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If the race  had taken place in June , in 1968 there would probably have been quite different winners . Early in the season , the John Wyer Automotive run Ford GT40 which was favourite to win in the Sarthe was driven by Jacky Ickx and Brian Redman. After winning the 1000 km of Spa-Francorchamps , Redman was injured on the same circuit during the Formula 1 Grand Prix and replaced by Lucien Bianchi, a compatriot of Jacky Ickx . But one week before the 24 hours , Ickx broke a leg in the Canadian Grand Prix . The Mexican Pedro Rodriguez then joined Lucien Bianchi ... and this last minute duo dominated   the 24 Hours in 1968 , with Ford  later being crowned World Champions having won earlier rounds including Brands Hatch ! It was also the only Ford finisher , giving the company a hat trick at the race.

Long faithful to Ferrari , with his best result a fifth place in 1964 with the legendary 250 GTO with "Beurlys" , Lucien Bianchi became in 1966 one of the pillars of the Ford armada at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  For Pedro Rodriguez,  this victory with Ford had the appearance of " an enchanted interlude " between his long history of driving for  Ferrari and then  the Porsche 917 , which was one of his most memorable races , with in 1971 setting the fastest pole position in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. But the duo also experienced a tragic fate. Pedro Rodriguez was killed in Germany at  Norisring in an Interserie race in July 1971 driving a Ferrari 512M. Lucien Bianchi was killed two years earlier at the wheel of an Alfa Romeo T33 prototype during preliminary testing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in March 1969 . But today, the family saga continues : Jules , a great nephew of Lucien and grandson of his younger brother Mauro , also a driver ( six races at Le Mans , including five for Alpine, from 1962 to 1968) is 24 years old and a big french hope in Formula 1 . He  has just been confirmed for 2014 in the Marussia team that will be powered by Ferrari .

Jean -Philippe Doret / ACO

Photo: CIRCUIT OF THE 24 HOURS ( Le Mans , Sarthe ), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS , 29 & 30 September 1968 . Pedro Rodriguez and Lucien Bianchi were also the first to triumph in Sarthe in the sky  blue and orange colours of the Gulf Oil Company .