1979 24 Hours of Le Mans

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1979 24 Hours of Le Mans
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Index: Races | Winners

The 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 47th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on June 9 and 10, 1979.

Contents

[edit] Pre-race

Due to the construction of a new public road, the profile of Tetre Rouge had to be changed. This redesign led to a faster double-apex corner as well as requiring the removal of the second Dunlop bridge.

[edit] Race

The Porsche 935 turbo, a high-powered version of the Porsche 911 road car, dominated endurance racing in the late 1970s, being entered by many Porsche customer teams all over the world. The German-based Kremer team managed to win Le Mans using a highly modified version of the 935, which is a remarkable success for a car based on a 15 year old road car design. Actor Paul Newman finished second in Dick Barbour's Porsche 935, while Kremer's second-string effort claimed the final spot on the podium.

Jacky Ickx's efforts to win his fifth Le Mans came to nothing when he was disqualified for receiving outside (and unwanted) assistance in repairing his stricken Porsche 936. Their Group 6 opposition consisted mainly of a pair of Ford M10s but this wasn't an official return of Ford; these cars were derived from the 1975 Gulf GR-8. Ford France and a consortium of French Ford dealers funded the ex-Wyer Team, a Cosworth DFV V8 was installed in the chassis for the occasion but neither M10 finished.

