Porsche's moving memorial for Jason Richards

Klaus Bischof, Porsche Museum director, with the Porsche that Jason Richards drove before his tragic death from cancer. Photo / Alastair Sloane

The memory of V8 Supercars driver Jason Richards will forever be associated with one of Porsche's most famous race cars, thanks to a touching gesture by Porsche museum director Klaus Bischof.

The 1987 Le Mans-winning 962 was the last car Richards drove before his death from cancer on December 15 last year.

The 35-year-old Melbourne-based Kiwi had always wanted to drive the Le Mans 962. Coincidentally, it was in Australia on loan from the museum in Germany and on its way to New Zealand for a factory-sanctioned Porsche club event.

Bischof was told of Richards' dying wish and a few international phone calls later had arranged for him to take it for a spin at Sydney's Eastern Creek raceway.

Later, Bischof learned that the 962 was at a memorial service for Richards in Auckland last month. More phone calls from Germany followed, this time to ask Porsche NZ to get Richards' name on the 962 for the club display in Taupo last Saturday.

And there it sits, next to the New Zealand flag: "Jason Richards RIP" below that of Englishman D. Bell, German H. J. Stuck, and American A. Holbert.

Bischof was in Australia last week and flew over for the Taupo event, where he fired up the 962 and its 560kW 3-litre flat-six engine for club members.

The 962 first appeared on race circuits in Europe and America in 1984, the year Bischof described as his "most rewarding" in his years with Porsche.

He began working for the carmaker in 1968 as a race engineer and a few years ago became director of the museum.

But he kept his hand in making sure the museum cars were always ready to roll. Former Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking once said of Bischof's job: "It is not for you a museum - it's a garage."

Said Bischof: "When I am there the cars must make a little bit of noise."

Taking pride of place at the museum is a 1948 356 roadster, or "Porsche No. 1." Bischof once drove it through Adelaide streets before the Australian Grand Prix.

Asked why he risked shipping the one-only car halfway around the world for a street rumble, he replied: "Because it's fun."

The 962 was one of the most dominant cars in motorsport. Its wins included the World Sportscar Championship title in 1985 and 1986 and Le Mans in 1987, Porsche's record seventh consecutive win in the 24-hour race.

Derek Bell, a five-time Le Mans winner, drove the 962 to 21 victories between 1984 and 1987.

"It was a fabulous car, but I have to admit it was really quite easy to drive," he has said.

"The Porsche engineers were so thorough. I had total confidence in the car and was always able to drive to the limit, although I did roll one end over end in 1985."

Winning history

Hans-Joachim Stuck drove the 962 to two wins at Le Mans. It is his favourite race car because of the "perfect combination of power and downforce". He also won the 1973 German Touring Car championship with New Zealand's Chris Amon, driving a BMW. American Al Holbert drove the Porsche 962 to three wins at Le Mans. He was killed in a private plane crash in Ohio in 1988.