November 12, 2024 | Jamie Hayes

The Most Incredible Moments From 101 Years Of Racing At Le Mans


A Century Of Racing

For over 100 years, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been one of the most iconic events in motorsport. For 24 grueling hours, drivers round the legendary combination of permanent track and public roads for their chance at glory.

A test of engineering, skill, and endurance unlike any other, let's look back at the most memorable moments from a century at Le Mans.

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The Original

The first 24 Hours of Le Mans began on May 26, 1923, and ended the following day. Race day was a complete mess, with intermittent rain lasting for the entire event. 

1923 24 Hours of Le MansD.A.S. (Germany), Wikimedia Commons

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It Was Impossible To See

In 1923, the drivers didn't even have goggles or windshields, and the other cars would kick mud up into their faces throughout the entire race.

Sounds pretty miserable if you ask me.

Fernand Bachmann at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 1923Nicolas Bachmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

A French Affair

Naturellement, the first Le Mans featured mostly French automakers. Of the 37 cars entered by 20 automakers, all but three were French. The English entered a Bentley and Belgium fielded two beastly 5.3-liter Excelsiors.

1923 24 Hours of Le Mans cars at the startAgence Rol, Wikimedia Commons

There Was No Winner The First Time Out

French automaker Chenard-Walcker built both the first- and second place-winning cars, but they weren't declared the winner. Why? Well, back then, 24 Hours at Le Mans wasn't enough. They had to do it two more times.

24 Hours of Le Mans 1923The Mirror of Sports, Wikimedia Commons

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It Took Three Races To Win

The first 24 Hours of Le Mans was just the first leg of the Rudge-Whitworth Triennial Cup, which was more of an engineering contest than anything else. After three 24-hour races, the winner would be the manufacturer whose car beat its target distance by the biggest margin.

It was about whose car performed the best more than it was about motorsport glory. That came later.

1923 24 Hours of Le Mans raceNicolas Bachmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The French Took The Crown

In the end, a 1.1-liter Salmson driven by Lucien Desvaux and Georges Casse was declared the winner, as it exceeded its target laps by 46. Surprisingly, 30 of the 37 cars managed to finish the race. There wouldn't be a completion rate that high again until 1993.

The first Le Mans 24 Hours; Le Mans, May 26-27, 1923Klemantaski Collection, Getty Images

They Had One Heck Of A Feast

During the race, drivers and crews consumed 150 gallons of onion soup, 50 chickens, 450 bottles of Champagne, and "an unrecorded amount of red and white wine".

24 Hours of Le Mans 1923, second place carLe Génie Civil, Wikimedia Commons

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Cancellations

Since its inception, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been canceled 10 times. Once was during the Great Depression, then WWII stopped Le Mans from happening between 1940 and 1948.

But one man made sure the race came back with a bang.

1935 24 Hours of Le Mans raceAgence de presse Meurisse, Wikimedia Commons

Ferrari Enters The Fray

When Le Mans returned in 1949, Enzo Ferrari entered the race for the first time ever. I think it's safe to say, it wouldn't be the last.

1949-06-26 Le Mans Winner FerrariUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

He Entered Two 166 MM Barchettas

Ferrari's two 166 MM Barchettas each had a 2.0-liter V-12 that pushed out 140 horsepower and could reach a top speed of 130 mph.

Le Mans had never seen anything like it—but that didn't mean Ferrari was confident.

Le Mans Winner Ferrari 166 0008M Chinetti ExhaustedUnknown photographer, Wikimedia Commons

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He Didn't Think They'd Make It

Le Mans isn't just about having a fast car. It's about having a fast car that can drive around the track for 24 hours. Ferrari wasn't sure his cars would be able to make it over the finish line—so he planned to save face.

Car n,23 on 1949 24 Hours of Le MansUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

He Didn't Put His Name On It

Doubting his cars' ability to last the full 24 hours, Ferrari decided not to enter them as factory cars, and instead arranged to have both entered privately.

He shouldn't have been so worried.

Le Mans WINNER Ferrari, 1949 24 Hours of Le MansUnknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

He Won His First Time Out

Ferrari was half right. One of his cars had to drop out of the race after just the sixth hour. The other car? It won the whole dang thing.

