1982 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 50th Grand Prix of Endurance, which took place on 19 and 20 June 1982. It was also the fourth round of the 1982 World Endurance Championship. As well as a significant anniversary, this was a watershed year for Le Mans, with the highly anticipated advent of the FIA's Group C regulations, the essence of which was to allow an open engine formula but a minimum weight for safety and a prescribed fuel allocation.

Despite Rondeau leading the championship, the Porsche works team arrived as clear favourites with their new 956. Their top driver pairing were the 1981 winners Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell. The better fuel economy of the Cosworth-engined Rondeau and Ford gave them the lead in the early hours, but then serious vibration issues in that engine started afflicting most of the teams and by early evening, the Porsches were running 1-2, that they maintained throughout the night as the competition fell away.

By dawn, the Porsche special of Joest Racing was established in third, which they held until ninety minutes from the end when the engine packed up, stranding Bob Wollek out on the track. Ickx and Bell had moved into the lead soon after midnight and kept it for the rest of the race, winning by three laps over their team-mates Jochen Mass and Vern Schuppan. In a race of unusual attrition, only eighteen cars were classified from the original 55 starters

The win gave Ickx an unprecedented sixth outright victory, and Porsche had its most dominant race yet, sweeping the top five places, including a 1-2-3 for the works team.

This year saw the advent of the new Group C regulations – a formula essentially of open engine capacity but instead on weight and fuel consumption restrictions. The concept had been trialled by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) in the 1975 race, based on ideas proposed by Belgian racing journalist, engineer and 1960 Le Mans winner Paul Frère. At the time it was derided by the press as the “fuel-economy race”. But it would go some way to negate the predominance of the turbo engines, despite the x1.4 modifier to capacity.

The two-seater cars would have a maximum amount of fuel available in a race so there had to be a trade-off between more power from bigger engines, the heavy fuel consumption of high-boost turbo engines and the fuel-efficiency of smaller, lighter cars. A minimum weight of 800 kg was put in to maintain structural safety and there were defined dimensions of 100 cm minimum height, maximum 200 cm width and 480 cm length. These dimensions mirrored those of the ACO's GTP regulations. There was also a compulsory 100x80 cm flat floor area required between the axles to try to limit the undertray "ground-effects" performance enhancements. Fuel tanks were a maximum of 100 litres capacity and no more than 25 fuel stops were allowed in the race for each car – a maximum of 2600 litres from the start.

The windscreen regulations were such that the drag effect would almost guarantee that any car would need to have a closed-bodyshell and not open-top.

For most of the races up to the early 1980s when I do not have pictures of a model of the car as raced I have shown examples of the car where possible. For the remaining years I will only show the cars where photos of the correct car are available.

