The 10 most legendary Le Mans vehicles
If there is a competition that showcases endurance, it is the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is known all over the world.
This sub-division of motorsport tests teamwork, an aspect evaluated in many other competitions but not to the same degree.
And what this means is that a successful or unsuccessful relay between fellow drivers can either make the path to victory easier or make it more challenging to achieve success.
Due to the fact that the 24 Hours of Le Mans is considered to be one of the most prestigious races in all of motorsport, we at Motorbli will be devoting a section of the magazine to a discussion of the top 10 most legendary vehicles that have competed in the race during its nearly century-long history.
Although some were more stunning to look at and others were more swift, every one of them cemented their place in the annals of the fans’ memories and the history of the competition. Are you familiar with them?
The ten most legendary vehicles to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
After successfully implementing the introduction of rigor, it is time to get down to business and provide an overview of each vehicle that earned a name for itself in the most prestigious endurance competition on the planet.
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty of things.
1. a Bentley Speed 6 (h3) 1.
Bentley is one of the names most frequently connected with the French race. It was declared the winner not once, not twice, but a whopping five times during the decade of the 20s’ in the previous century.
The green Bentley Speed 6 stood out among the others because it had a 6,597-cubic-centimeter engine that produced between 147 and 150 horsepower.
If there is one that stood out above the rest, it is this one. Because of this, it achieved a top speed of 87 miles per hour (137 kilometers per hour), which helped it win in both 1929 and 1930.
2. Alfa Romeo 8C
Soon after the British manufacturer established a new benchmark in the competition, Alfa Romeo entered the fray with its 8C model to replicate its success.
The Italian car was unrivaled between 1931 and 1934 with its four consecutive victories, for which it had a 2,336 cubic centimeters and 142 hp propellant that took up to 170 kilometers per hour.
The car’s appearance was similar to the racing cars that would later star in the first years of the Formula 1 championship.
The 8C 2300 was the vehicle that pioneered the road, and subsequent models followed in its footsteps with a coupe design that looked quite different.
In 1938, it took everyone by surprise with its closed appearance, and it might have won that edition had it not been for a flat tire and a broken valve.
3. Jaguar D-Type
Not only has the British brand Bentley sung victory here as a winner, but so did the British brand Jaguar back in the day.
It tasted the sweetness of success for the first time in 1951 with the XK120C, two editions later with the C-Type, and they did the same with the D-Type in three in a row: 1955, 1956, and 1957.
The company’s heyday on the Bugatti track occurred during the 1950s.
This dominant vehicle was equipped with an engine with 3,442 cubic centimeters and produced 200 horsepower, enabling it to achieve speeds of over 260 kilometers per hour.
Its unique design, the sporting accomplishments it attained, and the fact that only 16 units were produced for the street all contributed to it becoming a genuine relic.
4. Ford GT40
The excellence of Ford’s GT40 allowed it to achieve a measure of glory, as evidenced by the Gulf decals that were applied to the bodywork.
The fact is that it took some time before it could shine its light on Le Mans.
This is because it took several attempts before it could win, thanks to the JWA Squad team with developed units.
This engine had Gurney-Weslake heads on its 4.9-liter V8 engine and 425 horsepower, which allowed it to reach speeds of up to 340 kilometers per hour.
A special mention is what was accomplished in 1969 when he won the race by a difference of fewer than one hundred meters to the Porsche 908. This finish was one of the most exciting to the very end that can be recalled.
5. Porsche 917k
In the 1970s, Porsche established its legacy at the 24 Hours of Le Man’s race.
It outfitted itself with the 917k to complete such a challenging task.
It signed a 1-2 double in the 1971 edition with a design representing the transition from the rounded-looking curves standard in the 60’s to the squarer, harder edges prevalent in the ’70s.
The design featured a short tail and vertical fins.
It accomplished a distance record greater than a second the year it fitted its 053 chassis, which was made of lighter magnesium, allowing it to complete two full laps of the circuit.
