1979 Le Mans 24 Hours


9-10 June 1979 - Le Mans (F): Round 6, World Challenge for Endurance Drivers. Round 3, Endurance Triple Crown.
24 hour duration event in which 306 laps of a 8.467 mile/13.627 km circuit - 2593.564 miles/4173.930 kms were completed.
Weather: intermittent rain


Pos. No. Driver / Nationality Car Entrant Laps Time/retired Grp Pos Group Grid Qual Time
1. 41 Bill Whittington (USA)/Don Whittington (USA)/Klaus Ludwig (D)/Axel Plankenhorn (D)* Porsche 935 K3 009 00015 Porsche Kremer Racing 307   1. Gr.5+2.0 3. 3:34,640 
2. 70 Rolf Stommelen (D)/Dick Barbour (USA)/Paul Newman (USA)/Skeeter McKitterick (USA)*/Brian Redman (GB)* Porsche 935 009 00030 Dick Barbour Racing 300   1. IMSA+2.5 16. 3:49,840 
3. 40 François Servanin (F)/François Trisconi (CH)/Laurent Ferrier (F)/Philippe Gurdjian (F)*/"John Winter" (D)*/Axel Plankenhorn (D)*/Klaus Ludwig (D)* Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0013 Porsche Kremer Racing 293   2. Gr.5+2.0 20. 3:55,080 
4. 82 Herbert Müller (CH)/Angelo Pallavicini (CH)/Marco Vanoli (CH) Porsche 934 930 670 0178 Lubrifilm Racing Team 292   1. GT+3.0 38. 4:06,650 
5. 5 Jean Ragnotti (F)/Bernard Darniche (F)/Henri Pescarolo (F)*/Jean-Pierre Beltoise (F)*/Jacques Laffite (F)* Rondeau M379 Ford 002 Jean Rondeau 288   1. S+2.0 6. 3:43,280 
6. 76 Marcel Mignot (F)/Hervé Poulain (F)/Manfred Winkelhock (D) BMW M1 Hervé Poulain 285   2. IMSA+2.5 23. 3:57,380 
7. 42 Dieter Schornstein (D)/Edgar Dören (D)/Götz von Tschirnhaus (D)/Gerhard Holup (D)* Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0012 Sekurit Racing 284   3. Gr.5+2.0 17. 3:51,010 
8. 72 Bob Garretson (USA)/Skeeter McKitterick (USA)/Edwin G. Abate (USA)/Paul Newman (USA)^/Gary Belcher (USA)*/Bob Bondurant (USA)* Porsche 935 930 770 0910 Dick Barbour Racing 279   3. IMSA+2.5 54. 4:18,190 
9. 73 Robert Kirby (USA)/John Hotchkis (USA)/Bob Harmon (USA) Porsche 935 930 770 0959 Dick Barbour Racing/Wynn's International 276   4. IMSA+2.5 39. 4:07,050 
10. 4 Henri Pescarolo (F)/Jean-Pierre Beltoise (F)/Bernard Darniche (F)*/Jean Ragnotti (F)*/Jean Rondeau (F)* Rondeau M379 Ford 003 Jean Rondeau 275   2. S+2.0 9. 3:45,500 
11. 43 Claude Haldi (CH)/Rodrigo Terran (PAN)/Herbert Loewe (CH) Porsche 935 930 770 0904 Claude Haldi 271   4. Gr.5+2.0 26. 3:59,870 
12. 61 Nick Faure (GB)/Bernard de Dryver (B)/Steve O'Rourke (GB)/"Jean Beurlys" (B) Ferrari 512 BB 27577 "Beurlys" 270   5. IMSA+2.5 45. 4:11,980 
13. 45 Axel Plankenhorn (D)/Philippe Gurdjian (F)/"John Winter" (D)/Francois Servanin (F)*/Laurent Ferrier (F)*/Klaus Ludwig (D)* Porsche 935 K3 930 890 0022 Porsche Kremer Racing 269   5. Gr.5+2.0 7. 3:43,980 
