In four participations from 1978 to 1982, Bill Whittington may have only crossed the finish line once, but he made it count, winning the race on 10 June 1979.

After a retirement the previous year with a Porsche 935, in 1979 Whittington took the start in his second 24 Hours, once again with his brother Don and new teammte German driver Klaus Ludwig replacing Franz Konrad.

Having qualified in third position, their #41 Porsche fielded by Kremer Racing slipped into the lead on Saturday evening, after troubles experienced by the Porsche 936 prototypes (Jacky Ickx/Brian Redman and Hurley Haywood/Bob Wollek) and Ford M10s (Derek Bell, David Hobbs, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud and Vern Schuppan). The overnight rain, makeshit repair executed at the edge of the track on Sunday morning and pressure applied by pursuers Dick Barbour/Paul Newman/Rolf Stommelen at the end of the race were unable to derail victory for Bill and Don Whittington and Klaus Ludwig, earning Porsche its fifth win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Having first competed as rookies under their own colors in 1978, Bill and Don Whittington remained loyal to Manfred and Erwin Kremer's team for their last two participations in 1981 and 1982, with a Porsche 935 then a Porsche Kremer CK5 prototype.

With his brother Don, and Phil Hill, Carroll Shelby, Masten Gregory, Dan Gurney, A.J. Foyt, Hurley Haywood, Al Holbert, Price Cobb and Davy Jones, Whittington is one of 11 American drivers to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Also, Bill and Don (older by three years) are the only siblings to win the race at the wheel of the same car.

The Automobile Club de l’Ouest extends its sincerest condolences to Bill Whittington's family and loved ones.

 

PHOTO (Copyright - ACO ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SATURDAY 9 & SUNDAY 10 JUNE 1979. Bill Whittington won the 47th 24 Hours of Le Mans at the wheel of a Porsche 935 modified and called the 935 K3 by Porsche experts, the Kremer brothers.