1978 Le Mans 24 Hours


10-11 June 1978 - Le Mans (F): Round 5, World Challenge for Endurance Drivers. Round 2, Daytona-Le Mans Trophy. Round 3, Endurance Triple Crown.
24 hour duration event in which 369 laps of a 8.476 mile/13.640 km circuit - 3134.531 miles/5044.530 kms were completed.
Weather: warm, dry



 

Pos. No. Driver / Nationality Car Entrant Laps Time/retired Grp Pos Group Grid Qual Time
1. 2 Didier Pironi (F)/Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (F)/Patrick Depailler (F)* Renault-Alpine A442B A442/3 Renault Sport 370 1. S+2.0 5. 3:35,700 
2. 6 Bob Wollek (F)/Jürgen Barth (D)/Jacky Ickx (B)/Reinhold Jöst (D)^/Henri Pescarolo (F)*/Jochen Mass (D)* Porsche 936/78 001 Martini Racing Porsche System 365   2. S+2.0 4. 3:35,200 
3. 7 Hurley Haywood (USA)/Peter Gregg (USA)/Reinhold Jöst (D)/Jochen Mass (D)^ Porsche 936/77 002 Martini Racing Porsche System 363   3. S+2.0 6. 3:37,300 
4. 4 Jean Ragnotti (F)/Guy Fréquelin (F)/José Dolhem (F)/Jean-Pierre Jabouille (F)/Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (F)* Renault-Alpine A442A A442/1 Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson 359   4. S+2.0 8. 3:42,700 
5. 90 Brian Redman (GB)/John Paul (USA)/Dick Barbour (USA)/Michael Keyser (USA)/Bob Bondurant (USA)* Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0024 Dick Barbour Racing 338   1. IMSA+2.5 16. 3:52,600 
6. 44 Jim Busby (USA)/Rick Knoop (USA)/Chris Cord (USA) Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0012 Porsche Kremer Racing 337   1. Gr.5+2.0 14. 3:50,700 
7. 41 Paulo Gomes (BR)/Mario Amaral (BR)/Alfredo Guarana (BR)/Henri Cachia (F)^/Claude Ballot-Léna (F)^/Jean-Louis Lafoose (F)* Porsche 935 930 770 0912 ASA Cachia 330   2. Gr.5+2.0 23. 3:59,500 
8. 43 Manfred Schurti (FL)Rolf Stommelen (D)/Reinhold Joest (D)*/Jochen Mass (D)*/Jacky Ickx (B)* Porsche 935/78 006 Martini Racing Porsche System 327   3. Gr.5+2.0 3. 3:30,900 
9. 72 Jean Rondeau (F)/Bernard Darniche (F)/Jacky Haran (F) Rondeau M378 Ford 001 Jean Rondeau 295   1. GTP3.0 40. 4:09,400 
10. 10 Vern Schuppan (AUS)/Jacques Laffite (F)/Sam Posey (USA)/Clay Regazzoni (CH)*/Michel Leclere (F)* Mirage M9 Renault 802 Grand Touring Cars Inc. 294   5. S+2.0 9. 3:45,800 
11. 31 Michel Pignard (F)/Laurent Ferrier (F)/Lucien Rossiaud (F)/Fred Stalder (F)* Chevron B36 ROC R.O.C. La Pierre du Nord 285   1. S2.0 29. 4:04,200 
12. 66 Anny-Charlotte Verney (F)/Xavier Lapeyre (F)/François Servanin (F)/Hubert Striebig (F) Porsche Carrera RSR Anny Charlotte Verney 280   1. GT3.0 51. 4:19,600 
13. 71 André Chevalley (CH)/François Trisconi (CH) Inaltera Ford 3 André Chevalley Racing 280   2. GTP3.0 19. 3:53,900 
14. 97 Gordon Spice (GB)/John Rulon-Miller (USA)/Larry Perkins (AUS)/Charles Ivey (GB)* Porsche Carrera RSR 911 460 9064 Charles Ivey Racing 279   2. IMSA+2.5 47. 4:14,700 
15. 8 Chris Craft (GB)/Alain De Cadenet (GB) De Cadenet Lola LM Ford LM-4 Alain De Cadenet 274   6. S+2.0 10. 3:46,200 
