In 1976, when Gijs van Lennep retired as a driver, his departure was low-key. However, it was a racing giant, and a pioneer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, who bowed out.

Gijs van Lennep was the first Dutch winner of the 24 Hours with the Austrian Helmut Marko. It was in 1971, the Porsche 917 in his second participation. This victory also set a new distance record (5335 km 222 km/h on average) that wouldn't be beaten until 2010 by the Audi of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller.

In 1976, he was a team mate of Jacky Ickx fat the wheel of the Porsche 936, they scored the first win for a turbocharged engine. After this second success, Gijs van Lennep retired. His success rate is impressive at Le Mans: in seven appearances, he scored two wins, three times in the first top (2nd in 1974, 4th in 1973 and 5th in 1975), and only two retirements, the most painful was that of 1972, when his team mate Swedish Joakim Bonnier had a fatal accident.

Now aged 71, this authentic aristocrat (he has he title of baron) remaines in the heart of fans of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Porsche. He has the opportunity to measure his popularity at each of his rare public appearances (as Le Mans Classic, for example). For autograph hunters have not forgotten this refined, talented and discreet character, both driving and outside the cockpit, which also paved the way for his compatriots Jan Lammers and Jos Verstappen.

Jean-Philippe Doret - ACO

Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 12 & 13 JUNE 1971. The distance record set by Gijs van Lennep and Helmut Marko (Porsche 917) stood for 39 years !