24h Le Mans
Le Mans Classic is a high-speed trip down memory lane as drivers and machines who made their mark on the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans return to the scene of past glories. The 2016 vintage will feature no fewer than ten former Le Mans winners, including current title holder Romain Dumas.
Emotions will be running high in grid 6. Julien, the son of Jean-Pierre Beltoise who died early last year, will team up with Le Mans appearance record holder and four-time winner Henri Pescarolo in the Inaltera that Beltoise Sr. and Pescarolo shared in 1976. Gérard Larrousse, another Le Mans-winning French driver from the Matra era, will be returning in a Porsche 550 Spyder (1958). Fellow Frenchman Eric Hélary, who won with Peugeot in 1993, will split his time between a Chevrolet Corvette C3 (1970), a Lancia Beta Gr.V (1979) and an Alfa Romeo T 33 TT (1971). And last but not least among the ranks of French Le Mans champions taking part in the event is Romain Dumas. The two-time winner (2010 with Audi and 2016 with Porsche) will be on the Group C Racing grid at the wheel of a Porsche 962C.
The ever-popular, always smiling Italian Emanuele Pirro won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times with Audi (2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2007). He will be coming out of retirement to return to the Circuit de la Sarthe where he will drive three different cars: an Alfa Romeo T33/3 (1969), a Lola T290 (1972) and a Lancia Beta Gr.V (1979).
Three-time winner Marco Werner will also be lining up in three different cars: a Lotus IX (1955), a Maserati T63 Birdcage (1961) and a Maserati A6 GCS Barchetta (1954). He will be accompanied by fellow German Jochen Mass (winner in 1989) who will appear in a De Tomaso Pantera Gr. IV (1971) and a Porsche 911 RSR 3L (1974).
The sole former British winner of the 24 Hours in the 2016 Le Mans Classic field is Andy Wallace. After driving a Jaguar to victory in 1988, he is remaining loyal to the marque by taking the wheel of a D-Type (1955) this time round. Meanwhile Wallace’s former teammate from 1988, Jan Lammers, who raced a total of 22 times at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will be driving an Austin Healey 3000 (1962). Another Dutchman to have tasted victory at Le Mans is Gijs van Lennep (in 1971 and 1976). A Porsche 908 LH (1968) will be his vehicle of choice for his return to the circuit.
Don’t delay – book your tickets for Le Mans Classic today!
Photo: History-making cars such as this Porsche 917K will be returning to the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe for Le Mans Classic.
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