1977 24 Hours of Le Mans

 

The 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 45th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 11 and 12 June 1977. The second year of the FIA Group 5 and Group 6 regulations, it produced an exciting race right up to the end. Porsche had withdrawn from the Group 6 Championship, citing a lack of broad competition. Renault, before their move into Formula 1, decided to put its main racing focus for the year onto Le Mans. The two works teams were the pre-race favourites.

From the start the Alpine-Renaults took charge. The works Porsches mounted a brief challenge but engine issues delayed them in the pits. When Pescarolo retired his 936 with engine problems, his co-driver Jacky Ickx was transferred to the sister car of Barth/Haywood, languishing in 41st place and 15 laps behind the leaders. Ickx was given free rein to drive as hard as he dared and in an epic drive through the night, his average pace was just two seconds below qualifying pace. During the night, the French challenge started to come apart – Tambay's car, running fourth, stopped at 3am with a dead engine. An hour later, the second car lost half an hour getting a gearbox rebuild. Then at 9am, after leading for 17 hours, the Jabouille and Bell car retired with a burnt-out piston.

Suddenly, Porsche found itself in the lead. Ickx finished his marathon effort after a total of eleven hours behind the wheel. Barth and Haywood kept up his pace and when the last Renault retired just another midday with another burnt piston, they could ease off with a huge 19-lap lead over the Mirageof Schuppan/Jarier. However, with only three-quarters of an hour to go, Barth pitted running on five cylinders. The mechanics treated the engine and waited, until with ten minutes to go he rolled back out onto the circuit to complete two final laps. Despite the delay, they still finished 11 laps ahead of the Mirage, the biggest winning margin of the decade. The French Porsche 935 of ASA-Cacchia was third, a further 16 laps behind, with the GTP Inaltéra of owner-driver Jean Rondeau, and Alain de Cadenet both barely ninety seconds behind.

Where we have not had a model of the car through the business as raced I've added another example of the car as an illustration (where I have one)

Pos Car No. Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps Reason
1 Porsche 936 4  Martini Racing Porsche System  Jürgen Barth
 Hurley Haywood
 Jacky Ickx		 Porsche 936-77 Porsche 911/78 2.1L F6 twin-turbo 342 N/A
2 Gulf Mirage GR8 10  Grand Touring Cars Inc  Vern Schuppan
 Jean-Pierre Jarier		 Mirage M8 Renault 1997cc V6 turbo 331 N/A
3 Porsche 935 40  JMS Racing
 ASA Cachia		  Claude Ballot-Léna
 Peter Gregg		 Porsche 935 Porsche 2.9L F6 turbo 315 N/A
4 Inaltera GT 88  Inaltéra  Jean Rondeau
 Jean Ragnotti		 Inaltéra LM77 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 315 N/A
5 Still Looking 5  A. de Cadenet
(private entrant)		  Alain de Cadenet
 Chris Craft		 De Cadenet-Lola LM77 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 315 N/A
6 Still Looking 26  Société Racing Organisation
Course		  Michel Pignard
 Albert Dufrène
 Jacques Henry		 Chevron B36 Simca-ROC 1996cc S4 303

 		 N/A
7 Porsche 934

(example)

 58  Porsche Kremer Racing  Bob Wollek
 "Steve” (Jean-Pierre Wielemans)
 Philippe Gurdjian		 Porsche 934 Porsche 3.0L F6 turbo 298 N/A
8 BMW 3.0 CSL

(example)

 71  Luigi Racing  Pierre Dieudonné
 Jean Xhenceval
 Spartaco Dini		 BMW 3.0 CSL BMW M30 3.2L S6 291 N/A
9 BMW 320i

(example)

 50  H. Poulain
(private entrant)		  Hervé Poulain
 Marcel Mignot		 BMW 320i BMW M12 1991cc S4 287 N/A
10 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 61  C. Gouttepifre
(private entrant)		  Christian Gouttepifre
 Philippe Malbran
 Alain Leroux		 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 281

