| 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.
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.
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.
Official results[]
| Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | ||||||
| 1 | Gr.5 +2.0 |
41 |  Porsche Kremer Racing
|
Klaus Ludwig Don Whittington Bill Whittington
|
Porsche 935 K3 | 307 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 2 | IMSA +2.5 |
70 | Dick Barbour Racing
|
Rolf Stommelen Paul Newman Dick Barbour
|
Porsche 935/77A | 299 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 3 | Gr.5 +2.0 |
40 | Porsche Kremer Racing
|
 Laurent Ferrier François Servanin François Trisconi
|
Porsche 935/77A | 297 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 4 | GT +3.0 |
82 |  Lubrifilm Racing Team
|
Herbert Müller Angelo Pallavicini Marco Vanoli
|
Porsche 934 | 296 |
| Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 5 | S +2.0 |
5 | VSD Canon Jean Rondeau
|
Jean Ragnotti Bernard Darniche
|
Rondeau M379 | 292 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | ||||||
| 6 | IMSA +2.5 |
76 | Hervé Poulain
|
Manfred Winkelhock Marcel Mignot Hervé Poulain
|
BMW M1 | 288 |
| BMW M88 3.5L I6 | ||||||
| 7 | Gr.5 +2.0 |
42 | Sekurit Racing Autohaus Max Moritz GmbH
|
Edgar Dören Dieter Schornstein Götz von Tschirnhaus
|
Porsche 935/77A | 283 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 8 | IMSA +2.5 |
72 | Dick Barbour Racing
|
Edwin Abate Bob Garretson Skeeter McKitterick
|
Porsche 935/78 | 283 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 9 | IMSA +2.5 |
73 | Wynn's International Dick Barbour Racing
|
Robert Kirby Bob Harmon John Hotchkis
|
Porsche 935/78 | 280 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 10 | S +2.0 |
4 | ITT Oceanic Jean Rondeau
|
Henri Pescarolo Jean-Pierre Beltoise
|
Rondeau M379 | 279 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | ||||||
| 11 | Gr.5 +2.0 |
43 | Claude Haldi
|
Claude Haldi Herbert Loewe Rodrigo Terran
|
Porsche 935 | 275 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 12 | IMSA +2.5 |
61 |  "Beurlys"
|
 Nick Faure Steve O'Rourke Bernard de Dryver Jean Blaton
|
Ferrari 512BB/LM | 274 |
| Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 | ||||||
| 13 | Gr.5 +2.0 |
45 | Porsche Kremer Racing
|
Axel Plankenhorn Philippe Gurdjian "John Winter"
|
Porsche 935 K3 | 273 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 14 | GTP +3.0 |
52 | WM A.E.R.E.M.
|
Jean-Daniel Raulet Marcel Mamers Serge Saulnier
|
WM P79 | 272 |
| Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6 | ||||||
| 15 | Gr.5 +2.0 |
39 | ASA Cachia
|
Jacques Guérin "Chanaud" Frédéric Alliot
|
Porsche 935 | 268 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 16 | GT +3.0 |
86 | Kores Racing
|
Georges Bourdillat Pascal Ennequin Alain-Michel Bernhard
|
Porsche 934 | 265 |
| Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 17 | S 2.0 |
29 | Mogil Motors Ltd.
|
Robin Smith Tony Charnell Richard Jones
|
Chevron B36 | 265 |
| Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 18 | S 2.0 |
24 | Dorset Racing Associates
|
Brian Joscelyne Tony Birchenhough Richard Jenvey Nick Mason
|
Lola T297 | 260 |
| Ford Cosworth BDX 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 19 | GT +3.0 |
84 | Anne-Charlotte Verney
|
Anne-Charlotte Verney Patrick Bardinon René Metge
|
Porsche 934 | 251 |
| Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 20 | S +2.0 |
15 | Fisons Agricole - Simon Phillips
|
Martin Raymond Simon Phillips Ray Mallock
|
De Cadenet-Lola T380 | 250 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | ||||||
| 21 | S 2.0 |
20 | Lambretta S.A.F.D.
|
Pierre Yver Max Cohen-Olivar Michel Elkoubi
|
Lola T298 | 248 |
| BMW M12 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 22 | S 2.0 |
28 | Racing Organisation Course (ROC)
|
Bernard Verdier Albert Dufréne Noël del Bello
|
Chevron B36 | 239 |
| ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 23 NC |
S 2.0 |
26 | Racing Organisation Course (ROC)
|
Michel Dubois Pierre-François Rousselot Marc Menant
|
Chevron B36 | 133 |
| ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 24 NC |
S +2.0 |
10 | Grand Touring Cars Ltd. Ford Concessionaires France
|
 Vern Schuppan Jean-Pierre Jaussaud David Hobbs
|
Mirage M10 | 121 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | ||||||
| 25 NC |
Gr.5 +2.0 |
35 |  Carlo Pietromarchi
|
Gianfranco Brancatelli Carlo Pietromarchi Maurizio Micangeli
|
De Tomaso Pantera | 108 |
| Ford 351 5.8L V8 | ||||||
| 26 DNF |
S +2.0 |
11 | Grand Touring Cars Inc. Ford Concessionaires France
|
Derek Bell David Hobbs Vern Schuppan
|
Mirage M10 | 262 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | ||||||
| 27 DNF |
IMSA +2.5 |
62 | JMS Racing / Charles Pozzi
|
Jean-Claude Andruet Spartaco Dini
|
Ferrari 512BB/LM | 240 |
| Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 | ||||||
| 28 DNF |
S +2.0 |
14 | Essex Motorsport Porsche
|
Bob Wollek Hurley Haywood
|
Porsche 936 | 236 |
| Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 29 DNF |
IMSA +2.5 |
63 | JMS Racing / Charles Pozzi
|
Michel Leclère Claude Ballot-Léna Peter Gregg
|
Ferrari 512BB/LM | 219 |
| Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 | ||||||
| 30 DNF |
GTP 3.0 |
55 | Merlin Plage Jean Rondeau
|
Jean Rondeau Jacky Haran
|
Rondeau M379 | 207 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | ||||||
| 31 DNF |
Gr.5 +2.5 |
36 | Gelo Racing Sportswear Intl.