16. 86 François Migault (F)/Lucien Guitteny (F)/Florian Vetsch (CH)^ Ferrari 365 GT4/BB - 512BB 18139 North American Racing Team 263   3. IMSA+2.5 49. 4:15,900 
17. 62 Christian Bussi (F)/"Segolen" (F)/Jean-Claude Briavoine (F)/Claude Haldi (CH)^ Porsche 934 "Segolen" 260   1. GT+3.0 52. 4:21,600 
NC 23 Marc Surer (CH)/Eugen Strähl (CH)/Harry Blumer (CH)/Peter Bernhard (CH)* Sauber C5 BMW 004 Francy Sauber AG 258   2. S2.0 24. 4:00,100 
NC 20 Sandro Plastina (CH)/Jean-Daniel Grandjean (CH)/Mario Luini (CH) Cheetah G601 Ford C. H. Graemiger 251   3. S2.0 50. 4:19,300 
NC 64 Georges Bourdillat (F)/Alain-Michel Bernard (F)/Jean-Luc Favresse (F)/Colin Grange (GB)*/Ancelet* Porsche Carrera Georges Bourdillat 242   2. GT3.0 55. 4:28,200 
NC 25 Bruno Sotty (F)/Gérard Cuynet (F)/Jean-Claude Dufrey (F)/Julien Sanchez (F)* Lola T294/6 Ford Team Pronuptia 239   4. S2.0 48. 4:15,800 
NC 24 Michel Elkoubi (F)/Philippe Streiff (F)/Pierre Yver (F) Lola T296 Ford Team Pronuptia 233   5. S2.0 43. 4:11,700 
NC 28 Michel Lateste (F)/Jean-Francois Auboiron (F)/Dominique Lacaud (F) Lola T297 BMW Dominique Lacaud 218   6. S2.0 30. 4:04,500 
NC 45 "John Winter" (D)/Dieter Schornstein (D)/Philippe Gurdjian (F) Porsche 935 930 770 0903 Porsche Kremer Racing 183     Gr.5+2.0 28. 4:04,200 
NC 27 Tony Charnell (GB)/Robin Smith (GB)/Fréderic Alliot (F)/Richard Jones (GB) Chevron B31 Ford Mogil Motors Ltd. with Kores Racing 181     S2.0 26. 4:03,300 
NRF 1 Jean-Pierre Jabouille (F)/Patrick Depailler (F)/Patrick Tambay (F)* Renault-Alpine A443 A443/1 Renault Sport 279 Engine   S+2.0 2. 3:28,400 
DNF 5 Jacky Ickx (B)/Henri Pescarolo (F)/Jochen Mass (D)/Juergen Barth (D)*/Bob Wollek (F)*/Reinhold Joest (D)* Porsche 936/78 003 Martini Racing Porsche System 255 Accident   S+2.0 1. 3:27,600 
DNF 88 Jean-Claude Andruet (F)/Spartaco Dini (I) Ferrari 512 BB 24127 Pozzi Thompson JMS Racing 251 Engine   IMSA+2.5 34. 4:07,300 
DNF 87 Jean-Pierre Delaunay (F)/Jacques Guérin (F)/Gregg Young (USA)/Jean-Claude Andruet (F)^ Ferrari 512 BB 24131 Luigi Chinetti Sr. 232 Gearbox   IMSA+2.5 36. 4:16,300 
DNF 89 Claude Ballot-Léna (F)/Jean-Louis Lafosse (F) Ferrari 512 BB 24129 Pozzi Thompson JMS Racing 218 Gearbox   IMSA+2.5 33. 4:07,100 
DNF 19 Ian Grob (GB)/Guy Edwards (GB)/Ian Bracey (GB)^ IBEC 308LM Ford IBEC Racing Developments Ltd. 195 Con rod   S+2.0 13. 3:50,200 
DNF 30 Jacques Henry (F)/Albert Dufréne (F)/Max Cohen-Olivar (MOR)/Michel Pignard (F)* Chevron B36 ROC R.O.C. La Pierre du Nord 195 Piston   S2.0 38. 4:08,300 
DNF 78 Marc Sourd (F)/Xavier Mathiot (F)/Christian Debias (F) WM P78 Peugeot WM AEREM 186 Accident   GTP+3.0 18. 3:52,900 
DNF 76 Marianne Hoepfner (F)/Christine Dacremont (F)/Christian Debias (F)* WM P76 Peugeot WM AEREM 171 Head gasket   GTP 3.0 53. 4:22,800 
DNF 68 Edgar Dören (D)/Hervé Poulain (F)/Gerhard Holup (D)/Romain Feitler (L)/Marcel Mignot (F)* Porsche 934 930 670 0158 Hervé Poulain 167 Gearbox   GT+3.0 32. 4:07,000 
DNF 3 Jean-Pierre Jarier (F)/Derek Bell (GB) Renault-Alpine A442A A442/2 Renault Sport 162 Differential   S+2.0 7. 3:37,900 