[edit] Official Results

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Laps
Engine
1 Gr.5
+2.0
41 Flag of Germany Porsche Kremer Racing Flag of Germany Klaus Ludwig
Flag of the United States Don Whittington
Flag of the United States Bill Whittington
Porsche 935 K3 307
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
2 IMSA
+2.5
70 Flag of the United States Dick Barbour Racing Flag of Germany Rolf Stommelen
Flag of the United States Paul Newman
Flag of the United States Dick Barbour
Porsche 935/77A 299
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
3 Gr.5
+2.0
40 Flag of Germany Porsche Kremer Racing Flag of France Laurent Ferrier
Flag of France François Servanin
Flag of France François Trisconi
Porsche 935/77A 297
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
4 GT
+3.0
82 Flag of Switzerland Lubrifilm Racing Team Flag of Switzerland Herbert Müller
Flag of Switzerland Angelo Pallavicini
Flag of Switzerland Marco Vanoli
Porsche 934 296
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
5 S
+2.0
5 Flag of France VSD Canon Jean Rondeau Flag of France Jean Ragnotti
Flag of France Bernard Darniche
Rondeau M379 292
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
6 IMSA
+2.5
76 Flag of France Hervé Poulain Flag of Germany Manfred Winkelhock
Flag of France Marcel Mignot
Flag of France Hervé Poulain
BMW M1 288
BMW M88 3.5L I6
7 Gr.5
+2.0
42 Flag of Germany Sekurit Racing
Flag of Germany Autohaus Max Moritz GmbH
Flag of Germany Edgar Dören
Flag of Germany Dieter Schornstein
Flag of Germany Götz von Tschirnhaus
Porsche 935/77A 283
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
8 IMSA
+2.5
72 Flag of the United States Dick Barbour Racing Flag of the United States Edwin Abate
Flag of the United States Bob Garretson
Flag of the United States Skeeter McKitterick
Porsche 935/78 283
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
9 IMSA
+2.5
73 Flag of the United States Wynn's International Dick Barbour Racing Flag of the United States Robert Kirby
Flag of the United States Bob Harmon
Flag of the United States John Hotchkis
Porsche 935/78 280
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
10 S
+2.0
4 Flag of France ITT Oceanic Jean Rondeau Flag of France Henri Pescarolo
Flag of France Jean-Pierre Beltoise
Rondeau M379 279
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
11 Gr.5
+2.0
43 Flag of Switzerland Claude Haldi Flag of Switzerland Claude Haldi
Flag of Switzerland Herbert Loewe
Flag of Panama Rodrigo Terran
Porsche 935 275
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
12 IMSA
+2.5
61 Flag of Belgium "Beurlys" Flag of the United Kingdom Nick Faure
Flag of the United Kingdom Steve O'Rourke
Flag of Belgium Bernard de Dryver
Flag of Belgium Jean Blaton
Ferrari 512BB/LM 274
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12
13 Gr.5
+2.0
45 Flag of Germany Porsche Kremer Racing Flag of Germany Axel Plankenhorn
Flag of France Philippe Gurdjian
Flag of Germany "John Winter"
Porsche 935 K3 273
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
14 GTP
+3.0
52 Flag of France WM A.E.R.E.M. Flag of France Jean-Daniel Raulet
Flag of France Marcel Mamers
Flag of France Serge Saulnier
WM P79 272
Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6
15 Gr.5
+2.0
39 Flag of France ASA Cachia Flag of France Jacques Guérin
Flag of France "Chanaud"
Flag of France Frédéric Alliot
Porsche 935 268
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
16 GT
+3.0
86 Flag of France Kores Racing Flag of France Georges Bourdillat
Flag of France Pascal Ennequin
Flag of France Alain-Michel Bernhard
Porsche 934 265
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
17 S
2.0
29 Flag of the United Kingdom Mogil Motors Ltd. Flag of the United Kingdom Robin Smith
Flag of the United Kingdom Tony Charnell
Flag of the United Kingdom Richard Jones
Chevron B36 265
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4
18 S
2.0
24 Flag of the United Kingdom Dorset Racing Associates Flag of the United Kingdom Brian Joscelyne
Flag of the United Kingdom Tony Birchenhough
Flag of the United Kingdom Richard Jenvey
Flag of the United Kingdom Nick Mason
Lola T297 260
Ford Cosworth BDX 2.0L I4
19 GT
+3.0
84 Flag of France Anny-Charlotte Verney Flag of France Anny-Charlotte Verney
Flag of France Patrick Bardinon
Flag of France René Metge
Porsche 934 251
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
20 S
+2.0
15 Flag of the United Kingdom Fisons Agricole - Simon Phillips Flag of the United Kingdom Martin Raymond
Flag of the United Kingdom Simon Phillips
Flag of the United Kingdom Ray Mallock
De Cadenet-Lola T380 250
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
21 S
2.0
20 Flag of France Lambretta S.A.F.D. Flag of France Pierre Yver
Flag of Morocco Max Cohen-Olivar
Flag of France Michel Elkoubi
Lola T298 248
BMW M12 2.0L I4
22 S
2.0
28 Flag of France Racing Organisation Course (ROC) Flag of France Bernard Verdier
Flag of France Albert Dufréne
Flag of France Noël del Bello
Chevron B36 239
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4
23
NC
S
2.0
26 Flag of France Racing Organisation Course (ROC) Flag of France Michel Dubois
Flag of France Pierre-François Rousselot
Flag of France Marc Menant
Chevron B36 133
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4
24
NC
S
+2.0
10 Flag of the United States Grand Touring Cars Ltd.
Flag of France Ford Concessionaires France
Flag of Australia Vern Schuppan
Flag of France Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
Flag of the United Kingdom David Hobbs
Mirage M10 121
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
25
NC
Gr.5
+2.0
35 Flag of Italy Carlo Pietromarchi Flag of Italy Gianfranco Brancatelli
Flag of Italy Carlo Pietromarchi
Flag of Italy Maurizio Micangeli
De Tomaso Pantera 108
Ford 351 5.8L V8
26
DNF
S
+2.0
11 Flag of the United States Grand Touring Cars Inc.
Flag of France Ford Concessionaires France
Flag of the United Kingdom Derek Bell
Flag of the United Kingdom David Hobbs
Flag of Australia Vern Schuppan
Mirage M10 262
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
27
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
62 Flag of France JMS Racing / Charles Pozzi Flag of France Jean-Claude Andruet
Flag of Italy Spartaco Dini
Ferrari 512BB/LM 240
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12
28
DNF
S
+2.0
14 Flag of Germany Essex Motorsport Porsche Flag of France Bob Wollek