 		 N/A
11 Inaltera GT

(example)

 2  Inaltéra  Lella Lombardi
 Christine Beckers		 Inaltéra LM77 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 279 N/A
12 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 70  JMS Racing
 ASA Cachia		  Jean-Pierre Delaunay
 Jacques Guérin
 Simon Delautour		 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 275 N/A
13 Inaltera GT

(example)

 1  Inaltéra  Jean-Pierre Beltoise
 Al Holbert		 Inaltéra LM77 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 275 N/A
14 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 79  Frères Ravenel
(private entrant)		  Jean-Louis Ravenel
 Jean ‘Jacky’ Ravenel
 Jean-Marie Détrin		 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 274 N/A
15 Peugeot WM P76

(example)

 86  WM AEREM  Max Mamers
 Jean-Daniel Raulet		 WM P76 Peugeot PRV 2.7L V6 274
 		 N/A
16 Ferrari 365 GT4BB 75  North American Racing Team  François Migault
 Lucien Guitteny		 Ferrari 365 GT/4 BB Ferrari 4.4L V12 268 N/A
17 Aston Martin V8 83  R. Hamilton
(private entrant)		  Robin Hamilton
 David Preece
 Mike Salmon		 Aston Martin DBS Aston Martin 5.3L V8 260 N/A
18 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 47  A.-C. Verney
(private entrant) / BP		  Anne-Charlotte Verney
 René Metge
 Dany Snobeck
 Hubert Striebig		 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 254 N/A
19 Porsche 934

(example)

 56  JMS Racing
 ASA Cachia		  Jean-Louis Bousquet
 Cyril Grandet
 Philippe Dagoreau		 Porsche 934 Porsche 3.0L F6 turbo 253 N/A
20 Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 77  Wynn's International  Dennis Aase
 Bob Kirby
 John Hotchkis		 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 246 N/A
N/C* Still Looking 31  Dorset Racing Associates  Ian Harrower
 Martin Birrane
 Ernst Berg
 Richard Down		 Lola T294 Cosworth BDA 1950cc S4 213 N/A
DNF Alpine A442 Turbo

(example)

 8  Équipe Renault Elf  Patrick Depailler
 Jacques Laffite		 Renault Alpine A442 Renault 1997cc V6 twin-turbo 289 Engine
(21hr)
DNF Porsche 935

(example)

 39  Gelo Racing Team  Klaus Ludwig
 Tim Schenken
 Hans Heyer
 Toine Hezemans		 Porsche 935 Porsche 2.9L F6 turbo 269 Engine
(21hr)
DNF Alpine A442 Turbo

(example)

 9  Équipe Renault Elf  Jean-Pierre Jabouille
 Derek Bell		 Renault Alpine A442 Renault 1997cc V6 twin-turbo 257 Engine
(18hr)
DNF Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 96  GVEA
 Porsche Club Romand		  André Savary
 Jean-Robert Corthay
 Antoine Salamin		 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 211 Engine
(19hr)
DNF Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 78  Charles Ivey Engineering  John Rulon-Miller
 John Cooper
 Peter Lovett		 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 198 Engine
(18hr)
DNF Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 80  B. Béguin
(private entrant)		  Bernard Béguin
 René Boubet
 Jean-Claude Briavoine		 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 191

 		 Engine
(17hr)
 
DNF Still Looking 25  Société Racing Organisation
Course		  Max Cohen-Olivar
 Alain Flotard
 Michel Dubois		 Chevron B36 Simca-ROC 1996cc S4 176 Oil Leak
(17hr)
DNF Still Looking 21  P. Sauber AG /
 Francy Racing		  Eugen Strähl
 Peter Bernhard		 Sauber C5 BMW M12 1998cc S4
 		 161 Gearbox
(14hr)
DNF Porsche 934 59  Schiller Racing  François Sérvanin
 Laurent Ferrier
 Franz Hummel		 Porsche 934 Porsche 3.0L F6 turbo 160 Engine
(13hr)
DNF Alpine A442 Turbo