DNF 91 Bob Garretson (USA)/Bob Akin (USA)/Steve Earle (USA)/Michael Keyser (USA)*/Dick Barbour (USA)* Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0033 Dick Barbour Racing 159 Accident   IMSA+2.5 31. 4:05,200 
DNF 29 Michel Dubois (F)/Daniel Gache (F)/Julien Sanchez (F)/Francois Servanin (F)*/Laurent Ferrier (F)* Chevron B36 ROC R.O.C. Modylook 142 Accident   S2.0 35. 4:07,800 
DNF 48 Herbert Müller (CH)/Claude Haldi (CH)/"Nico" (CH) Porsche 935 930 770 0904 Meccarillos Racing Team 140 Gearbox casing   Gr.5+2.0 21. 3:55,800 
DNF 26 Georges Morand (CH)/Christian Blanc (CH)/Eric Vuagnat (F) Lola T296 Ford G.V.E.A. 130 Oil pressure   S2.0 45. 4:12,200 
DNF 21 Pierre-François Rousselot (F)/Jean-Marie Lemerle (F)/Alain Levié (F) Lola T294 ROC Jean-Marie Lemerle 126 Broken rear chassis   S2.0 46. 4:13,700 
DNF 65 Antoine Salamin (CH)/Gérard Vial (CH)/Yves Courage (F)/Joël Laplacette (F) Porsche 930 Joël Laplacette 116 Brakes, accident   GT3.0 54. 4:25,000 
DNF 34 Tom Walkinshaw (GB)/Dieter Quester (A)/Rad Dougall (ZA)/Ted Toleman (GB)^ Osella PA6 BMW BMW (GB) Racing with Toleman Delivery 113 Accident   S2.0 22. 3:56,200 
DNF 12 Nick Faure (GB)/John Beasley (GB)/Simon Phillips (GB)/Martin Raymond (GB) De Cadenet Lola T380 Ford HU4 Simon Phillips Racing with BATCO 99 DSQ - Insufficient distance covered   S+2.0 15. 3:51,900 
DNF 32 Ian Harrower (GB)/Juliette Slaughter (GB)/Brian Joscelyne (GB)/Tony Birchenhough (GB)^ Lola T294S Ford Dorset Racing Associates with Kelly Girl 61 Engine   S2.0 41. 4:10,400 
DNF 61 Guy Chasseuil (F)/Jean-Claude Lefebvre (F)/José Dolhem (F)^/Marcel Mignot (F)*/Cyril Grandet (F)* Porsche 934 Auto Daniel Urcun 61 Piston   GT+3.0 39. 4:09,100 
DNF 77 Jean-Daniel Raulet (F)/Max Mamers (F)/Christian Debias (F)* WM P77 Peugeot WM AEREM 44 Clutch   GTP+3.0 27. 4:03,500 
DNF 94 Bill Whittington (USA)/Don Whittington (USA)/Franz Konrad (A)^/Reinhold Jöst (D)^ Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0016 Whittington Brothers Racing 41 Accident   Gr.5+2.0 17. 3:52,800 
DNF 85 Teddy Pilette (B)/Nick Faure (GB)^/"Jean Beurlys" (B)^/Raymond Touroul (F)^ Ferrari 512 BB 22715 Ecurie Francorchamps 39 Gearbox   IMSA+2.5 42. 4:10,900 
DNF 69 Willy Braillard (B)/Jean-Louis Ravenel (F)/Jacky Ravenel (F)^/Philippe Dagoreau (F)^ Porsche 934 Jean-Louis Ravenel 35 Injection pump   GT+3.0 37. 4:08,000 
DNF 46 Martin Raymond (GB)/"Steve" (B)/Mike Franey (GB)^ Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0022 Porsche Kremer Racing/Fisons 34 Engine   Gr.5+2.0 20. 3:54,800 
DNF 11 Michel Leclére (F)/Sam Posey (USA)^/Vern Schuppan (AUS)* Mirage M9 Renault 801 Grand Touring Cars Inc. 33 Electrics   S+2.0 12. 3:48,300 
DNF 84 Brad Frisselle (USA)/Robert Kirby (USA)/John Hotchkis (USA)^ Chevrolet Monza DeKon 1003 Brad Friselle Racing 30 Head   IMSA+2.5 25. 4:02,300 
DNF 33T Bob Evans (GB)/Richard Down (GB)/Martin Birrane (IRL)*/Richard Bond (GB)* Lola T294S Ford Cloud Engineering 23 Puncture, broken chassis   S2.0 44. 4:12,000 
