24h Le Mans
Throughout this month, we will bring you a very special Advent calendar dedicated to remarkable stories and anecdotes from the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, here is a look back at the 1985 edition won by Italian driver Paolo Barilla, the heir to an agribusiness empire..
In the early 1980s, Paolo Barilla was not simply the heir to a pasta empire of the same name. He also belonged to a new generation of Italian drivers making their marks in Formula 3 and Formula 2, such as Mauro Baldi and Michele Alboreto who like Barilla would go on to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Having competed in Formula 2 from 1981 to 1983, Barilla decided at the age of 22 to move into endurance racing. In 1983 then 1984, he took the start in his first two 24 Hours of Le Mans as a factory Lancia driver, but was forced to retire both times.
In 1985, Barilla became a contender for victory at the race by joining the previous year's winner, Joest Racing. At the wheel of the #7 Porsche, he teamed up with German driver Klaus Ludwig (winner in 1979 with brothers Don and Bill Whittington, then in 1984 with Henri Pescarolo) and Louis Krages, a gentleman-driver known as John Winter.
After qualifying in fourth position, the trio made it into the top 3 before raging a long duel with another private Porsche 956 driven by Jonathan Palmer/Richard Lloyd/James Weaver. But Reinhold Joest and his team managed the fuel-based technical regulations better and definitively took the helm in the last quarter of the race.
Barilla, Ludwig and Winter gave Joest Racing its second triumph and offered Porsche its 10th overall, setting a new win record previously held by Ferrari since 1965. Though beaten, Porsche's new 962 C factory prototypes established two new records in 1985: pole position for Hans-Joachim Stuck (held until 2017) and in-race lap thanks to Jacky Ickx in his final 24 Hours.
In 1986, the trio Ludwig/Barilla/Winter shared the #7 Porsche 956. Third on the starting grid, the car was forced to retire with a failed engine shortly before mid-race after giving the factory 962 C of future winners Derek Bell/Hans-Joachim Stuck/Al Holbert a run for its money. In 1988 and 1989, for his last two 24 Hours, Barilla represented Toyota. In the wake of his return to single-seaters in Formula 3000 then Formula 1 in 1989 and 1990, Barilla ended his international career and only took part in touring races in Italy before turning his full attention to his family empire.
Barilla has held several executive positions in his family business empire (older brother, Guido, is the current CEO). Since 2020, the former driver has served on the Board of Directors of Confindustria, the transalpine employers' confederation. But he has never forgotten the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
This year, Barilla bought himself a very special Porsche 911 GT3, with the racing number and colors of the #7 956 with which he won in 1985. The car took three years to complete and is the first fruition of the German marque's "Sonderwunsch" program dedicated to delivering one-of-a-kind personalized dream cars. For example, the rear spoiler of this 911 GT3 took specialized treatment, the magnesium gear lever is inspired by that of the 956 of 1985 and "Le Mans 1985" is embroidered on the headrests.
Barilla has named the car PB60 in celebration of his 60th birthday (born 20 April 1961) and win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the undeniable highlight of his career as a racing driver.
PHOTOS - At center (Copyright - ACO ARCHIVES), the Porsche 956 winner at the 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans on the track. Above and below (Copyright - PORSCHE), the #7 956 next to the custom 911 GT3 commissioned by Paolo Barilla from Porsche to celebrate his win and 60th birthday.
