23/24 - Thursday, 23rd December - 'Le Mans', a legendary film of a legendary race

Just forty years ago, two events marked the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Porsche's first win, and the arrival of Steve McQueen, Hollywood star and highly skilled driver.

In 1970, the 40 year old American actor had a dream: to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche 917 in the company of Jackie Stewart, World Champion of Formula 1. After his 2nd place in the 12 Hours of Sebring with Peter Revson (Porsche 908), his insurers opposed the idea. But he did come to Le Mans that year to shoot a film in the role of Michael Delaney, Gulf-Porsche driver recalled to the rescue after the retirement of his car to race against  Ferrari. A turn of events that is not to the liking of the Commendatore.

In 1970, the 24 Hours of Le Mans was in a deluge of rain. Only seven cars crossed the finish line, and nine other non-classified due to insufficient distance. Of these was  the Porsche 908/2 #29 entered by Steve McQueen's  Solar Productions. Equipped with a cine camera for on-car footage, it was driven by Herbert Linge and Jonathan Williams. In the weeks and months after 24 hours 1970, the remaining sequences were filmed on the circuit.

 

Steve McQueen would have turned 80 in 2010. He died thirty years ago, on 7th of November 1980. That day, in homage to him, French television broadcast "Le Mans". Since its release in 1971, two other American actors pursued their passion by participating in "real" 24 Hours: Paul Newman in 1979 and Patrick Dempsey in 2009. They both took the checkered flag.

Jean-Philippe Doret