(example)

 7  Équipe Renault Elf  Patrick Tambay
 Jean-Pierre Jaussaud		 Renault Alpine A442 Renault 1997cc V6 twin-turbo 158 Engine
(12hr)
DNF Alpine A310

(example)

 87  B. Decure
(private entrant)		  Bernard Decure
 Jean-Luc Thérier
 “Cochise” (Jacky Cauchy)		 Alpine A310 Renault PRV 2.7L V6 137 Engine
(16hr)
DNF Porsche 934

(example)

 60  Schiller Racing  Claude Haldi
 Florian Vetsch
 Angelo Pallavicino		 Porsche 934 Porsche 3.0L F6 turbo 123 Engine
(10hr)
DNF Porsche 934

(example)

 57  N. Koob
(private entrant)		  Nicolas Koob
 Willy Braillard
 Guillermo Ortega		 Porsche 934 Porsche 3.0L F6 turbo 116 Engine
(14hr)
DNF Porsche 934

(example)

 55  Escuderia Montjuich  Juan Fernández
 Eugenio Baturone
 Raphael Tarradas		 Porsche 934 Porsche 3.0L F6 turbo 115 Lost wheel
(10hr)
DNF Lola T286

(example)

 14  D.Broudy
(private entrant)		  Xavier Lapeyre
 Patrick Perrier		 Lola T286 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 104 Engine
(11hr)
DNF Still Looking 29  Osella Squadra Corse  Alain Cudini
 Raymond Touroul
 Anna Cambiaghi		 Osella PA5 BMW M12 1993cc S4 100 Transmission
(9hr)
DNF Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 63  J. Laplacette
(private entrant)		  Joël Laplacette
 Yves Courage
 "Ségolen" (André Gahinet)		 Porsche 911 Carrera Porsche 3.0L F6 100 Engine
(14hr)
DNF Still Looking 32  Cheetah Racing Cars
 A. Chevalley		  André Chevalley
 François Trisconi
 Wink Bancroft		 Cheetah G-501 Cosworth BDG 1975c S4 93 Gearbox
(8hr)
DNF Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 48  T. Perrier
(private entrant)		  Thierry Perrier
 Jean Belliard		 Porsche 911 Carrera Porsche 3.0L F6 90 Engine
(10hr)
DSQ Peugeot WM P76

(example)

 85  WM AEREM  Marc Sourd
 Xavier Mathiot		 WM P77 Peugeot PRV 2.7L V6 twin-turbo 90 Insufficient distance
(14hr)
DNF Porsche 934

(example)

 49  H. Striebig
(private entrant) / BP		  Hubert Striebig
 Guy Chasseuil
 Helmut Kirchoffer		 Porsche 934/5 Porsche 3.2L F6 turbo 65 Fuel pump
(4hr)
DNF Gulf Mirage GR8

(example)

 11  Grand Touring Cars Inc  Sam Posey
 Michel Leclère		 Mirage M8 Renault 1997cc V6 turbo 58 Engine
(4hr)
DNF Porsche 935 41  Martini Racing Porsche System  Rolf Stommelen
 Manfred Schurti		 Porsche 935-77 Porsche Type-935 2.9L F6 twin-turbo 52 Engine
(4hr)
DNF Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 62  G. Bourdillat
(private entrant)		  Georges Bourdillat
 Bruno Sotty
 Alain-Michel Bernhard		 Porsche 911 Carrera Porsche 3.0L F6 52 Engine
(5hr)
DNF BMW 3.0 CSL 72  Luigi Racing  Tom Walkinshaw
 Eddy Joosen
 Claude de Wael		 BMW 3.0 CSL BMW M30 3.2L S6 46 Engine
(4hr)
DNF Porsche 936

(example)

