24h Le Mans
Morgan's appearances at Le Mans were pretty sporadic until 2012 but there was always something special about them. Here's a look back at three chapters in the Morgan Le Mans story.
The Morgan Motor Company was founded in 1910 by Henry Frederick Stanley Morgan. The cars it has produced are often as original as they are timeless, and include a series of three-wheelers (two wheels to the front and one at the back) in the 1930s and the Plus 8, first launched in 1968.
1938: an all-British outfit for the 24 Hours of Le Mans - Prudence Marjorie Fawcett was the first person ever to drive a Morgan at the Le Mans 24 Hours. She paired up with Geoffrey White to form an all-British team that finished thirteenth overall after covering 2,210 kilometres.
2002-2004: the Morgan Aero 8 joins the race - The design of the Plus 8 served as the basis for this more streamlined version powered by a BMW V8 engine. It made two outings at Le Mans and although forced to retire in 2002, it managed to finish the race in 2004.
2013: an anniversary "Art Car" - Since Morgan and Onroak Automotive entered a partnership in 2012, OAK Racing's LMP2 cars have competed under the Morgan name. For the 90th anniversary race in 2013, the #45 Morgan was designated the official Le Mans “Art Car”. It was designed by Fernando Costa, who took his inspiration from road signs, and driven by Onroak owner Jacques Nicolet, Jean-Marc Merlin and Philippe Mondolot.
Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO | Translated from French by Clair Pickworth
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 18 & SUNDAY 19 JUNE 1938. The first ever Morgan to enter the 24 Hours of Le Mans finished the race thirteenth.