DNF 47 John Fitzpatrick (GB)/Toine Hezemans (NL)^/Klaus Ludwig (D)^ Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0011 Weisberg Gelo Team 19 Piston   Gr.5+2.0 11. 3:46,500 
RES 9 John Cooper (GB)/Bob Evans (GB)/Pete Lovett (GB) De Cadenet Lola LM Ford LM-3 Alain De Cadenet   Reserve   S+2.0 56. 3:52,900 
RES 14 Guy Chasseuil (F)/Hubert Striebig (F)/Helmut Kirschoffer (D)*/Joerg Obermoser (D)*/Pierre-Francois Rousselot (F)* TOJ SC303 Ford BP Racing   Reserve   S+2.0 57. 4:14,800 
RES 22 Anna Cambiaghi (I)/Pascuale Guerie (F)*/Martine Rénier (F)*/Dominique Fornage (F)* Lola T296/7 ROC L'Agence Locomotiv   Reserve   S2.0 58. 4:27,800 
RES 40 Hans Heyer (D)/Clemens Schickentanz (D)/Thomas Datzmann (D)* Mercedes-Benz 450SLC AMG Motorenbau GmbH   Reserve   Gr.5+2.0 59. 4:26,100 
DNQ 60 Simon De Lautour (GB)/Gérard Bleynie (F)/Roland Ennequin (F)/Deconay*/Pessy*/Claude Haldi (CH)* Porsche 934 Meccarillos Cégécal Racing Team       GT+3.0 63. no time
DNQ 63 Christian Gouttepifre (F)/Raymond Touroul (F)/Robert Boubet (F)/Alain Leroux (F)* Porsche Carrera RS Christian Gouttepifre   DSQ - illegal engine   GT3.0 64. no time
RES 73 Guy de Saint-Pierre (F)/Marcel Mignot (F)/Bernard Decure (F)*/Denis Morin (F)*/Jean-Luc Therier (F)* Alpine-Renault A310 Bernard Décure   Reserve   GTP 3.0 60. 4:34,400 
RES 96 Alain Cudini (F)/Pierre Dieudonné (B)/Jean-Claude Depince (F)* BMW 3.5 CSL Garage du Bac   Reserve   IMSA+2.5 62. 4:25,300 
RES 98 Jean Belliard (F)/Thierry Perrier (F)/Joel Mouetron (F)* Porsche Carrera Thierry Perrier   Reserve   IMSA+2.5 61. 4:23,500 
DNS 33 Richard Down (GB) Lola T294S Ford Cloud Engineering   Accident in practice   S2.0    
DNA   Ted Toleman (GB) BMW 3.5 CSL BMW (GB) Racing avec Toleman Delivery       IMSA+2.5    
DNA   Hervé Poulain (F) BMW 320i Hervé Poulain       Gr.5 2.0    
DNA      Chevron B36 Agence Locomotiv       S2.0    
DNA       Ferrari 512 BB Ecurie Grand Competition Car       IMSA+2.5    
DNA   Florian Vetsch (CH) Ferrari 308 GTB Florian Vetsch       GT3.0    
DNA      Ferrari 308 GTB Luigi Chinetti Sr.            
DNA 42 Franz Konrad (A)/Volkert Merl (D) Porsche 935/77A Konrad Racing       Gr.5+2.0    
DNA 50 Richard Jenvey (GB)/John Morrison (GB) Lotus Esprit S1 Morfe Racing with Polaroof       Gr.5 2.0    
DNA 70 David Preece (GB)/Robin Hamilton (GB) Aston Martin AM V8 Turbo RHAM/001 Robin Hamilton       GTP+3.0    
DNA 92    Porsche 934 Holly Cars LSA       IMSA+2.5    

 
Winning Speed: 130.605 mph/210.189 kph
Fastest Lap: Jean-Pierre Jabouille #1 (Alpine-Renault A443), 3m34.2, 142.446 mph/229.244 kph

 
* Driver entered for car, but never drove it at meeting
^ Driver practiced car, but did not race it
RES - Reserve (Practiced, on standy-by for start)
REE - Reserve Entry
DNA - Did Not Arrive
DNS - Did Not Start
DNF - Did Not Finish
DNP - Did Not Practice
NC - Not Classified
DSQ - Disqualified
NRF - Not Running At Finish
NAC - Not Accepted
REJ - Rejected (Did not pass scrutineering)