Luigi Chinetti drives the Lord Selsdon entered #22  at 1949 24 Hours of Le MansKlemantaski Collection, Getty Images

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One Man Drove Most Of The Race

Ferrari's winning Barchetta was piloted by Luigi Chinetti and Peter Mitchell-Thomson, but it was Chinetti who drove for a mind-boggling 22.5 hours to win the race.

1949 Le Mans Winners Selsdon Chinetti  and Luigi ChinettiUnknown photographer, Wikimedia Commons

The Crazy American

There's no one in the long and illustrious history of Le Mans who's quite like Briggs Swift Cunningham. In 1950, the American sportsman tried to enter his own Frankenstein car: A Fordillac.

The French organizers turned up their nose at the bizarre auto—but Cunningham wasn't going to give up.

The American Cadillac number 2 DUGUE, Getty Images

He Entered Two Cadillacs

The organizers at Le Mans had rejected his Fordillac, so Cunningham entered two Cadillacs instead. This time, they let him in—but maybe they didn't realize that Cunningham's Cadillacs weren't exactly...usual.

1950 Cadillac At Le MansJOHN LLOYD, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Le Puppy

The French called Briggs Cunningham's Cadillac Series 61 "Petit Pataud," or "clumsy puppy". The stock-looking Caddy certainly didn't look like any other car in the field—but it was a piece of art compared to Cunningham's other vehicle.

car builder Briggs CunninghamRacingOne, Getty Images

He Made A Custom

Cunningham had removed the body of his second Cadillac entirely and replaced it with a lower, narrower aluminum body. I suppose he thought the unique design might give him the edge he needed to give the USA its first-ever Le Mans win.

Le Monstre which was driven by Briggs Cunningham and Phil Walters,  Le Mans 1950Klemantaski Collection, Getty Images

Le Monstre

The French nickname for Cunningham's custom Cadillac was "Le Monstre," which he personally drove during the event. Cunningham didn't win anything, but both cars finished, with Petit Pataud and Le Monstre finishing 10 and 11th, respectively.

Briggs Cunningham's Cadillac special, Le Monstre and his other car at Le Mans 1950Klemantaski Collection, Getty Images

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Jaguar Dominated The 50s

Great Britain's Jaguar C-Type ushered in a new era for racing in 1953. After winning the event in 1951 then losing in 1952, Jaguar entered the race in 1953 with something new that would change everything.

1951 Le Mans winnerJaguar MENA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Disc Brakes Hit The Scene

When Jaguar's C-Type won the 1953 Le Mans, it wasn't just the first car with disc brakes to win Le Mans—it was the first car with disc brakes to win any professional race anywhere.

Le Mans 24 Hours 1953 winner carPA Images, Getty Images

Essential Technology

Jaguar's disc brakes dissipated heat far better than the drum brakes of the era. After Jaguar cruised to an easy victory in 1953, disc brakes became the standard, which they remain today.

1953 le Mans winners in car n.18Bernard Cahier, Getty Images

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The Darkest Day In Racing History

When the 23rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans began on June 11, 1955, no one realized they were about to witness the darkest day in the history of motorsports.

Juan Manuel Fangio at Le Mans 1955Bert Hardy, Getty Images

It Only Took An Instant

Just 2.5 hours into the race, Jaguar driver Mike Hawthorn cut in front of Austin-Healey's Lance Macklin, and braked to enter a pit stop.

Macklin had to swerve to the left to avoid hitting Hawthorne—and he didn't see Mercedes Benz's Pierre Levegh coming behind him at full speed.

Lance Macklin, 24 Hours Of Le MansBernard Cahier, Getty Images

Worst-Case Scenario

Levegh's Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR slammed into Macklin's car and launched into the air as if it had hit a ramp. Traveling at over 125 mph, Levegh's car skipped right over a large protective dirt berm—and straight into the spectator area beyond.

Pierre Levegh accidentUnknown Author, Getty Images

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Tragic Carnage

Before anyone could react, the Mercedes scythed through the unprepared spectators. After two bounces, it finally disintegrated, sending the engine, suspension, and hood into the remaining crowd.

