While the factory-backed Porsche 962s were collecting victories around the world, Swiss privateer Antoine Salamin quietly built a reputation for consistency with chassis 962-131. Finished in its distinctive Hotel Anniviers colours, the car became a familiar sight in the World Sports Prototype Championship, Interserie and Supercup between 1987 and 1989. Although it never competed at Le Mans, chassis 131 enjoyed a remarkably reliable career before eventually finding a new life in historic racing.
This 962C was acquired new by Swiss privateer racer Antoine Salamin late in the 1987 season. He raced the car for three seasons in the World Sports Prototype Championship from 1987 to 1989. In all these season, he campaigned the 131 in a particularly striking livery in the endurance, interserie and supercup.
962C-131’s first race appearance was in mid-October 1987, at Zeltweg for the Interseries Championship. After qualifying in 6th place, the Swiss finished at the same position in the first leg, then 8th in the second leg. A little more than a month later, the car was entered for the 500km of Kyalami where Antoine Salamin finished 6th.
From 1987 to 1989, Antoine Salamin took the wheel for every single race and was joined for some races by Giovanni Lavaggi, Jean-Denis Deletraz, Hellmut Mundas, Roberto Ravaglia or the experienced Max Cohen-Olivar.
Best results in 1988 was P07 in the Silverstone 1000 km ( with D.Wood), Brands Hatch 1000km (Lavaggi, Deletraz) en 1000 km Spa (Lavaggi).
With only three retirements in over 30 races 962C-131 did well as the Swiss Team Salamin finished seventh in the 1988 Sports Cars World Championship, fourth in the Interseries championship of the same year, and sixth in the 1989 Supercup championship.
Brands Hatch 1989: Donington 1989:
Salamin never raced the car at Le Mans. Twice, the team attempted to qualify for the Le Mans 24 Hours but failed to secure a place on the grid during the practice sessions.
For the 1990 ( and 1991) season, the Swiss gentleman driver switched to a new 962C.
Chassis 962-131 was not seen contemporary races again. Damaged in its final outing with a crash in the practice of the 480 km Mexico, the car was repaired with mostly original parts.
After the 1989 season, 962C-131 was displayed in a Swiss museum after which it returned to France and was put up for sale by Salamin through dealer/broker Pierre Landreau and then through Crubilé Motorsport before it was sold to its current French owner in 2007.
A complete, bare-chassis restoration was carried out by Porsche specialist IMSA Performance during which an extensive restoration file was compiled which comes with the car. Every item on the car was fully rebuild including the 2.8 litre Water/Air engine, the gearbox, suspension, etc. The car was freshly re-painted in its iconic and beautiful “Hotel Anniviers” livery as raced in 1989.
Today, chassis 962-131 survives as one of the best-preserved examples of a late customer Porsche 962C. Its history may lack the headline victories of the factory cars, but its remarkable reliability, distinctive appearance and long association with Antoine Salamin make it a fascinating chapter in the story of Porsche's legendary Group C era.
