Date: 9-10 June 1979

Number of competitors: 55

Number classified as finishers: 22

Winners: Klaus Ludwig and Bill & Don Whittington (#41 Porsche 935)

Distance covered by the winners and average speed: 4,173 km (307 laps) at an average 173 kph

Pole position: Bob Wollek (#14 Porsche 936) in 3:30.07 at an average 233 kph

Highlights:

- Klaus Ludwig won the first of his three victories at the 24 Hours. His two American teammates, Bill and Don Whittington, were the first siblings to win at Le Mans.

- Having fallen in love with motorsport after his role in "Winning" in 1968, actor Paul Newman was the undeniable star of the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans. Along with Rolf Stommelen and Dick Barbour with a Porsche 935, he finished second overall and won his class.

- The 1979 edition was the first of five participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. At the wheel of a 2-liter Lola-Ford, he finished 18th overall and second in his class. Band manager Steve O’Rourke also took the start, with a Ferrari BB 512, finishing 12th.

Motorsport in 1979:

- The Rally World Championship bestowed a Drivers title for the first time. The first winner was Swedish national Björn Waldegård.

- One year after winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Renault won for the first time with turbocharged engine technology the French Grand Prix in Formula 1, thanks to Jean-Pierre Jabouille. The race still stands out for the stunning duel for second place between Gilles Villeneuve (Ferrari) and René Arnoux (Renault) in the final laps.

What else happened in 1979?

- The Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival was won by both "The Tin Drum" directed by Volker Schlöndorff and "Apocalypse Now" directed by Francis Ford Coppola, whose production extended nearly three years.

- In November, Pink Floyd released its legendary album "The Wall" recorded in part while Nick Mason and Steve O’Rourke competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans five months earlier.

 

PHOTO (Copyright - ACO/Archives): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 9 & SUNDAY 10 JUNE 1979. In rainy weather, the Porsche 935 scored its one and only win at the 24 Hours.