Pierre Levegh accidentBernard Cahier, Getty Images

The Worst Day In Motorsports

In the end, 83 spectators lost their lives, and another 180 were injured. Levegh himself perished when he was thrown from the tumbling vehicle onto the track.

Pierre Levegh in car racingBert Hardy, Getty Images

He Saved His Teammate

Levegh didn't have time to avoid Hawthorne's car, but in the final moments before impact he managed to raise his had to warn his teammate, Juan Manuel Fangio, of the danger ahead, likely saving Fangio's life. 

Juan Manuel Fangio wearing racing clothes in a carEl Gráfico, Wikimedia Commons

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It Became An Inferno

While the front end of the car flew into the onlookers, the rear end of its highly-flammable magnesium body landed on the berm and burst into a raging inferno. It must have looked like Hell on Earth.

Pierre LeveghKeystone-France, Getty Images

Caroll Shelby

American racing legend Caroll Shelby won Le Mans from behind the wheel in 1959. But he was driving for Aston Martin, a British automaker. When he returned in 1964, he brought his own wheels.

Carroll Shelby at Le Mans in 1959Heritage Images, Getty Images

He Drove A Legendary Car

Shelby brought his legendary Daytona Cobra coupe to the 1964 Le Mans, his own engineering up against the likes of Ferrari. His cars were a work of art, but despite their best efforts, they couldn't overtake the Italians.

The Daytona Cobra had to settle for a class win and 4th place overall. But Shelby wasn't done yet.

Shelby Daytona, 1964Jaydec, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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The GT40 Program

Caroll Shelby wanted to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans himself, but after 1964, he got an opportunity he couldn't pass up. He joined Ford's GT40 program—and made history.

Screenshot of Ford GT40 -  from Ford v Ferrari (2019)Chernin Entertainment, Ford V Ferrari (2019)

Ford Wanted A Win

Henry Ford II had tried to earn a title at Le Mans by buying Ferrari, but at the very last minute, Enzo Ferrari himself pulled the rug out from under him.

When Ford went looking for revenge, he brought in Caroll Shelby. But it didn't go smoothly.

Henry Ford II wearing a suit and a coatHugo van Gelderen, Wikimedia Commons

The GT40s Lost

The Ford GT40 Mark I entered Le Mans in both 1964 and 1965, but failed to finish either year. Then Henry Ford brought in Caroll Shelby and gave him a blank check to build something that could beat Ferrari.

It was money well spent.

1966 24 Hours Of Le Mans raceZANTAFIO56, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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The Clean Sweep

Shelby's GT40s completed the 1-2-3 overall victory at the 1966 Le Mans, the first overall win for an American constructor at the race ever. They repeated the win the following day, this time with the first all-American team ever—car, team, and drivers.

GT40s won again in 1968 and 1969.

24 hours of LE MANS 1969ZANTAFIO56, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

A New Generation

50 years after the GT40's first victory at Le Man, Ford entered the race again, this time with its all-new Ford GT. The new car finished first and third in its class, but couldn't quite match its legendary pedigree.

Screenshot of Ford v Ferrari (2019)Chernin Entertainment, Ford v Ferrari (2019)

The King Of Cool And Le Mans

Steve McQueen was the King of Cool, and he was absolutely obsessed with motorsports. It's only natural, then, that he should star in 1971's Le Mans. 

Le Mans (1971) screenshot from the movieCinema Center Films, Le Mans (1971)

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McQueen Wanted To Race

Production took place during the actual race—but despite wanting to, organizers wouldn't actually let McQueen take part. It was really Jo Siffert and Brian Redman driving McQueen's Gulf-Porsche 917K in the footage.

Le Mans (1971) screenshot from the movieCinema Center Films, Le Mans (1971)

He Could Have Done It

McQueen drove a Porsche 908/2 to second place at the 12 Hours of Sebring in preparation for Le Mans. It must have been heartbreaking when they told him he couldn't race.

Steve McQueen, 12 Hours of SebringBernard Cahier, Getty Images

Chevy Takes A Crack At It

Though Corvettes entered privately had raced, Chevrolet entered the factory competition for the first time in 2000 with the Corvette C5-R. After placing fourth in class that year, Chevy returned to get first and second in class in 2001, 2002, and 2004—but still to this day, no Corvette has ever gotten an overall win.