14. 52 Max Mamers (F)/Jean-Daniel Raulet (F)/Serge Saulnier (F)^ WM P79 Peugeot W.M. AEREM 268   1. GTP+3.0 27. 4:00,010 
15. 39 Jacques Guérin (F)/Fréderic Alliot (F)/"Chanaud" (B)/Jean-Louis Schlesser (F)^/Jean-Louis Lafoose (F)* Porsche 935 930 770 0912 ASA Cachia 265   6. Gr.5+2.0 24. 3:57,470 
16. 86 Georges Bourdillat (F)/Roland Ennequin (F)/Alain-Michel Bernard (F) Porsche 934 930 670 0157? Kores Racing 259   2. GT+3.0 51. 4:15,170 
17. 29 Tony Charnell (GB)/Richard Jones (GB)/Robin Smith (GB)/Lawrence Jacobsen (GB)* Chevron B36 Ford Mogil Motors Ltd. 259   1. S2.0 35. 4:05,800 
18. 24 Richard Jenvey (GB)/Nick Mason (GB)/Brian Joscelyne (GB)/Tony Birchenhough (GB)/Ian Harrower (GB)* Lola T297 Ford Dorset Racing Associates 254   2. S2.0 49. 4:12,470 
19. 84 Anny-Charlotte Verney (F)/René Metge (F)/Patrick Bardinon (F)/Klaus Utz (D)*/Armin Jahn (D)* Porsche 934 930 670 0164?? Anny Charlotte Verney 243   3. GT+3.0 48. 4:12,290 
20. 15 Ray Mallock (GB)/Martin Raymond (GB)/Simon Phillips (GB)^ De Cadenet Lola T380 Ford HU4 Fisons Agricole/Simon Phillips 242   3. S+2.0 14. 3:48,440 
21. 20 Michel Elkoubi (F)/Pierre Yver (F)/Max Cohen-Olivar (MOR)/Patrick Perrier (F)*/Renaud Laverre (F)* Lola T298 BMW HU99? Lambretta SAFD 240   3. S2.0 34. 4:05,740 
22. 28 Albert Dufréne (F)/Bernard Verdier (F)/Noël del Bello (F)/Marc Sourd (F)*/Laurent Ferrier (F)*/Florian Vetsch (CH)*/Jacques Henry (F)*/Bruno Chambas (F)* Chevron B36 ROC Racing Organisation Course 231   4. S2.0 47. 4:12,170 
NRF 11 Derek Bell (GB)/David Hobbs (GB)/Vern Schuppan (AUS) Ford M10 801 G.T.C. Ltd./Ford Concessionnaires France 262 Clutch, gearbox, engine   S+2.0 8. 3:44,830 
NRF 62 Jean-Claude Andruet (F)/Spartaco Dini (I)/Claude Ballot-Lena (F)*/Michel Leclere (F)* Ferrari 512 BB 26681 Charles Pozzi/JMS Racing 240 Engine   IMSA+2.5 30. 4:02,420 
NRF 14 Bob Wollek (F)/Hurley Haywood (USA)/Jürgen Barth (D)^/Brian Redman (GB)* Porsche 936/78 001 Essex Porsche 236 Engine   S+2.0 1. 3:30,070 
NRF 63 Claude Ballot-Léna (F)/Michel Leclére (F)/Peter Gregg (USA)/Jean-Claude Andruet (F)* Ferrari 512 BB 26685 Charles Pozzi/JMS Racing 219 Accident   IMSA+2.5 28. 4:00,780 
DNF 55 Jean Rondeau (F)/Jacky Haran (F)/Bernard Darniche (F)*/Giacomo Agostini (I)*/Henri Pescarolo (F)* Rondeau M379 Ford M378-001 Jean Rondeau 207 Accident   GTP3.0 19. 3:54,280 
DNF 36 Manfred Schurti (FL)/Hans Heyer (D) Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0015 Gelo Racing Team 201 Engine   Gr.5+2.0 4. 3:36,650 
DNF 12 Jacky Ickx (B)/Brian Redman (GB)/Didier Pironi (F)*/Juergen Barth (D)*/Bob Wollek (F)* Porsche 936/78 003 Essex Porsche 200 DSQ - outside assistance   S+2.0 2. 3:31,370 
