1981 Le Mans 24 Hours


13-14 June 1981 - Le Mans (F): Round 5, World Manufacturers Championship. Round 8, World Endurance Championship for Drivers. Round 3, Endurance Triple Crown.
24 hour duration event in which 354 laps of a 8.467 mile/13.627 km circuit - 2998.337 miles/4825.348 kms were completed.
Weather: warm, dry


Pos. No. Driver / Nationality Car Entrant Laps Time/retired Grp Pos Group Grid Qual Time
1. 11 Jacky Ickx (B)/Derek Bell (GB)/Juergen Barth (D)*/Manfred Schurti (FL)* Porsche 936/81 003 Porsche System Engineering 355   1. S+2.0 1. 3:29,440 
2. 8 Jacky Haran (F)/Philippe Streiff (F)/Jean-Louis Schlesser (F)/Carlos Panacada* Rondeau M379C Ford 002 Jean Rondeau 341   1. GTP3.0 28. 3:50,610 
3. 7 François Migault (F)/Gordon Spice (GB)/Dany Snobeck (F)* Rondeau M379C Ford 003 Jean Rondeau 336   2. GTP3.0 15. 3:43,990 
4. 55 John Cooper (GB)/Dudley Wood (GB)/Claude Bourgoignie (B) Porsche 935 K3 930 890 0022 Claude Bourgoignie 331   1. Gr.5 23. 3:48,020 
5. 47 Jean-Claude Andruet (F)/Claude Ballot-Léna (F)/Hervé Regout (B)^ Ferrari 512 BB/LM 31589 Charles Pozzi S.A. 329   1. IMSA GTX 37. 3:56,890 
6. 42 Anny-Charlotte Verney (F)/Ralph Kent-Cooke (USA)/Bob Garretson (USA)/Roy Woods (USA)* Porsche 935 K3 009 00030 Cooke-Woods Racing 328   2. IMSA GTX 33. 3:55,150 
7. 1 Jürgen Barth (D)/Walter Röhrl (D)/Siegfreid Brunn (D)* Porsche 944 LM 006 Porsche System Engineering 324   1. GTP+3.0 43. 4:01,030 
8. 65 Eddie Cheever (USA)/Michele Alboreto (I)/Carlo Facetti (I)/Riccardo Patrese (I)*/Hans Heyer (D)*/Piercarlo Ghinzani (I)* Lancia Beta Montecarlo 1009 Martini Racing 323   2. Gr.5 31. 3:54,090 
9. 46 Jean Xhenceval (B)/Pierre Dieudonné (B)/Jean-Paul Libert (B) Ferrari 512 BB/LM 35525 Rennod Racing 321   3. IMSA GTX 36. 3:56,720 
10. 60 Dieter Schornstein (D)/Harald Grohs (D)/Götz von Tschirnhaus (D) Porsche 935J 000 00016 Vegla Racing Team 321   3. Gr.5 7. 3:37,150 
11. 36 Manfred Schurti (FL)/Andy Rouse (GB)/Siegfried Brunn (D)^ Porsche 924 Carrera GTR Porsche System Engineering 316   1. IMSA GTO 48. 4:04,090 
12. 12 Jochen Mass (D)/Vern Schuppan (AUS)/Hurley Haywood (USA)/Rick Mears (USA)*/Juergen Barth (D)* Porsche 936/81 001 Porsche System Engineering 313   2. S+2.0 2. 3:32,610 
13. 4 Denis Morin (F)/Charles Mendez (USA)/Xavier Mathiot (F)/Guy Frequelin (F)*/Roger Dorchy (F)* WM P79/80 Peugeot W.M. Aerem 308   2. GTP+3.0 16. 3:44,140 
14. 68 Martino Finotto (I)/Giorgio Schön (I)/Giorgio Pianta (I) Lancia Beta Montecarlo 1005 Jolly Club 293   4. Gr.5 53. 4:09,010 
15. 18 Emilio de Villota (E)/Guy Edwards (GB)/Juan Fernandez (E) Lola T600 Ford HU03 Grid Team Lola 288   3. S+2.0 12. 3:42,400 
