1983 Cougar C02 Group C Sports-Racing Prototype Factory Replica

• The second Group C design from Courage Compétition
• Replica of the C02 that scored the model's best result (9th place at Watkins Glen in 1984)
• Sold with any registration document

Based in Le Mans near the Circuit de la Sarthe, Courage Compétition was a racing team and chassis constructor whose activities in the latter field began in 1982 with the Cougar C01. Born in 1948, company founder Yves Courage was an immensely successful hill climb specialist before he moved into sports car racing in 1977. He contested his first Le Mans 24-Hour race that year and in 1981 won the under 2-litre class driving a Lola-BMW with Jean-Philippe Grand. Inspired by this success, Courage decided to build his own prototype chassis, which would emerge in 1982 as the Cougar C01. Powered by the Cosworth V8 in its 3.3-litre endurance racing - DFL - specification, Courage's Cougar C01 lasted 78 laps at that year's Le Mans before having to retire. It would turn out to be a disappointing debut season for the fledgling manufacturer, with a best result of 21st at the Spa 24 Hours in September.

Courage continued with the Cougar C01 in modified 'B' specification for 1983, and although the new C02 was entered at Le Mans, the car did not arrive; instead Courage raced the Primagaz-sponsored C01B but the car did not make it to the finish. The team's best result that year came at the Mugello 1,000km in September where the C01B finished in 10th place.

Retaining Primagaz's sponsorship, Courage began the 1984 season with C01B, failing to start at Monza and finishing 17th at Silverstone. For its third race, at Le Mans in June, the team fielded the C02 for the first time. Driven by Courage, Michel Dubois and Alain De Cadenet, the C02 suffer a 'DNF' after 153 laps, sidelined by a faulty oil pump. The team contested two more races in 1984, both in the USA where the cars were entered under the 'Budweiser Racing' banner. Having finished 39th at Road America, the C02 secured its best ever result at Watkins Glen where Courage, De Cadenet and John Jellinek brought the car home in 9th place.

For 1985 Courage concluded a deal with Porsche to use their engines, bringing the team's 'Cosworth era' to an end: the all-new Cougar C12 would use a Porsche flat-six. Dropping the Cougar name at the end of the 1992 season, after which the car's were entered under the Courage name, the French team entered into a partnership with Nissan in 1998. The Franco-Japanese alliance would prove to be short-lived but Courage continued at the forefront of international sports car racing well into the 2000s, only selling out to Oreca in 2007.

The car offered here is an official factory-built replica of the Yves Courage, Alain De Cadenet and John Jellinek Cougar C02 that finished in 9th place at Watkins Glen in 1984. The car formerly formed part of Peter Kaus's famous Rosso Bianco Collection for several years.