Kings of La Sarthe

By Greg MacLeman

| 1 Apr 2015

The Le Mans 24 Hours is one of the oldest sports car endurance races still taking place, having been run since as far back as 1923, when it was initially set out as a three-year event. Bentley, Bugatti and Alfa Romeo all had early successes at La Sarthe, and the circuit became the premier location to test cutting-edge technology, and the reliability and performance of new models.

There was no higher prize for sports car manufacturers.

The race has historically also lured-in the best drivers in the world, many of whom have made the leap from other disciplines, such as Formula One, to test their mettle at the 24-hour event. Of these drivers, a select few have left their mark not only at Le Mans, but also in the history books.

The Danish racing driver first stepped into a kart in 1984 and by 2013 he had won the Le Mans 24 Hours nine times – more than anyone else in the history of the race. Six of his wins were consecutive (2000-2005), while more could have been added to the tally had his team not crashed out of the lead in 1999 and 2007.

He celebrated his first win in 1997 with teammates Stefan Johansson and Michele Alboreto (pictured).

One of the most memorable victories in Le Mans history was orchestrated by Ickx in 1969 when, because he felt the traditional running Le Mans start was dangerous, walked to his GT40. Despite his car being older than the brand-new Porsche 917s which debuted during the race, it was much more reliable. Every 917 retired, with one crash resulting in privateer John Woolfe losing his life. Ickx leapfrogged the Porsche 908 of Hans Herrmann and Gerard Larrousse to win by 110 metres.

Derek Bell’s big break came in 1968, when he was offered a drive for Ferrari after impressing in his Brabham BT23C while driving for his stepfather’s Church Farm Racing Team – but he is best remembered for his successes at Le Mans. His first win at the event came in 1975 and he went on to win it a further four times, in 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1987. He is the most successful British driver in the history of the meeting.

Though he began his racing career as part of Ford’s Youngster Team programme in 1987, Biela moved to Audi in 1990 to compete in the DTM. He went on to compete in the French Super Touring Championship, Touring Car World Cup, British Touring Car Championship and Super Tourwagen Cup – all with Audi – before finding success in sports cars. He scored three successive victories at Le Mans in 2000-2002 alongside La Sarthe legends Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro, along with back-to-back victories in 2006 and 2007.

Biela has raced exclusively for Audi since 1990, including his first victory at Le Mans in 2000.

Despite starting in 37 races for Benetton and Scuderia Italia, Emanuele Pirro’s Formula One career never fully took off. His F1 highlight was a points finish during the wet 1989 Australian Grand Prix, though he took to sports car racing like a duck to water. A dream partnership with Tom Kristensen and Frank Biela resulted in the trio bagging the 2000, 2001 and 2002 Le Mans titles, with further success coming in 2006 and 2007 – again while teamed with Frank Biela.

In 2002, the Italian took the chequered flag to lead an Audi 1-2-3.

One of the best sports car racers of all time, Olivier Gendebien began his career in rallying, winning the Liége-Rome-Liége Rally, Coppa d’Oro dell Dolomiti and Rally Stella Alpina in 1955 at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300SL.

A stunning career in endurance racing followed, with the Belgian notching up three Targa Florio victories, three Tour de France Automobile titles and three Reims 12 Hours wins. He also won the 12 Hours of Sebring three times, but his crowning achievements came at Le Mans in 1958, 1960, 1961 and 1962. He became the most successful Le Mans racer until 1981, when fellow Belgian Jacky Ickx won his fifth race.

As well as winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1984, Henri Pescarolo holds the record for the most number of Le Mans starts, which currently stands at 33. He came close to improving on his tally, finishing second in 2006 and third in 2007.

Pescarolo’s first Le Mans victory came in 1972, after teaming up with Graham Hill in the Matra-Simca MS670 (pictured).

Following a Formula One career that was blighted by illness and yielded no championship points, Yannick Dalmas turned his hand to sports car racing during the 1990s. He was hugely successful, particularly at Le Mans, winning the prestigious race four times with four different teams. His first win came in 1992 with Peugeot Talbot Sport and Mark Blundell, also scoring victories at La Sarthe with Joest Racing, Kokysai Kaihatsu Racing and BMW Motorsport.

One of the now legendary Bentley Boys, Woolf Barnato found his way to motor racing after purchasing his first Bentley – a 3 Litre – in 1925, which he followed a year later with his acquisition of the entire company. He campaigned the car at Brooklands with some success before taking a 4 1/2 Litre to Le Mans, winning at his first attempt in 1928 alongside Bernard Rubin. The Bentley Speed Six ‘Old Number One’ carried him to victory in the following two years, the first drive shared with Tim Birkin (pictured, in 1928) and the second with Glen Kidston.

Barnato is the only person to have won Le Mans at every attempt.

In his life after racing, Luigi Chinetti became the premier importer of Ferraris to the United States, founding the North American Racing Team and supporting the firm through his road car sales. Prior to that, the Italian had a brilliant run at Le Mans, winning three times from 12 attempts. His first victory came in 1932 at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo, with a second win following two years later. Perhaps his greatest Le Mans adventure took place in 1949, when he drove the first Ferrari to ever win the event – a 166M. The feat was made all the more impressive because, though he shared the drive with Peter Mitchell-Thomson, he was at the wheel for more than 23 hours.

From the outset, Allan McNish had his sights firmly set on the world of Formula One, dedicating his efforts to reaching the top flight of world motorsport at the expense of Le Mans, which he contested from 1997-2000, winning in 1998.

He finally achieved his F1 goal in 2001, becoming a development driver for the newly formed Toyota F1 team. He earned a full-time drive the following season, but by 2003 he was again relegated to a testing role, this time for Renault F1.

McNish returned to sports car racing in 2004, winning Le Mans four years later, and again in 2013.

One of America’s most successful sports car racers, Hurley Haywood has three Le Mans titles to his name. Incredibly, his wins were spread across three decades – all three while driving a Porsche. The first came in 1977, the second at the wheel of a 956 in 1983 and the third while driving a 962 in 1994.

As well as his Le Mans success, Haywood is the joint most successful racer in the history of the 24 Hours of Daytona, with five wins to his name.