20/24 #7: Porsche 962C (chassis #010)
Chosen by: Andy Blackmore
Best finish: 2nd, 1988
Team: Porsche AG
Driven by: Klaus Ludwig, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Derek Bell

How often is the loser of a race as famous in the collective consciousness as the winner? It’s rare, but even in a race won by a cult hero – the Silk Cut Jaguar – the Shell/Dunlop Porsche 962C sticks in the mind like few others.

“It’s the most influential livery for me,” says Andy Blackmore, one of motor racing busiest livery designers, whose graphics adorn dozens of cars around the globe. “Asymmetric liveries were very unusual back in the day, and it was a big inspiration for me personally on some of my favourite projects. It was designed by Rob Powell, who also designed the Rothmans livery, and it’s such a clean and well-resolved livery.”

Stuck had placed the #17 962 on pole, with the sister #18 and #19 also right at the front, but each had technical issues. #17 finished just a handful of seconds behind the winning Jaguar, despite Ludwig running the car dry of fuel a few hours into the race. But for once, it wasn’t the result that mattered, but that gorgeous livery.

“It helps that Shell and Dunlop use similar red and yellow, which creates perfect synergy,” continues Blackmore. “The details are so good: the number panels are integrated into the design, particularly on the sides; and the black top, section, which cleans up the lines.”

A true legend, indeed.

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