16. 51 Bernard Darniche (F)/Johnny Cecotto (YV)/Philippe Alliot (F)/Teo Fabi (I)*/Dominique Lacaud (F)* BMW M1 BMW Italie France 278   5. Gr.5 35. 3:55,680 
17. 70 Valentin Bertapelle (F)/Thierry Perrier (F)/Bernard Salam (F)/Dominique Lacaud (F)* Porsche 934 Thierry Perrier 275   1. GT 52. 4:08,860 
18. 31 Jean-Philippe Grand (F)/Yves Courage (F) Lola T298 BMW Jean-Philippe Grand 273   1. S2.0 42. 4:00,420 
NC 33 Pierre Yver (F)/Jacques Heuclin (F)/Michel Dubois (F) Lola T298 BMW Compagnie Primagaz 204     S2.0 45. 4:02,810 
NC 32 Louis Descartes (F)/Hervé Bayard (F)/Bruno Preschey (F)^/Jean-Paul Libert (B)* Renard Delmas D31 ROC 01 Ecurie Renard-Delmas 188     S2.0 54. 4:15,570 
DNF 43 Paul Miller (USA)/Craig Siebert (USA)/Bob Akin (USA) Porsche 935 K3/80 000 00013 Bob Akin Motor Racing 320 Short-circuit   IMSA GTX 30. 3:52,610 
DNF 57 Claude Haldi (CH)/Hervé Poulain (F)/Mark Thatcher (GB)/Bernard Beguin (F)* Porsche 935/77A 930 890 0015 Claude Haldi 260 Accident   Gr.5 32. 3:54,320 
DNF 49 Alain Cudini (F)/Philippe Gurdjian (F)/John Morton (USA) Ferrari 512 BB/LM 35527 North American Racing Team 247 Accident   IMSA GTX 29. 3:52,600 
DNF 53 David Hobbs (GB)/Eddie Jordan (IRL)/Steve O'Rourke (GB) BMW M1 EMKA Productions Ltd. 236 Engine   Gr.5 38. 3:56,990 
DNF 72 Pierre-François Rousselot (F)/François Servanin (F)/Laurent Ferrier (F) BMW M1 BMW Zol' Auto 212 Valve, clutch, gearbox   GT 47. 4:03,760 
DNF 20 Alain De Cadenet (GB)/Jean-Michel Martin (B)/Philippe Martin (B) De Cadenet Lola LM Ford LM-4 Alain De Cadenet - Belga 210 Engine   S+2.0 19. 3:46,690 
DNF 52 Dieter Quester (A)/Marc Surer (CH)/David Deacon (CDN) BMW M1 Sauber Würth Team Sauber 207 Engine   Gr.5 22. 3:47,900 
DNF 66 Riccardo Patrese (I)/Hans Heyer (D)/Piercarlo Ghinzani (I)/Eddie Cheever (USA)*/Michele Alboreto (I)*/Carlo Facetti (I)* Lancia Beta Montecarlo 1011 Martini Racing 186 Cylinder head   Gr.5 24. 3:48,140 
DNF 21 Vivian Candy (IRL)/Martin Birrane (IRL)/Nick Faure (GB)/Tony Birchenhough (GB)*/Peter Clark (GB)* De Cadenet Lola LM Ford T380-HU4 Dorset Racing Associates 171 Gearbox casing   S+2.0 26. 3:48,900 
DNF 23 Chris Craft (GB)/Bob Evans (GB) Dome RL81 Ford Dome Co Ltd. 154 Valves   S+2.0 20. 3:47,430 
DNF 40 Mauricio DeNarvaez (CO)/Kenper Miller (USA)/Günter Steckkönig (D) Porsche 935J 930 890 0012 Joest Racing 152 Fire   IMSA GTX 25. 3:48,200 
DNF 48 Steve Earle (USA)/Simon Phillips (GB)/Mike Salmon (GB) Ferrari 512 BB/LM 35523 Simon Phillips 140 Chassis   IMSA GTX 40. 3:59,980 
DNF 45 Fabrizio Violati (I)/Duilio Truffo (I)/Maurizio Flammini (I)/Spartaco Dini (I)*/Maurizio Micangeli (I)* Ferrari 512 BB/LM 35529 Scuderia Supercar Bellancauto SRL 118 Electrics   IMSA GTX 34. 3:55,660 