DNF 37 John Fitzpatrick (GB)/Jean-Louis Lafosse (F)/Harald Grohs (D)/Bob Wollek (F)* Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0011 Gelo Racing Team 196 Engine   Gr.5+2.0 11. 3:46,250 
DNF 25 Alain Levié (F)/Jean-Marie Lemerle (F)/Jean-Pierre Malcher (F)/Pierre-Francois Rousselot (F)* Lola T298 ROC Jean-Marie Lemerle 189 Clutch   S2.0 53. 4:17,380 
DNF 33 Alain Dechelette (F)/Charles Dechelette (F)/Marcel Tarrés (F)/Peter Morrisey (GB)* Chevron B36 ROC Racing Organisation Course 187 Collision   S2.0 43. 4:08,260 
DNF 31 Dominique Lacaud (F)/Michel Lateste (F)/Christian Heinkélé (F)^/Schmidt* Lola T297 BMW Kores Racing - France Chauffage 182 Clutch   S2.0 42. 4:08,080 
DNF 87 Christian Bussi (F)/Bernard Salam (F)/Andre Gahinet (F)* Porsche 934 Christian Bussi 182 Accident damage   GT+3.0 52. 4:15,820 
DNF 51 Roger Dorchy (F)/Denis Morin (F)/Serge Saulnier (F)*/Alain Prost (F)* WM P79 Peugeot W.M. AEREM 157 Collision   GTP+3.0 33. 4:04,170 
DNF 68 Ted Field (USA)/Milt Minter (USA)/John Morton (USA) Porsche 935/79 930 990 0031 Interscope Racing 154 Engine   IMSA+2.5 25. 3:58,490 
DNF 3 John Cooper (GB)/Pete Lovett (GB)/John Morrison (GB) SG Lola T380 Ford LM-3 J. C. Racing Ltd. 146 Electrics   S+2.0 13. 3:47,820 
DNF 23 Bruno Sotty (F)/Gérard Cuynet (F)/Marc Frischknecht (CH)/Daniel Laurent (F)* Lola T296 Ford Pronuptia 134 Collision   S2.0 31. 4:02,920 
DNF 26 Pierre-François Rousselot (F)/Michel Dubois (F)/Marc Menant (F)/Bernard Verdier (F)*/Marc Sourd (F)* Chevron B36 ROC Racing Organisation Course 133 DQ: Insufficient distance covered   S2.0 41. 4:07,590 
DNF 10 Vern Schuppan (AUS)/Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (F)/David Hobbs (GB)/Derek Bell (GB)* Ford M10 802 G.T.C. Ltd./Ford Concessionnaires France 121 DQ: Insufficient distance covered   S+2.0 5. 3:41,630 
DNF 32 Alain Cudini (F)/Hubert Striebig (F)/Hughes Kirschoffer (F) TOJ SC206 BMW 7706 BP Racing/Hubert Striebig 121 Fuel pump   S2.0 37. 4:06,620 
DNF 35 Gianfranco Brancatelli (I)/Maurizio Micangeli (I)/Carlo Pietromarchi (I) De Tomaso Pantera Carlo Pietromarchi 108 DSQ - Insufficient distance covered   Gr.5+2.0 44. 4:10,770 
DNF 27 Marc Sourd (F)/Florian Vetsch (CH)/Roger Carmillet (F)/Jacques Henry (F)*/Albert Dufrene (F)*/Bruno Chambas (F)*/Michel Dubois (F)*/Laurent Ferrier (F)* Chevron B36 ROC Racing Organisation Course 92 Accident   S2.0 29. 4:01,320 
DNF 17 Sandro Plastina (CH)/Philippe Roux (CH)/Mario Luini (CH)/Philippe Jeanneret (CH)/Bernard Pescia (F)* Cheetah G601 BMW Cheetah Racing Cars 87 Cylinder head   S2.0 46. 4:12,020 
DNF 53 Michel Pignard (F)/Jacques Coulon (F)/Serge Saulnier (F)&/Jean-Daniel Raulet (F)^ WM P79 Peugeot W.M. AEREM 87 Left front suspension   GTP+3.0 22. 3:56,080 
