24h Le Mans
With tickets to the 84th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 18-19, 2016) available for purchase since November 6th, a look back 90 years ago at the 1926 24 Hours, marked by the exploits of French constructor Lorraine-Dietrich.
Lorraine-Dietrich was not the first French constructor to win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That honour went to Chenard & Walcker at the very first edition in 1923. First specializing in railway equipment (under the name "Société Lorraine des anciens établissements Dietrich & Cie de Lunéville," known shortened as Lorraine-Dietrich) before launching itself in automobile manufacturing in 1896, Lorraine-Dietrich achieved two great firsts. By becoming the first constructor to win two consecutive victories in 1925 and 1926 then, that second year, by also scoring the first one-two-three in the very young history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In the history 24 Hours of Le Mans, victory in and of itself is a feat. To place three cars on the three podium steps is an outright sign of excellence, the mark of the greatest competitors in the history of Le Mans: Bentley (1929), Alfa Romeo (1933), Jaguar (1957), Ferrari (from 1961 to 1965), Ford (1966), Porsche (1970-79-82-83-84-85-86-96), Peugeot (1993) and Audi (2000-2002-2004-2010-2012).
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY & SUNDAY JUNE 12-13 1926. The three Lorraine-Dietrich B3-6s entered finished in the top three spots at the fourth edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with at the wheel Bloch-Rossignol (No. 6, winners), de Courcelles-Mongin (No. 5, second) and Stalter-Brisson (No. 4, third).