DNF 22 Patrick Gaillard (F)/André Chevalley (CH)/Bruno Sotty (F) ACR 80B Ford André Chevalley Racing 114 Clutch   S3.0 14. 3:43,430 
DNF 37 Tom Walkinshaw (GB)/Pete Lovett (GB)/Tetsu Ikuzawa (J)^ Mazda RX-7 253i Mazdaspeed 107 Engine   IMSA GTO 51. 4:07,180 
DNF 30 Max Cohen-Olivar (MOR)/Jean-Marie Lemerle (F)/Alain Levié (F) Lola T298 BMW Jean-Marie Lemerle 104 Electrics   S2.0 46. 4:03,080 
DNF 27 Tony Trimmer (GB)/Tiff Needell (GB)/Ian Bracey (GB)^ IBEC P6 Ford Ian Bracey 95 Head gasket   S+2.0 27. 3:49,940 
DNF 10 Bob Wollek (F)/Xavier Lapeyre (F)/Guy Chasseuil (F) Porsche 917K/81 81 Porsche Kremer Racing 82 Engine mount   S+2.0 18. 3:46,540 
DNF 14 Reinhold Jöst (D)/Dale Whittington (USA)/Klaus Niedzwiedz (D)/Volkert Merl (D)* Porsche 908/80 Turbo 936/80-004 Joest Racing 60 Accident   S+2.0 3. 3:34,510 
DNF 24 Jean Rondeau (F)/Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (F) Rondeau M379C Ford 005 Jean Rondeau 58 Handling   S+2.0 5. 3:36,170 
DNF 50 Hans-Joachim Stuck (D)/Jean-Pierre Jarier (F)/Helmut Henzler (D) BMW M1 Sauber GS Tuning 57 Accident damage   IMSA GTX 21. 3:47,630 
DNF 59 Ted Field (USA)/Bill Whittington (USA)/Don Whittington (USA)/John Fitzpatrick (GB)*/Jim Busby (USA)* Porsche 935 K3/81 01 00020 Porsche Kremer Racing 57 Engine   Gr.5 6. 3:36,540 
DNF 83 Max Mamers (F)/Jean-Daniel Raulet (F)/Michel Pignard (F) WM P81 Peugeot W.M. Aerem 50 Accident   C 11. 3:40,800 
DNF 69 Jan Lundgardh (S)/Mike Wilds (GB)/Axel Plankenhorn (D) Porsche 935 L1 935 L1 Tuff-Kote Dinol Racing 49 Engine   Gr.5 50. 4:06,920 
DNF 71 Christian Danner (D)/Leopold von Bayern (D)/Peter Oberndorfer (D)/Dominique Lacaud (F)* BMW M1 Helmut Marko 49 Crankshaft damper   GT 41. 4:00,140 
DNF 61 Edgar Dören (D)/Gerhard Holup (D)/Jürgen Lässig (D)^ Porsche 935 K3 009 0003 Weralit Racing Team 48 Out of fuel   Gr.5 13. 3:42,660 
DNF 67 Beppe Gabbiani (I)/Emanuele Pirro (I)/Riccardo Patrese (I)^ Lancia Beta Montecarlo 1007 Martini Racing 47 Accident   Gr.5 44. 4:02,220 
DNF 5 Roger Dorchy (F)/Guy Fréquelin (F)/Jean-Daniel Raulet (F)*/Max Mamers (F)*/Xavier Mathiot (F)* WM P79/80 Peugeot W.M. Aerem 46 Engine, fire   GTP+3.0 9. 3:39,740 
DNF 41 Preston Henn (USA)/Michael Chandler (USA)/Marcel Mignot (F)/Gary Belcher (USA)*/John Paul Sr (USA)* Porsche 935 K3 000 0009 Preston Henn Racing 45 Crankshaft pulley   IMSA GTX 17. 3:46,220 
DNF 26 Henri Pescarolo (F)/Patrick Tambay (F) Rondeau M379C Ford 006 Jean Rondeau 41 Fuel pump   S+2.0 4. 3:35,160 
DNF 73 Jacques Alméras (F)/Jean-Marie Alméras (F)/Jean-Pierre Sivel (F)^ Porsche 924 Carrera GTR Eminence Racing Team 30 Engine, gearbox   GT 55. 4:19,910 