DNF 18 Daniel Brillat (F)/Jean-Pierre Aeschlimann (CH)/Jean-Daniel Grandjean (CH) Cheetah G601 BMW 1 Daniel Brillat 80 Camshaft   S2.0 40. 4:07,170 
DNF 71 Rob McFarlin (USA)/Bob Akin (USA)/Roy Woods (USA) Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0024 Dick Barbour Racing 78 Head gasket   IMSA+2.5 32. 4:03,390 
DNF 22 Eric Vuagnat (F)/Jacques Boillat (F)/Georges Morand (CH)^/Daniel Laurent (F)^/Philippe Alliot (F)* Lola T296 Ford Georges Morand 76 Ignition   S2.0 50. 4:12,910 
DNF 74 Randolph Townsend (USA)/Raymond Touroul (F)/Jean-Pierre Jarier (F) Porsche 935 930 770 0905 Jean-Pierre Jarier 65 Engine   IMSA+2.5 21. 3:55,730 
DNF 1 Xavier Lapeyre (F)/André Chevalley (CH)/Patrick Perrier (F)/Marco Capoferri (I)*/Renzo Zorzi (I)*/Ernst Berg (NL)* Lola T286 Ford André Chevalley Racing Switzerland 59 Lights   S+2.0 12. 3:47,570 
DNF 64 Jean-Pierre Delaunay (F)/Cyril Grandet (F)/Preston Henn (USA) Ferrari 512 BB 26683 North American Racing Team 54 Accident   IMSA+2.5 36. 4:06,300 
DNF 6 Chris Craft (GB)/Gordon Spice (GB)^/Tony Trimmer (GB)*/Bob Evans (GB)* Dome Zero RL Ford Dome Co. Ltd. 40 Fuel feed   S+2.0 15. 3:49,260 
DNF 7 Tony Trimmer (GB)/Bob Evans (GB)/Donald McMillan (GB)*/Rolf Stommelen (D)*/Keke Rosberg (S)*/Chris Craft (GB)*/Gordon Spice (GB)* Dome Zero RL Ford Dome Co. Ltd. 25 Head gasket   S+2.0 18. 3:51,240 
DNF 50 Robin Hamilton (GB)/Mike Salmon (GB)/David Preece (GB)^ Aston Martin AM V8 Turbo RHAM/001 Robin Hamilton 21 Oil leak   GTP+3.0 55. 4:24,480 
DNF 8 François Migault (F)/Alain De Cadenet (GB)^/Murray Smith (GB)* De Cadenet Lola LM Ford LM-4 Alain De Cadenet 10 Gearbox   S+2.0 10. 3:45,610 
RES 16 Guy Edwards (GB)/Ian Grob (GB)/Dieter Quester (A) March-BMW M1 March Racing   Reserve   S+2.0 56. 3:59,390 
RES 21 Francois Calmels (F)/Renaud Laverre (F)/Patrice Lenormand (F)/Pierre Yver (F)*/Louis Descartes (F)* Lola T296 ROC Lambretta SAFD   Reserve   S2.0 58. 4:25,990 
DNP 30 Pascal Foix (F)/Michel Bienvault (F)/Murray Smith (GB)/Dominique Bordini (F)/Daniel Olivera (F)* Lola T296 ROC Francois Migault   Not practiced   S2.0 60. no time
RES 77 Tetsu Ikuzawa (J)/Yojiro Terada (J)/Claude Buchet (F)/"Nicole" (F)* Mazda RX-7 252i Mazda Auto Tokyo   Reserve   IMSA2.5 57. 4:18,880 
RES 80 Antoine Salamin (CH)/Gérard Vial (CH)/Philippe Collet (CH)/Herbert Loewe (CH)* Porsche 934 Ecurie des 13 Etoiles   Reserve   GT+3.0 59. 4:35,250 
NAC   Marco Vanoli (CH)/Fritz Werner (CH)/Angelo Pallavicini (CH) Porsche Carrera Angelo Pallavicini   Not accepted   GT3.0    
NAC   Jean-Luc Favresse (F) Lola T296 ROC Roland Germain   Not accepted   S2.0    
NAC   Jacques Guérin (F)/Simon De Lautour (GB)/Jean-Louis Lafosse (F) Porsche Carrera ASA Cachia   Not accepted   GT3.0    