2000 Le Mans Chevrolet CorvetteMartin Lee, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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The Sun Rises On Le Mans

Nissan and Toyota were the first Japanese automakers to enter Le Mans, but Mazda was the first company to win the thing, doing so with their 787B—and this car was unlike anything that's won Le Mans before or since.

Le Mans 2011 Signatech NissanSurreal Name Given, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

It Used A Rotary Engine

The Mazda 787B wasn't just the first Japanese car to win Le Mans. It was also the first—and only—car to ever win the race without a piston engine. The vehicle used a revolutionary rotary engine that pushed over 700 horsepower.

The Mazda 787B  Le MansFlorian track, Flickr

Toyota Was Cursed

Toyota started their journey to Le Mans glory all the way back in the 1980s, but for decades, the closest they got was a second-place finish in 1991. 

In 2016, it looked like they would finally break the curse, but after leading the race for 23 hours and 55 minutes, disaster struck.

No. 5 Toyota TS050 Hybrid at Le MansKevin Decherf, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Last-Minute Failure

With just six minutes remaining, Kazuki Nakajima's Toyota suffered a mechanical failure. The car just barely managed to limp over the finish line—but by then, the second-place Porsche easily made up the difference and took the checkered flag.

2016 24 Hours Of Le Mans raceUnited Autosports, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Redemption

It was Kazuki Nakajima behind the wheel again in 2018, and this time he not only gave Toyota the pole position, but he brought the Japanese automaker its first-ever victory. They would go on to win five consecutive years in a row.

Tokyo Auto Salon 2019Moto Club4AG Miwa, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Flying Cars

1985 was the first year that Mercedes had entered Le Mans since the 1955 disaster—and things didn't get off to a great start. During practice, John Nielsen's Mercedes caught air as it was cresting a hump at 220 mph, soaring into the air, flipping, and landing on its roof. 

John Nielsen driver in a race carmark rider, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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The Silver Arrow

Nielsen's Mercedes was called the Silver Arrow for the way it soared through the air, but miraculously, the driver walked away uninjured. 

But it wouldn't be the last time Le Mans would see a Silver Arrow.

The 2004 Le MansMartin Lee, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Worst Le Mans Car Ever

I guess they didn't learn their lesson. During practice at the 1999 Le Mans, Mark Webber's Mercedes-Benz CLR soared into the air at high speeds, much like Nielsen's had. 

Mercedes looked into it, said they fixed the problem—then it happened again during warmups on race day. But would it happen during the actual race? Yes. It would.

Mark Webber's car at Le Mans 1999Ben, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

He Flew Over The Fence

During the 1999 24 Hours of Le Mans, Peter Dumbreck's CLR took to the air and actually managed to fly straight over the safety fence, eventually touching down again in the woods. 

24 Hours of Le MansMartin Lee, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Enough Is Enough

Dumbreck was again miraculously unharmed, but enough was enough. Mercedes withdrew their other CLR from the race and ended their entire racing program.

2003 24 Hours Of Le MansMartin Lee, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Porsche Is King

No automaker has won the 24 Hours of Le Mans as many times as Germany's Porsche. They entered for the first time in 1951 with their 356 SL. But their first win would take almost 20 years of hard work.

Le Mans 1951 PorscheNan Palmero, Flickr

They Were So Close

Porsche tried year in and year out but just couldn't take home an overall victory at Le Mans. The most painful loss came in 1969, when they missed the checkered flag by just 120 yards, the closest Le Mans finish in history.

24 hours of LE MANS 1969ZANTAFIO56, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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They Crested The Mountain

Porsche finally got that win in 1970, and since then, they've amassed 19 overall victories and 108 class wins, making them the most successful manufacturer in the history of Le Mans.

June 14, 1970 Le Mans winnerJim Culp, Flickr

A June Classic

The 24 Hours of Le Mans has only been held outside of June four times in its history. The first race was in May. In 1956, it was held in July. In 1968, unrest in France meant the race was postponed until September.

And in 2020, Covid meant the race was delayed until September for the second time ever.

2018 24 Hours of Le MansAlain Janssoone, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons


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