuffed with Epic cars.

[@TheAslakVind]

The sound, so organic. Thank you!

[@SundayRacers]

What an epic car. Hope one day Le Mans will get back to it's former glory

[@Bahamuttiamat]

Great to hear people talk about downforce in terms of speed. Great explanation.

[@Space-O-2001]

Great vid, great podcast, great car. This was the first car I drove in VR and I instantly loved it, the sound alone just gives me such a buzz. I live in CD and would have happily stood in the rain to hear it let alone see it

[@wilkowilkins363]

Beautiful downshifting Sam .. and the sound .. always has been by favourite sounding Group C ... fantastic video

[@bogthing1]

I never tire of seeing these. Thank you.

[@droks510]

This video brought a tear to my eye....one of if not my favorite group C cars ever. Congrats on getting to drive that amazing machine. Cheers bud🍻

[@taforth]

‘over the shoulder’ camera position and sound quality are 👌!

[@seanpburke]

Oh man, that’s one of the best car Vids of the year. Car looked incredible and Sam knows how to treat it - can’t wait to see the warm weather test. Great work!

[@willknowler8194]

Great video. Hope to maybe see it racing alongside another C9 that has just been restored and the C11 that races. That would be 😍

[@gsmith207]

Holy f’n beeeep! The view in cockpit was like I was driving it! Awesome! Thank you...

[@mereclander]

Just amazing!!!! One of the best C group. A piece of art.

[@bobyoung1698]

It's probably my all-time favorite Class C car. All these years have passed, and it still looks like a new design. I felt the same about the Porsche 917, and it's even stronger with this beautiful beast.👍

[@houseyUK]

I was lucky to see these race in period and to see all the UK Group C races in the manufacturers/drivers championship live (and before that Group 4/5/6) and it was without question the greatest form of motor sport I ever saw. I did Le Mans in 89 and 90 too, so the final race with full Mulsane sans chicanes and the first with chicanes and at the absolute pinnacle of Group C. Nothing has come close since for me, nothing. A fantastic era when the cars looked unique, sounded unique and approached winning differently.

[@elicarlosmirandadossantos7731]

Sam, thank you for bringing us this amazing content. I can tell for sure that this is one of the best car videos out there. I can feel your passion and i love the way you talk about the car details, things that I could not find anywhere else. I really appreciate. Congrats from Brazil.

[@hancock_sam]

Hey man, thanks so much for your kind comment. So happy to share these things and more to come hopefully. Best wishes, Sam.

[@Simonize41]

Without doubt my favourite Group C car. The C9 is incredible. A bit of a looker, too. Beautiful.

[@MattyMacPhotography]

Brilliantly produced and shot. Thanks

[@edholmwood]

Sam is fantastic. I really enjoy his videos. More please.

[@petermcelvogue7521]

God damn that noise was heaven itself. What an incredible machine.

[@oveykeeling2762]

😂😂😂😂 was thinking the same thing

[@pantelistountas6287]

amazing machines of a golden era

[@TechnoGuy11]

Easily my favorite group C car from that era.

[@markdawson9944]

Awesome video. More please. Saw these as a kid at Donnington, and even got a photo of the brakes glowing with my little point and shoot camera.

[@gottliebdee263]

Enjoyed watching that. Have so much more appreciation for those guys than I do modern F1 drivers.

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Schuey drove one of these as well. I saw one at Silverstone classic few years back, sounds amazing like all old cars.👍🇬🇧

[@Quadrant14]

@Senna 1993, Michael was not the fastest of the young brigade, they Drove the C11 not this C9, Wendlinger {Swiss}was a better sportscar driver than Michael and also Heinz Harold Frenzen, and Fritz Kreutzpointer, another of the young Germans, but other drivers were, Alain Ferte, Jonathan Palmer, Stanley Dickens, Kurt Thiim all in the C11. none of those drove a C9 except for Dickens. Mike Thackwell drove the Kouros car with Henri Pescarolo often and young Johnny Dumfries and Alain Cudini , Jean Pierre Jaboulle and Brancatelli at times also drove the C9

[@jospi2]

@@Quadrant14 Wendlinger is Austrian.

[@BastardX13]

SAVAGE BRUTE IN A THREE PIECE SUIT. Proper noise too. Amazing car amazing era

[@andypresland]

Thoroughly enjoyed this thank you for making/sharing! Epic!

[@petegowland6201]

That was brilliant. Really enjoyed the video, and my god, what a noise from the Sauber. I'll admit, I wasn't impressed with Sam on the podcast on his own, but give him a car rather than a microphone and it works. Can't wait for part 2.

[@idontwantacallsign]

Awesome video. I just loved these cars and remember I saw they won Le Mans when I was 12 years old. Beautiful car which I luckily have seen myself at the Mercedes-Benz museeum.

[@jeffreyoldham55]

Absolutely thrilling ride. Many thanks!

[@abdulhameedal-sikafi8944]

I got this car in GT sport and I felt nostalgic af despite i wasn't even born when this beast was racing, I got tangled to it like crazy...now I watched this video and I'm more tangled...

[@anibalbabilonia1867]

To me one of the best racing cars in history!! The best sounding also! I could listen to that twin turbo 5 liter V8 all day!👌🥰👉♥️music to my ears!

[@sammooresphoto]

Great video Sam and the crew, hope to see more like this.

