WM P87
| Industry | Motorsport |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1976 |
| Founder | Gérard Welter, Michel Meunier |
| Headquarters | France |
Key people | Gérard Welter |
| Products | Sports prototype racing cars |
The Welter-Meunier P87 was a Group C sports prototype racing vehicle created by the French motorsport outfit Welter Racing in 1987, competing through 1988. Production was limited to a single chassis.
Background and "Project 400"
Established in 1976 by Gérard Welter alongside Michel Meunier, Welter Racing's primary ambition was to participate consistently in the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance event. Although their cars demonstrated significant speed, the team often faced challenges with stability and reliable race completions. Following the P86’s unsuccessful performance at the 1986 Le Mans—where their P83B secured twelfth overall—Welter consolidated efforts into a fresh program.
This initiative aimed to surpass a velocity of 400 km/h on the Le Mans circuit within a two-year timeframe. Achieving this required authorization from the ACO for official speed verification and collaboration with a tire manufacturer capable of handling such extreme speeds. Michelin, a French tire company, supplied specialized tires rated for velocities up to 410 km/h.
Key drivers Philippe Gache, Roger Dorchy, and Dominique Delestre were enlisted to pilot this high-speed prototype during the 1987 Le Mans event.
Development, design and technology
Central to the project and Welter’s enduring partnership with Peugeot was the PRV powerplant. Throughout the 1980s, many perceived Welter’s World Championship entries as an unofficial Peugeot factory-backed effort. Despite Gérard Welter’s close connections to Peugeot’s executive board, the team operated independently. The PRV engine—a collaborative development by Peugeot, Renault, and Volvo—was originally intended for production vehicles but was modified for racing applications. By 1987, Welter employed the most potent version: a twin-turbocharged 2.8-liter V6 delivering 890 horsepower.
Aerodynamic refinement was pursued rigorously at Peugeot’s Sochaux wind tunnel, where Welter conducted weekly sessions over five months. While earlier WM models typically featured covered rear wheel arches, the P87 focused on minimizing lateral airflow disturbances. The team also designed an innovative air intake system for cooling the charge air intercoolers, channeling air from beneath the chassis via ducts positioned below the suspension components. To enhance ground effect performance, the P87 was built with an extended wheelbase relative to its predecessors. Initial experiments without a rear wing proved unsuccessful due to compromised cornering stability.
Racing history
During pre-race testing at Le Mans in 1987, Welter encountered engine management difficulties that restricted track time; Roger Dorchy managed only two consecutive laps. The car achieved a top speed of 356 km/h along the Ligne Droite des Hunaudières—impressive but short of record levels. After addressing these mechanical issues, Welter conducted trials on a newly constructed motorway segment, where Dorchy reportedly reached an unofficial speed of 416 km/h; however, this figure lacks official confirmation.
At the 1987 Le Mans race itself, qualifying placed Welter 21st on the grid due to handling limitations in corners. Early retirement came after just 13 laps because of turbocharger failure; the officially recorded peak speed during competition was 387 km/h. In 1988, Welter returned with the P88 model equipped with an even more powerful engine. Roger Dorchy officially broke the 400 km/h barrier by reaching 405 km/h. The P87 also competed that year but retired after completing 22 laps owing to gearbox issues.