This feat took place. Its 4,907 cubic centimeters of displacement and 600 horsepower enabled it to achieve a top speed of 354 kilometers per hour and helped it take first place in both 1976 and 1977.
In the 1980s, various decorations were added to the 956 and the long-tailed 962, both popular models from 1982 until 1988.
6. Toyota GT-One
Much more recently, the Toyota GT-One was able to secure a spot in the annals of the premier endurance racing.
This occurred in the middle of the GT1 era, a transitional period between the turn of the century and the following century.
This resulted in factory designs that were more comparable to the vehicles in Group C than to the vehicles that are commonly found on the roads and streets today.
Although it came close to winning The 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1998 and 1999 but was unable to do so due to mechanical issues, slow pit stops, and accidents, the aggressive and peculiar appearance of the Japanese car left an indelible mark on the memories of all fans of the race.
As you are probably aware, in recent times, it has been successful thanks to Fernando Alonso’s participation.
7. Audi R8
At the turn of the century, Audi decided to make a decisive bet on the endurance test, and the truth of the matis decision was successful for the company.
Since then, he has racked up 13 victories on the track at Le Mans.
It was with the R8 that he arrived and greeted the saint in the year 2000, and he continued to win races on a consecutive basis up until 2002, followed by victories in 2004 and 2005.
It was outfitted with a twin-turbo engine that clocked in at 3,600 cubic centimeters and produced 610 horsepower to attain such dominance.
Between 2006 and 2008, it followed in the footsteps of its predecessor, the R10 TDI, and brought home an additional three victories.
8. Mazda 787B
The Mazda 787B won a place in the hearts of fans in the early 1990s with a livery that combined green and orange with uncluttered lines and was complemented by a rotary engine.
It was more beautiful than hegemonic. It was the first victory for a Japanese manufacturer in the annals of the competition, and it came in 1991 when all odds were stacked against it.
The fact that it had to unload 50 kilograms before the race and the unreliability of some of its competitors are the reasons for reaching that milestone.
Therefore, the contribution that ORECA made to the development of the rotary engine resulted in a significant competitive advantage.
The car’s aesthetics are something even the most devoted fans of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will find difficult to forget, even though it never again came close to matching the previous achievement.
9. Ferrari 250 LM
Staying true to its roots in the world of competition, Ferrari enjoyed some of its most successful years at the Bugatti racetrack.
Especially in the decade of the 1960s of the previous century, when it was presented with the 250 LM to take the victory in the final touch to what was achieved between the years 1960 and 1965 in a row after winning each of those years consecutively.
It appeared like a coupe and was closed all around, but underneath the hood was a V12 engine with 3,286 cubic centimeters and 320 horsepower, which allowed it to reach speeds of up to 300 kilometers per hour.
At the end of that period, with the 330 P4, he was about to regain his dominance with a more stylized and curvy design that relied on a mechanical system led by its four-liter V12 and three-valve cylinder head.
This design was about to bring him back to the top of the automotive industry.
Even though the winning Ford MkIV reached a top speed of 32 kilometers per hour on the straight, it came in second and third place.
10. Peugeot 905
During multiple runnings of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the French marque has proven to be a forerunner in its native country.
Especially in the early 1990s, with victories in 1992 and 1993 thanks partly to a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, whose lightness allowed its weight to be limited to just 750 kilograms.
In addition, it was equipped with a lightweight alloy V10 engine that featured four valves per cylinder, a displacement of 3.5 liters, and a total output of 600 horsepower.
This fuel was so brilliant that the Lion brand gave it to McLaren, stipulating that they make some minor modifications so that they could use it in Formula One between 1994 and 2000.
During that period, Mikka Hakkinen won both of his championships.
They were able to equip it with 20 more horsepower and completely revised aerodynamics to achieve their first victory in 1992. In the following edition, they signed a historic hat trick with the 905 EVO 1bis. This was a significant accomplishment.
¿Did you like the content?
