With Mercedes, Hermann Lang (1909-1987) was one of the most brilliant German Grand Prix drivers of the era between the two world wars. 1939 was particularly successful for him with four wins. But, like for many others during that time, World War II threw a wrench in his career. But he still had his mark to make after the war. On June 15, 1952, along with his fellow countryman Fritz Riess, he won at the wheel of the Mercedes 300 SL the first win for a German constructor at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He ended his career two years later at the age of 45 after the national Grand Prix at Nürburgring. On his record also figures a rather stunning performance. Lang would remain for nearly 50 years the winner of the fastest race in the history of motorsports: at an average of 261 km/h in 1937 at the Avus circuit located in a Berlin suburb and comprised of two long straights linked by a hairpin turn on one end and a 45 degree elevated turn at the other. The performance wasn't beaten until 1986 by Bobby Rahal during his win at the Indianapolis 500 at an average of 275 km/h.

When in 1967 he went to Le Mans to compete - like Lang in his time - at his first 24 Hours, Anthony Joseph "A.J." Foyt (born in 1935) was 32 and had just won his third victory at Indianapolis. On Sunday, June 11th, along with Dan Gurney, it was his turn to make his mark on history. He is still to this day the only dirver to have won in the same year - 12 days apart! - the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the two oldest circuit races in the world. And, like Lang, the Texan driver never returned to Le Mans. In addition to very high-speed circuits, the German and the American also have in common a certain national pride: that of having won at Le Mans in cars from their respective countries. Mercedes' victory in 1952 was a true symbol of the renaissance of the German automobile, while that of Ford marked a new image both on the road (with the Mustang) and on the track (with a new offensive from Le Mans to Formula 1).

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo:  LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY & SUNDAY JUNE 14-15 1952. Hermann Lang along with Alfred Neubauer, head of Mercedes motorsports, and teammate Fritz Riess (from left to right): the winning trio of the first victory of a German constructor at the 24 Hours.