NAC   Thierry Perrier (F)/Roger Carmillet (F)/Guy de Saint-Pierre (F) Porsche Carrera Thierry Perrier   Not accepted   GT3.0    
NAC   Jorge Cortes (CO)/Honorato Espinosa (CO)/Francisco Lopez (CO)/Pedro DeNarvaez (CO) Porsche Carrera RS Luis Botero   Not accepted   IMSA+2.5    
NAC   Guy Somekh (F)/Stanislas Machoir/J. J. Enjalbert/Jean-Luc Thepenier (F) Porsche Carrera Stanislas Machoir   Not accepted   GT3.0    
NAC   "Segolen" (F) Porsche Carrera "Segolen"   Not accepted   GT3.0    
NAC      Porsche 934 Jean-Luc Thepenier   Not accepted   GT+3.0    
DNA   Max Welti (CH)/Louis Bärtsch (CH)/Georges Blättler (CH) Sauber C5 BMW Sauber Racing       S2.0    
DNA   Ian Bracey (GB)/Richard Bond (GB)/Divina Galica (GB) IBEC P5 LM Ford Ian Bracey       S+2.0    
NAC   René Metge (F)/Jean-Louis Lafosse (F) Porsche 935 ASA Cachia   Not accepted   Gr.5+2.0    
DNA   Claude Bourgoignie (B) Porsche 935 K2 007 0004 Porsche Kremer Racing       IMSA+2.5    
REE   René Metge (F)/Jean-Louis Lafosse (F) Porsche Carrera ASA Cachia   Reserve entry   GT3.0    
NAC   Hubert Striebig (F)/Hughes Kirschoffer (F) Porsche 934 Hubert Striebig   Not accepted   GT+3.0    
NAC   Philippe Alliot (F)/Fréderic Alliot (F) Porsche 934 Kores Racing   Not accepted   GT+3.0    
REE   Heinz Schulthess (CH) Saab 900 Turbo Ecurie 3 Chevrons   Reserve entry   GT3.0    
DNA   Eugen Strähl (CH)/Georges Blättler (CH)/Harry Blumer (CH) Sauber C5 BMW Sauber Racing       S2.0    
DNA   Richard Jenvey (GB) Lotus Esprit S1 Richard Jenvey       Gr.5 2.0    
REE   Jean Belliard (F)/Roland Imbert (F)/J. C. Martinez (F) Porsche Carrera Jean Belliard   Reserve entry   GT3.0    
DNA   John Paul (USA)/Michael Keyser (USA) Porsche 935 JLP-1 JLP-1 J.L.P. Racing       IMSA+2.5    
DNA 2 Patrick Perrier (F)/Marco Capoferri (I)/Renzo Zorzi (I) Lola T286 Ford Chevalley Racing Switzerland       S+2.0    
DNA 54 Walter Brun (CH)/Alain Cudini (F) BMW M1 Walter Brun Racing Organisation       GTP+3.0    
DNA 60 Douglas J. Rowe (CDN)/A. A. Lorent/Bill Adam (CDN) Chevrolet Corvette PP Sauber - Douglas J. Rowe       IMSA+2.5    
DNA 65    Ferrari 512 BB North American Racing Team       IMSA+2.5    
DNA 66 Clay Regazzoni (CH) Ferrari 512 BB 27579 SA. Mo. Car S.p.A.       IMSA+2.5    
DNA 67 Don Whittington (USA)/Bill Whittington (USA) Porsche 935/79 Don Whittington       IMSA+2.5    
DNA 81 Edgar Dören (D)/Gerhard Holup (D)/Uwe Reich (D)/Eckhard Schimpf (D) Porsche 934 930 670 0158 Autohaus Max Moritz GmbH       GT+3.0    

 
Winning Speed: 108.065 mph/173.914 kph
Fastest Lap: Jacky Ickx #12 (Porsche 936-78), 3m36.1, 141.054 mph/227.003 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)