Pos	Car	No.	Team	Drivers	Chassis	Engine	Laps	Reason
1		1	Porsche System	Jacky Ickx  Derek Bell	Porsche 956	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	359	N/A
2		2	Porsche System	Jochen Mass  Vern Schuppan	Porsche 956	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	356	N/A
3		3	Porsche System	Jürgen Barth  Hurley Haywood  Al Holbert	Porsche 956	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	340	N/A
4		79	John Fitzpatrick Racing	John Fitzpatrick  David Hobbs	Porsche 935/78J	Porsche 930/79 2.7L F6 turbo	329	N/A
5		78	Cooke Racing-BP	Dany Snobeck  François Sérvanin  René Metge	Porsche 935-K3	Porsche 930 2.8L F6 turbo	325	N/A
6		70	Prancing Horse Farm Racing	Pierre Dieudonné  Carson Baird  Jean-Paul Libert	Ferrari 512 BB/LM	Ferrari 4.9L F12	322	N/A
7		32	Viscount Downe Racing (private entrant)	Ray Mallock  Simon Phillips  Mike Salmon	Nimrod NRA/C2	Aston Martin DP1229 5.3L V8	317	N/A
8		60	Charles Ivey Racing (private entrant)	John Cooper  Paul Smith  Claude Bourgoignie	Porsche 935-K3/79	Porsche 930 3.1L F6 turbo	316	N/A
9		72	North American Racing Team	Alain Cudini  John Morton  John Paul, Jr.	Ferrari 512BB/LM	Ferrari 5.0L F12	306	N/A
10		25	Compagnie Primagaz (private entrant)	Pierre Yver  Bruno Sotty  Lucien Guitteny	Rondeau M379C	Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	306	N/A
11		77	Garretson Developments	Bob Garretson  Anne-Charlotte Verney  Ray Ratcliff	Porsche 935-K3/80	Porsche 930 2.8L F6 twin-turbo	299	N/A
12		66	J.-M. Lemerle (private entrant)  Scuderia Sivama di Galliate	Jean-Marie Lemerle  Max Cohen-Olivar  Joe Castellano	Lancia Montecarlo Turbo	Lancia 1425cc S4 turbo	295	N/A
13		90	Richard Cleare Racing (private entrant)	Richard Cleare  Tony Dron  Richard Jones	Porsche 934	Porsche 3.0L F6 turbo	291	N/A
14		82	Mazdaspeed  Tom Walkinshaw Racing	Yojiro Terada  Takashi Yorino  Allan Moffat	Mazda RX-7 254i	Mazda 13B 1308cc twin-rotary	282	N/A
15		38	C. Bussi (private entrant)	Christian Bussi  Pascal Witmeur  Bernard de Dryver	Rondeau M382	Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8	279	N/A
16		87	BF Goodrich	Jim Busby  Harry "Doc" Bundy	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR	Porsche 2.0L S4 turbo	272	N/A
17		81	Stratagraph Inc.	Billy Hagan  Gene Felton  Tom Williams	Chevrolet Camaro	Chevrolet 5.4L V8	269	N/A
18		61	A. Gadal (private entrant) Total S.A.	Roland Ennequin  Michel Gabriel  Franco Gasparetti	BMW M1	BMW M88 3.5L S6	259	N/A
N/C*		80	Stratagraph Inc.	Dick Brooks  Hershel McGriff	Chevrolet Camaro	Chevrolet 5.7L V8	141	N/A
DNF		4	Belga Team Joest Racing	Bob Wollek  Jean-Michel Martin  Philippe Martin	Porsche 936CJ	Porsche 935 2.5L F6 twin-turbo	320	Engine (24hr)
DNF		62	EMKA Productions	Steve O'Rourke  Richard Down  Nick Mason	BMW M1	BMW M88 3.5L S6	266	Engine (23hr)
DSQ		65	T. Perrier (private entrant)  Scuderia Sivama di Galliate	Thierry Perrier  Bernard Salam  Gianni Giudici	Lancia Montecarlo Turbo	Lancia 1425cc S4 turbo	219	Illegal repairs (20hr)
DNF		83	Mazdaspeed  Tom Walkinshaw Racing	Tom Walkinshaw  Chuck Nicholson  Peter Lovett	Mazda RX-7 254i	Mazda 13B 1308cc twin-rotary	180	Engine (16hr)
DNF		50	Martini Racing	Riccardo Patrese  Hans Heyer  Piercarlo Ghinzani	Lancia LC1	Lancia 1425cc S4 turbo	152	Electrics (18hr)
DNF		11	Automobiles Jean Rondeau	François Migault  Gordon Spice  Xavier Lapeyre	Rondeau M382	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	150	Electrics (13hr)
DNF		26	J. Haran (private entrant)	Jacky Haran  Hervé Poulain  Vivian Candy	Rondeau M379C	Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	149	Engine (12hr)
DNF		12	Automobiles Jean Rondeau	Jean Rondeau  Jean Ragnotti  Henri Pescarolo	Rondeau M382	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	146	Engine (13hr)
DNF		75	C. Haldi (private entrant)	Claude Haldi  Rodrigo Terran  François Hesnault	Porsche 934/5	Porsche 930 3.0L F6 turbo	141	Gearbox (13hr)
DNF		86	BF Goodrich	Manfred Schurti  Patrick Bedard  Paul Miller	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR	Porsche 2.0L S4 turbo	128	Gearbox (15hr)
DNF		9	WM Esso	Didier Theys  Michel Pignard  Jean-Daniel Raulet	WM P82	Peugeot PRV ZNS4 2.9L V6 twin-turbo	127	Gearbox (11hr)
DNF		10	WM Esso	Roger Dorchy  Guy Fréquelin  Alain Couderc	WM P82	Peugeot PRV ZNS4 2.9L V6 twin-turbo	112	Accident (12hr)
DNF		24	Automobiles Jean Rondeau	Henri Pescarolo  Jean-Pierre Jaussaud	Rondeau M382	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	111	Engine (10hr)
DNF		85	Tony Garcia Racing (private entrant)	Tony Garcia  Fred Stiff  Albert Naon	BMW M1	BMW M88 3.5L S6	104	Accident (11hr)
