1989 Sauber C9 Coupe

The 1989 World Sports Prototype Championship-winning Mercedes-Benz C9 was painted silver in honor of the original Mercedes-Benz 'Silver Arrows' that had won the championship fifty-five years earlier. The Sauber C9 was first introduced to the world in 1987. A group C prototype race car, it came about through a partnership between Sauber, which constructed the car, and Mercedes-Benz, which built the engine. The C9 was powered by a 4-valve, 5-liter turbocharged Mercedes engine offering 750 horsepower. It had one purpose: it was created to compete for the World Sportscar Championship. But the first year saw little success; it finished just three races and failed to get near a spot on a podium. The year 1988 showed promise; although the C9s were forced to withdraw from Le Mans when a tire blew, they won five races and placed second in the championship.

The C9 won all but a single race in the 1989 Championships including a second one-two in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (placing first, second, and fifth) - the first 1-2 being achieved by the W 194 'Gullwing' of the Classic French enduro of 1952. In qualifying sessions, the C9 reached 400 km/h (248 mph) - a speed that was one of the highest ever recorded at Le Mans and one surpassed only by a WM Peugeot P88 that reached 405 km/h. Those speeds changed the game; for safety's sake, two chicanes were in evidence on the Mulsanne Straight the following year. Early in the 1990 season, the C9 was retired.

This particular C9 made its racing debut at the Nurburgring 1000 KM in 1988 where it was driven by Mauro Baldi and Stefan Johansson. They qualified on pole position but were unable to finish the race. The next race was the Spa 1000 km which they won. Another victory was earned at the 1989 season-opening Suzuka 480 km where the car was piloted by Baldi and Jean-Louis Schlesser.

During the 1989 season, this C9 would finish on the podium on four occasions, including the victory at Suzuka.