[@Hdawg187-ln4ww]

I have no clue why. but this is my favourite car. couldn't tell you why I just love it

[@jonelson1983]

Great vid on my favourite Group C of all time.

[@gary9046]

I am just jealous. That is almost as cool as being in an Apollo capsule on top of a ready Saturn V. The C-9/11 experience is really difficult to beat. The monster of the monsters!

[@victorhansen839]

This is easily my favourite Group C car ever made! The amount of engineering in that thing is just unbelievable. I’ve just wondered how the whole rear is staying in place when it drives so fast. Do you have any clue?

[@ZeeBri]

What a fantastic video! Very well produced too. Props to the team

[@p-1216]

Great video Sam, loved watching you drive this epic group C beast

[@jep1912]

Astonishing. More! More!

[@sandorkereszt7584]

Always been in love with this car❤.Great video ,congratulations. I bet he was shaking from adrenaline

[@JohnLee-vj9lh]

That sound what a beautiful race car, thanks for sharing 👍🏁🏁🏁

[@chrismarshall6997]

What’s fantastic video. The podcast is fantastic, but that was an unbelievable experience to watch.

[@GTR003121]

An unbelievably beautiful machine that is.

[@Vazin]

The best sounding turbocharged V8 to date.

[@TheScortUK]

Brilliant video, eagerly awaiting the next installment - subbed.

[@cjcam930]

Glorious - lucky guy getting to experience that!

[@KenMac-ui2vb]

Just timeless beauty. God, I love C. But that C9... ooh la la.

[@davidjack3]

Absolutely loved you review,just a stunning car

[@Slash1066]

Surely the most V8 sounding V8 in existence!

[@EdwardJamesKenway...]

Compared to the Mercedes-Benz C 11

[@sandorkereszt7584]

And maybe NASCARS

[@houseyUK]

Great content and Sam is good at this as well as the driving bit. Need more content with Sam driving and reviewing.

[@ACMEpowersports]

Really good commentary, very detailed. Well spoken. Great video and channel...

[@tristanblaine8544]

great video, one of my favourite cars. I get to experience Donnington on Friday in our race KA, hopefully it not so wet but we only have 69 bhp to worry about 😂

[@houseyUK]

Also Donington is a nightmare in the wet. I was there last month in road and race cars and it was tippy toes everywhere.

[@aaaaachew]

So well done, Sam👍 thank you.

[@garthrupert7610]

What a Monstrous Legend. You are a very lucky 🐟!!

[@SkilledApe]

Best car sound ever, period. There is no match. Even any Ferrari V12, BMW or Jaguar I6.

[@cailewis9089]

The guy in the Ginetta must have been screaming

[@RioParadiso]

SUCH A BEAUTIFULL MASTERPIECE

[@paulboyle6857]

I recall a Group C race at Donington when we could still enjoy such things when one of these driven by Bob Berridge(where is he now?)lapped the entire field down to 2nd place! He was lapping the National Circuit in 59secs which is quite a bit quicker than DFV engined F1 cars!

[@jefdamen2977]

This is THE racecar! Not much comes close even now.

[@General-Gauder]

Well the C11 ;)

[@Gambit8319]

Legendary.... Michael's history.....

[@atfsgeoff]

The only way a C9 could be more epic is if it had a plate and was driven on the street

[@CSNCSNCSN]

Ultima?

[@bernardwarr4187]

@@CSNCSNCSNlooks ver6 much like an Ultima inside. If I was building one, Definitely would be my choice, the Mercedes M119

How cool is that? Amazing experience

[@aliengoth]

At 6:23 "we haven't been able to fully unleash it" omfg!!!!!

[@julianporte7677]

Excellent video!

[@baconfister]

Good video but you need some help on the audio levels - it’s hard as hell to hear the narrator’s voice, and the music is TOO GODDAMN LOUD!

[@allensaunders449]

True

[@bondy284]

Really enjoyed that👏👏👏🇦🇺

[@kaloy066]

such a timeless design

[@HoratioHoodoo]

Oh fantastic! Wasn't expecting this content here, but I'm here for it! What a pleasant surprise.

[@brittenv1000]

Track day weapon 🙌

[@Freebird67]

Remember going to lemans and c1 races across uk and Europe what a great series shame it ended

[@iamconstantlyhungry]

Absolutely agree love these cars especially Mercedes I feel it too 😮it’s absolutely amazing just watching this video driving this car

[@Chrisjohnson-bp5rk]

Breathtaking 🙌

[@Alvaropiloto1]

Great drive ! Now you can try 12 on the dial

[@roadmantop3769]

Great stuff, this channel is going to blow up soon

[@xoomer2834]

The grunt from this car man it's so sexy and just by the sound of it i can tell it got some violently power i love it

[@kikiautorcman787B]

The most "Brutal" of the group C...🏎️🏁🤓🇨🇵

[@ChrisTian-co4oc]

It must be hard to be a mechanic and being so close to it, but never have the chance to drive such a beauty.

[@drazenbudis7881]

The actual reason why I stopped with my mechanic career, I just couldn’t cope with that

[@HomebrewHorsepower]

My daily driver has the naturally aspirated version of this engine with custom exhaust. By today's standards it's not shockingly fast with only 325 horsepower, but the sound is still incredible.

[@stevieboymkii]

Has this one had a livery change? To my understanding, in '87 the C9s had the Kuros livery, ''88 was AEG and it was '89 that they became the Silver Arrows.

[@TheGreener121]

What. a. machine.