Jean Rondeau initially competed in the 24 Hours as a driver from 1972 to 1975. His first four participations resulted in two retirements (1972 and 1975), 19th place with a Porsche 908/2 (1974) and a non-qualification (1973). In 1975, Rondeau drove one of the very first Mazdas with a rotary engine seen at Le Mans, an RX3 shared with Claude Buchet. Sixteen years later, the Japanese marque became the first constructor of its country to win the race.

The hunt for sponsors

When he became a constructor ahead of the 1976 24 Hours, Rondeau pioneered a marketing strategy known today as "naming" a sponsor or sponsors on the car itself. In 1976 and 1977, prototypes powered by a 3-litre V8 Ford-Cosworth engine from Formula 1 sported the name of Inaltéra, a wallpaper manufacturer.

Over the years, Rondeau brought together sponsors from a numerous and diverse variety of sectors: specialised or general media, tourism, household appliances, car accessories, cameras and a group of French Ford dealers in 1983.

Beginning in 1984, the Rondeaus fielded at the 24 Hours were private entries, while Jean Rondeau himself diversified his activities as a constructor when Formula Ford arrived in France, the first Anglo-Saxon level of single-seater promotion series. His chassis won the first two French championship titles in the discipline in 1984 and 1985.

During the same period, Rondeau returned to competing solely as a driver, finishing second in 1984 with Americans Preston Henn and John Paul, Jr. in a Porsche 956, of which he had been the most dangerous opponent in the 1982 World Endurance Championship. The following year, his final participation resulted in 17th place with French constructor WM who would later set a speed record in the Mulsanne Straight (405 kph in 1988).

Drivers from all backgrounds

From 1976 to 1983, Rondeau's enthusiasm and determination were key in enticing sponsors and recruiting drivers with careers as different as they were eclectic.

For Rondeau's rookie start as a constructor in 1976, his driver line-ups were remarkable. In the #1 Inaltéra were two French racing legends, three-time winner (at the time) Henri Pescarolo and Jean-Pierre Beltoise. In the #2, Rondeau himself joined forces with Jean-Pierre Jaussaud with whom he would reach the top step on the podium in 1980 after a long duel with the Porsche of Jacky Ickx/Reinhold Joest.

Having already teamed up with Rondeau/Jaussaud in 1976, Belgian driver Christine Beckers formed an all-female crew in the #2 Inaltéra with Italian driver Lella Lombardi, finishing 11th the following year.

Two great French figures in rally racing were also pioneers in Rondeau's adventure as a constructor. In 1977, Jean Ragnotti finished fourth with Rondeau, then scored pole position in 1980 with Pescarolo, and Bernard Darniche joined forces with Rondeau in 1978 (ninth) and 1979 (fifth).

A future Le Mans winner took his rookie start at the wheel of an Inaltéra in 1977. Later known as a top Porsche expert, Al Holbert finished his first 24 Hours in 13th place with Beltoise. He eventually became the one of winningest American drivers at the race with three victories, matching fellow countrymen Phil Hill and Hurley Haywood.

Among Rondeau's drivers could be found French racing hopefuls (Alain and Michel Ferté, Philippe Streiff), touring car specialists (Alain Cudini, Dany Snobeck, Xavier Lapeyre, Jacky Haran), 24 Hours veterans (François Migault, Jean-Louis Lafosse) and F1 winners (Patrick Tambay, Thierry Boutsen).

Henri Pescarolo competed for Rondeau six times at the 24 Hours: "Jean had a very endearing personality, we had a very close and profound relationship together, he was a very passionate person. His will to win matched that which I had known with Jean-Luc Lagardère at Matra, but his motivation was different, and even rather new. He decided to build his own cars because he could no longer find ones that suited him." Rondeau wrote one of the most outstanding chapters in the history of the 24 Hours, earning him a prize spot in the hall of fame and in the hearts of countless fans.

PHOTOS (Copyight - ACO Archives): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS. From top to bottom: Jean Rondeau's car was forced to retire in 1979; Rondeau (second from the left) and his team surrounding the car he took to ninth place in 1978 with Bernard Darniche and Jacky Haran (first and fourth from the left, respectively); the winners in 1980, Rondeau and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud (at right) teammed up for two additional 24 Hours, in 1976 with Belgian driver Christine Beckers (21st) then once again as a duo in 1981 (retirement).