Flag of the United States Hurley Haywood
Porsche 936 236
Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6
29
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
63 Flag of France JMS Racing / Charles Pozzi Flag of France Michel Leclere
Flag of France Claude Ballot-Léna
Flag of the United States Peter Gregg
Ferrari 512BB/LM 219
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12
30
DNF
GTP
3.0
55 Flag of France Merlin Plage Jean Rondeau Flag of France Jean Rondeau
Flag of France Jacky Haran
Rondeau M379 207
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
31
DNF
Gr.5
+2.5
36 Flag of Germany Gelo Racing Sportswear Intl. Flag of Liechtenstein Manfred Schurti
Flag of Germany Hans Heyer
Porsche 935 201
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
32
DNF
S
+2.0
12 Flag of Germany Essex Motorsport Porsche Flag of Belgium Jacky Ickx
Flag of the United Kingdom Brian Redman
Flag of Germany Jürgen Barth
Porsche 936 200
Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6
33
DNF
Gr.5
+2.5
37 Flag of Germany Gelo Racing Sportswear Intl. Flag of the United Kingdom John Fitzpatrick
Flag of Germany Harald Grohs
Flag of France Jean-Louis Lafosse
Porsche 935 196
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
34
DNF
S
2.0
25 Flag of France Jean-Marie Lemerle Flag of France Alain Levié
Flag of France Jean-Pierre Malcher
Flag of France Jean-Marie Lemerle
Lola T298 189
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4
35
DNF
S
2.0
33 Flag of Switzerland Chevalley Racing Switzerland
Flag of France Racing Organisation Course
Flag of France Marcel Tarres
Flag of France Alain Dechelette
Flag of France Charles Dechelette
Chevron B36 187
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4
36
DNF
S
2.0
31 Flag of France Kores Racing - France Chauffage Flag of France Michel Lateste
Flag of France Dominique Lacaud
Flag of France Christian Heinkélé
Lola T297 182
BMW M12 2.0L I4
37
DNF
GT
+3.0
87 Flag of France Christian Bussi Flag of France Christian Bussi
Flag of France Bernard Salam
Porsche 934 182
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
38
DNF
GTP
+3.0
51 Flag of France WM A.E.R.E.M. Flag of France Roger Dorchy
Flag of France Denis Morin
WM P79 157
Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6
39
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
68 Flag of the United States Interscope Racing Flag of the United States Ted Field
Flag of the United States Milt Minter
Flag of the United States John Morton
Porsche 935 154
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
40
DNF
S
+2.0
3 Flag of the United Kingdom J.C. Racing Ltd. Flag of the United Kingdom John Cooper
Flag of the United Kingdom Peter Lovett
Flag of the United Kingdom John Morrison
De Cadenet-Lola T380 146
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
41
DNF
S
2.0
23 Flag of France Pronuptia Flag of France Bruno Sotty
Flag of France Gérard Cuynet
Flag of Switzerland Marc Frischknecht
Lola T296 134
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4
42
DNF
S
2.0
32 Flag of France BP Racing / Hubert Striebig Flag of France Alain Cudini
Flag of France Hubert Striebig
Flag of France Hughes Kirschoffer
Toj SC206 121
BMW M12 2.0L I4
43
DNF
S
2.0
27 Flag of France Racing Organisation Course (ROC) Flag of France Marc Sourd
Flag of Switzerland Florian Vetsch
Flag of France Robert Carmillet
Chevron B36 92
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4
44
DNF
S
2.0
17 Flag of Switzerland Cheetah Racing Cars Flag of Switzerland Sandro Plastina
Flag of Switzerland Philippe Roux
Flag of Switzerland Mario Luini
Cheetah G601 87
BMW M12 2.0L I4
45
DNF
GTP
+3.0
53 Flag of France WM A.E.R.E.M. Flag of France Michel Pignard
Flag of France Jacques Coulon
Flag of France Serge Saulnier
WM P79 87
Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6
46
DNF
S
2.0
18 Flag of France Daniel Brillat
Flag of Switzerland Écurie Cedac Suisse
Flag of France Daniel Brillat
Flag of Switzerland Jean-Pierre Aeschlimann
Cheetah G601 80
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4
47
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
71 Flag of the United States Dick Barbour Racing Flag of the United States Bob Akin
Flag of the United States Roy Woods
Flag of the United States Rob McFarland
Porsche 935 78
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
48
DNF
S
2.0
22 Flag of France Georges Morand Flag of France Eric Vuagnat
Flag of France Daniel Laurent
Flag of France Jacques Boillat
Lola T296 76
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4
49
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
74 Flag of France Jean-Pierre Jarier Flag of France Jean-Pierre Jarier
Flag of the United States Randy Townsend
Flag of France Raymond Touroul
Porsche 935 65
Porsche Type-935 2.9L Turbo Flat-6
50
DNF
S
+2.0
1 Flag of Switzerland Chevalley Racing Switzerland Flag of France Xavier Lapeyre
Flag of Switzerland André Chevalley
Flag of France Patrick Perrier
Lola T286 59
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
51
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
64 Flag of the United States North American Racing Team Flag of France Jean-Pierre Delaunay
Flag of France Cyril Grandet
Flag of the United States Preston Henn
Ferrari 512BB/LM 54
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12
52
DNF
S
+2.0
6 Flag of Japan Dome Co. Ltd. Flag of the United Kingdom Chris Craft
Flag of the United Kingdom Gordon Spice
Flag of the United Kingdom Tony Trimmer
Dome Zero RL 40
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
53
DNF
S
+2.0
7 Flag of Japan Dome Co. Ltd. Flag of the United Kingdom Bob Evans
Flag of the United Kingdom Tony Trimmer
Dome Zero RL 25
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
54
DNF
GTP
+3.0
50 Flag of the United Kingdom Robin Hamilton Flag of the United Kingdom Robin Hamilton
Flag of the United Kingdom Mike Salmon
Flag of the United Kingdom Dave Preece
Aston Martin DBS V8 21
Aston Martin 5.3L Turbo V8
55
DNF
S
+2.0
8 Flag of the United Kingdom Alain de Cadenet Flag of France François Migault
Flag of the United Kingdom Alain de Cadenet
De Cadenet-Lola T380 10
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8

[edit] Statistics

  • Pole Position - #14 Essex Motorsport Porsche - 3:30.07
  • Fastest Lap - #12 Essex Motorsport Porsche - 3:36.10
  • Distance - 4173.930km
  • Average Speed - 173.913km/h