DNF		51	Martini Racing	Michele Alboreto  Teo Fabi  Rolf Stommelen	Lancia LC1	Lancia 1425cc S4 turbo	92	Engine (10hr)
DNF		36	Dome Co. Ltd	Chris Craft  Eliseo Salazar	Dome RC82	Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8	85	Chassis broken (10hr)
DNF		14	March Racing	Eje Elgh  Jeff Wood  Patrick Nève	March 82G	Chevrolet 5.8L V8	78	Electrics (10hr)
DNF		35	Courage Compétition	Yves Courage  Jean-Philippe Grand  Michel Dubois	Cougar C01	Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8	78	Transmission (14hr)
DNF		84	Canon Cameras GTi Engineering	Richard Lloyd  Andy Rouse	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR	Porsche 2.0L S4 turbo	77	Transmission (11hr)
DNF		20	BASF Cassetten Team GS Sport	Hans-Joachim Stuck  Jean-Louis Schlesser  Dieter Quester	Sauber SHS C6	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	76	Engine mounts (7hr)
DNF		16	Ultramar Team Lola	Guy Edwards  Rupert Keegan  Nick Faure	Lola T610	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	72	Engine (7hr)
DNF		7	Ford-Werke AG  Zakspeed	Manfred Winkelhock  Klaus Niedzwiedz	Ford C100	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	71	Electrics (7hr)
DNF		6	Ford-Werke AG  Zakspeed	Klaus Ludwig  Marc Surer	Ford C100	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	67	Electrics ( 7hr)
DNF		55	Chevron Racing Cars	Martin Birrane  John Sheldon  Neil Crang	[[Chevron B36	Cosworth BDX 1975cc S4	57	Gearbox (7hr)
DNF		71	Charles Pozzi Ferrari France	Claude Ballot-Léna  Jean-Claude Andruet  Hervé Regout	Ferrari 512BB/LM	Ferrari 4.9L F12	57	Engine (6hr)
DNF		39	Dorset Racing Associates	Ian Harrower  Mike Wilds  François Duret	De Cadenet-Lola LMC	Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	56	Out of fuel (7hr)
DNF		19	BASF Cassetten Team GS Sport	Walter Brun  Siegfried Müller Jr.	Sauber SHS C6	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	55	Electrics (8hr)
DNF		31	Nimrod Racing Automobiles	Tiff Needell  Bob Evans  Geoff Lees	Nimrod NRA/C2	Aston Martin DP1229 5.3L V8	55	Accident (5hr)
DNF		30	M. Lateste (private entrant)	Michel Lateste  Hubert Striebig  Jacques Heuclin	URD C81	BMW M88 3.5L S6	45	Engine (5hr)
DNF		73	T-Bird Swap Shop  North American Racing Team	Preston Henn  Randy Lanier  Denis Morin	Ferrari 512BB/LM	Ferrari 5.0L F12	43	Out of fuel (6hr)
DNF		64	E. Dören (private entrant)	Edgar Dören  Antonio Contreras  Billy Sprowls	Porsche 935-K3/79	Porsche 930 2.8L F6 turbo	39	Out of fuel (6hr)
DNF		17	Cooke Racing Malardeau	Brian Redman  Ralph Kent-Cooke  Jim Adams	Lola T610	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	28	Out of fuel (4hr)
DNF		29	Garretson Developments	Bobby Rahal  Skeeter McKitterick  Jim Trueman	March 82G	Chevrolet 5.8L V8	28	Fuel cell (7hr)
DNF		5	Kremer Racing  Interscope Racing	Ted Field  Danny Ongais  Bill Whittington	Porsche C-K5	Porsche 930 2.3L F6 turbo	25	Engine (4hr)
DNF		76	Bob Akin Motor Racing	Bob Akin  David Cowart  Kenper Miller	Porsche 935-L1	Porsche 930 2.8L F6 turbo	15	Out of fuel (4hr)
DNF		37	GRID Racing	Emilio de Villota  Desiré Wilson  Alain de Cadenet	Grid-Plaza S1	Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8	7	Engine (2hr)
DSQ		27	Grand Touring Cars Inc.	Mario Andretti  Michael Andretti	Mirage M12	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	0	Failed Scrutineering
DNQ		63	Vegla Racing Team	Dieter Schornstein  Harald Grohs  Maurizio de Narváez	Porsche 935J	Porsche 930 2.8L F6 twin-turbo	0	Practice accident
DNQ		95	A. Gadal (private entrant) Total S.A.	Alain Gadal  Jean-Yves Gadal  Raymond Touroul	Porsche 930	Porsche 930/60 3.3L F6 turbo	0	Did not qualify
DNA		8	Ford-Werke AG  Zakspeed		Ford C100	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	0	Did not arrive
DNA		15	March Racing		March 82G	Chevrolet 5.7L V8	0	Entry not accepted
DNA		23	Automobiles Jean Rondeau	François Migault  Danny Sullivan	Rondeau M482	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	0	Did not arrive
DNA		28	Grand Touring Cars Inc.	Rick Mears  John Morton	Mirage M12	Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8	0	Did not arrive
DNA		52	Martini Racing	Riccardo Patrese  Rolf Stommelen	Lancia LC1	Lancia 1425cc S4 turbo	0	Did not arrive
DNA		54	Écurie Renard-Delmas	Hervé Bayard  Michel Dubois	Renard-Delmas D1 82	BMW M12 1998cc S4	0	Failed scrutineering
DNA		56	J.-M. Lemerle]] (private entrant)	Jean-Marie Lemerle  Max Cohen-Olivar	Osella PA8	BMW M12 1998cc S4	0	Did not arrive
DNA		74	T. Perrier (private entrant)	Thierry Perrier  Bernard Salam  Roger Carmillet	Ferrari 512BB/LM	Ferrari 4.9L F12	0	Did not arrive