 3  Martini Racing Porsche System  Jacky Ickx
 Henri Pescarolo		 Porsche 936-77 Porsche 911/78 2.1L F6 twin-turbo 45 Engine
(3hr)
DNF Lancia Stratos 89  Team Esso Aseptogyl  Christine Dacremont
 Marianne Hoepfner		 Lancia Stratos Turbo Ferrari 2.4L V6 turbo 37 Engine
(4hr)
DNF BMW 3.0 CSL

(example)

 76  Garage du Bac
 Jean-Claude Giroix
(private entrant)		  "Dépnic" (Jean-Claude Depince)
 Jacques Coulon		 BMW 3.0 CSL BMW M30 3.2L S6 28 Electrics
(4hr)
 
DNF Still Looking 28  J.-M. Lemerle
(private entrant)		  Jean-Marie Lemerle
 Alain Levié
 Pierre-François Rousselot		 Lola T294 Simca-ROC 1996cc S4 27 Fuel pump
(4hr)
DNF Still Looking 22  Chandler IBEC
 Team Lloyd's		  Tony Charnell
 Ian Bracey
 John Hine
 Robin Smith		 Chevron B31 Cosworth FVD 1985cc S4 21 Gearbox
(4hr)
DNF Lola T286

(example)

 30  GVEA
 Écurie Rolloise		  Georges Morand
 Christian Blanc
 Fréderic Alliot		 Lola T296 Cosworth BDG 1992cc S4 19 Engine
(2hr)
DNF Porsche 935

(example)

 38  Gelo Racing Team  Klaus Ludwig
 Toine Hezemans
 Hans Heyer		 Porsche 935 Porsche Type-935 2.9L F6 turbo 15 Engine
(1hr)
DNF Porsche 935

(example)

 42  Porsche Kremer Racing  John Fitzpatrick
 Guy Edwards
 Nick Faure		 Porsche 935 K2 Porsche Type-935 2.9L F6 turbo 15 Turbo
(1hr)
DNF Alpine A442 Turbo 16  J. Haran / H. de Chaunac
(private entrant)		  Didier Pironi
 René Arnoux
 Guy Fréquelin		 Renault Alpine A442 Renault 1997cc V6 twin-turbo 0 Fire
(1hr)
DNQ Still Looking 6  A. de Cadenet
(private entrant)		  Simon Phillips
 Richard Bond
 Tony Birchenhough		 De Cadenet-Lola T380 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 0 Did not qualify
DNQ Still Looking 20  D. Brillat
(private entrant)
 Seymaz Racing		  Daniel Brillat
 Eric Vuagnat
 Sandro Plastina		 Cheetah G-601 BMW M12 1998cc S4 0 Accident
DNQ Still Looking 27  Société Racing Organisation
Course		  Fred Stalder
 Jacky Haran
 Jean-Louis Bos		 Chevron B36 Simca-ROC 1996cc S4 0 Did not qualify
DNQ Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 43  L. Meznarie
(private entrant)		  Thierry Sabine
 Jean Bélin		 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.2L F6 0 Did not qualify
DNQ Porsche 934

(example)

 66  "Ségolen"  "Ségolen" (André Gahinet)
 Christian Bussi		 Porsche 934 Porsche 3.0L F6 turbo 0 Did not qualify
DNQ Porsche 911 Carrera RS

(example)

 73  M. Ouviére
(private entrant)		  Roger Dorchy
 Philippe Streiff
 Philippe Jaffrenou		 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 0 Did not qualify
DNA Porsche 935

(example)

 84  J.-L. Chateau
(private entrant)		  Jean-Louis Chateau
 Jean-Marie Tranchant		 Porsche 935 Porsche Type-935 3.0L F6 turbo 0 Not all drivers
qualified
DNA Lancia Stratos

(example)

 67  Scuderia Jolly Club  Anna Cambiaghi
 Emilio Paleari		 Lancia Stratos HF Ferrari 2.4L V6 0 Did not arrive

 
1976 24 Hours of Le Mans Home Site Home 1978
  Last Edit: 12/06/2024 Page Created 01/052022