DNF 25 Jean Ragnotti (F)/Jean-Louis Lafosse (F) Rondeau M379C Ford 004 Jean Rondeau 28 Fatal accident   S+2.0 10. 3:40,320 
DNF 38 Yojiro Terada (J)/Win Percy (GB)^/Hiroshi Fushida (J)^ Mazda RX-7 253i Mazdaspeed 25 Rear axle   IMSA GTO 49. 4:04,790 
DNF 82 Thierry Boutsen (B)/Michel Pignard (F)^/Serge Saulnier (F)^/Richard Dallest (F)* WM P81 Peugeot W.M. Aerem 15 Accident   C 8. 3:37,890 
DNF 35 Cale Yarborough (USA)/Bill Cooper (USA)^/Billy Hagan (USA)^/Bob Mitchell (USA)^ Chevrolet Camaro Stratagraph Inc. 13 Accident   IMSA GTO 39. 3:59,570 
DNQ 16 Michel Lateste (F)/Patrick Perrier (F) Ardex S80 BMW Max Sardou       S+2.0 60. 4:05,020 
DNQ 17 Bobby Rahal (USA)/Brian Redman (GB)/Roy Woods (USA)* Lola T600 Porsche HU02 Cooke-Woods Racing       S+2.0 61. 4:18,300 
RES 39 Dirk Vermeersch (B)/Fred Stiff (USA)/Ray Ratcliff (USA)/Pierre Honegger (USA)* Mazda RX-7 Z & W Enterprises Inc.   Reserve   IMSA GTU 57. 4:21,970 
DNQ 62 Jacques Guérin (F)/"Segolen" (F)/Christian Bussi (F) Porsche 935 930 770 0912 "Segolen"       Gr.5 59. 4:03,890 
RES 74 Colin Bond (AUS)/Peter Brock (AUS)/Jim Richards (AUS) Porsche 924 Carrera GTR Porsche Cars Australia   Reserve   GT 58. 4:24,950 
RES 75 Tony Dron (GB)/Richard Lloyd (GB) Porsche 924 Carrera GTR Porsche System Canon   Reserve   GT 56. 4:20,010 
DNQ 90 Hervé Regout (B)/Michel Elkoubi (F)/Bernard de Dryver (B)*/Paul Canary (USA)*/Sam Posey (USA)* McLaren M12 GT Chevrolet 60-05 Z & W Enterprises Inc.       IMSA GTP 62. 5:13,060 
DNS 6T Denis Morin (F)/Charles Mendez (USA) WM P79/80 Peugeot W.M. Aerem       GTP+3.0   no time
DNA   Carlo Facetti (I)/Martino Finotto (I) Ferrari 308 GTB Turbo Jolly Club       Gr.5    
DNA   Siegfried Brunn (D) Porsche 908/3 Turbo 013 Siegfried Brunn       S+2.0    
DNA   Reine Wisell (S) Porsche 935 K3/80 000 00011 John Fitzpatrick Racing       IMSA GTX    
NAC      Porsche 935 K3 Charles Ivey Racing   Not accepted   Gr.5    
NAC   Richard Cleare (GB) Porsche 934 930 670 0155 Richard Cleare Racing   Not accepted   GT    
DNA 19 Alain De Cadenet (GB) Ford C100 Alain De Cadenet       S+2.0    
DNA 34 Dominique Lacaud (F)/Joël Gouhier (F) Lola T298 BMW Dominique Lacaud       S2.0    
DNA 44 Howard Meister (USA)/Rolf Stommelen (D) Porsche 935 K3 930 890 0013 Andial Meister Racing       IMSA GTX    
DNA 56    Porsche 935 Gelo Racing Team       Gr.5    
DNA 58 Ted Field (USA)/Danny Ongais (USA) Porsche 935 K3/80 Kremer Racing/Interscope Racing       Gr.5    
N.B. - Jean-Louis Lafoose killed
Winning Speed: 124.931 mph/201.056 kph
Fastest Lap: Hurley Haywood #12 (Porsche 936-81), 3m34.00, 142.438 mph/229.231 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)


Last Updated on 16/12/03
By Darren Galpin
Email: darrengalpin43@gmail.com