|
 Manfred Schurti Hans Heyer
|
Porsche 935 | 201 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 32 DNF |
S +2.0 |
12 | Essex Motorsport Porsche
|
Jacky Ickx Brian Redman Jürgen Barth
|
Porsche 936 | 200 |
| Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 33 DNF |
Gr.5 +2.5 |
37 | Gelo Racing Sportswear Intl.
|
John Fitzpatrick Harald Grohs Jean-Louis Lafosse
|
Porsche 935 | 196 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 34 DNF |
S 2.0 |
25 | Jean-Marie Lemerle
|
Alain Levié Jean-Pierre Malcher Jean-Marie Lemerle
|
Lola T298 | 189 |
| ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 35 DNF |
S 2.0 |
33 | Chevalley Racing Switzerland Racing Organisation Course
|
Marcel Tarres Alain Dechelette Charles Dechelette
|
Chevron B36 | 187 |
| ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 36 DNF |
S 2.0 |
31 | Kores Racing - France Chauffage
|
Michel Lateste Dominique Lacaud Christian Heinkélé
|
Lola T297 | 182 |
| BMW M12 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 37 DNF |
GT +3.0 |
87 | Christian Bussi
|
Christian Bussi Bernard Salam
|
Porsche 934 | 182 |
| Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 38 DNF |
GTP +3.0 |
51 | WM A.E.R.E.M.
|
Roger Dorchy Denis Morin
|
WM P79 | 157 |
| Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6 | ||||||
| 39 DNF |
IMSA +2.5 |
68 | Interscope Racing
|
Ted Field Milt Minter John Morton
|
Porsche 935 | 154 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 40 DNF |
S +2.0 |
3 | J.C. Racing Ltd.
|
John Cooper Peter Lovett John Morrison
|
De Cadenet-Lola T380 | 146 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | ||||||
| 41 DNF |
S 2.0 |
23 | Pronuptia
|
Bruno Sotty Gérard Cuynet Marc Frischknecht
|
Lola T296 | 134 |
| Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 42 DNF |
S 2.0 |
32 | BP Racing / Hubert Striebig
|
Alain Cudini Hubert Striebig Hughes Kirschoffer
|
Toj SC206 | 121 |
| BMW M12 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 43 DNF |
S 2.0 |
27 | Racing Organisation Course (ROC)
|
Marc Sourd Florian Vetsch Robert Carmillet
|
Chevron B36 | 92 |
| ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 44 DNF |
S 2.0 |
17 | Cheetah Racing Cars
|
Sandro Plastina Philippe Roux Mario Luini
|
Cheetah G601 | 87 |
| BMW M12 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 45 DNF |
GTP +3.0 |
53 | WM A.E.R.E.M.
|
Michel Pignard Jacques Coulon Serge Saulnier
|
WM P79 | 87 |
| Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6 | ||||||
| 46 DNF |
S 2.0 |
18 | Daniel Brillat Écurie Cedac Suisse
|
Daniel Brillat Jean-Pierre Aeschlimann
|
Cheetah G601 | 80 |
| ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 47 DNF |
IMSA +2.5 |
71 | Dick Barbour Racing
|
Bob Akin Roy Woods Rob McFarland
|
Porsche 935 | 78 |
| Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 48 DNF |
S 2.0 |
22 | Georges Morand
|
Eric Vuagnat Daniel Laurent Jacques Boillat
|
Lola T296 | 76 |
| Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4 | ||||||
| 49 DNF |
IMSA +2.5 |
74 | Jean-Pierre Jarier
|
Jean-Pierre Jarier Randy Townsend Raymond Touroul
|
Porsche 935 | 65 |
| Porsche Type-935 2.9L Turbo Flat-6 | ||||||
| 50 DNF |
S +2.0 |
1 | Chevalley Racing Switzerland
|
Xavier Lapeyre André Chevalley Patrick Perrier
|
Lola T286 | 59 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | ||||||
| 51 DNF |
IMSA +2.5 |
64 | North American Racing Team
|
Jean-Pierre Delaunay Cyril Grandet Preston Henn
|
Ferrari 512BB/LM | 54 |
| Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 | ||||||
| 52 DNF |
S +2.0 |
6 |  Dome Co. Ltd.
|
Chris Craft Gordon Spice Tony Trimmer
|
Dome Zero RL | 40 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | ||||||
| 53 DNF |
S +2.0 |
7 | Dome Co. Ltd.
|
Bob Evans Tony Trimmer
|
Dome Zero RL | 25 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | ||||||
| 54 DNF |
GTP +3.0 |
50 | Robin Hamilton
|
Robin Hamilton Mike Salmon Dave Preece
|
Aston Martin DBS V8 | 21 |
| Aston Martin 5.3L Turbo V8 | ||||||
| 55 DNF |
S +2.0 |
8 | Alain de Cadenet
|
François Migault Alain de Cadenet
|
De Cadenet-Lola T380 | 10 |
| Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 |
Statistics[]
- Pole Position - #14 Essex Motorsport Porsche - 3:30.07
- Fastest Lap - #12 Essex Motorsport Porsche - 3:36.10
- Distance - 4173.930 km
- Average Speed - 173.913 km/h
| 24 Hours of Le Mans seasons | ||
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This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Autopedia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License. |