1974 24 Hours of Le Mans

42nd 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race 1973 1974 1975 The 1974 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 42nd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 15 and 16 June 1974. It was the fifth round of the 1974 World Championship for Makes. After Alfa Romeo had won the first race of the season at Monza, it had been Matra all the way and they came to Le Mans as firm favourites for a third consecutive outright victory, especially after Alfa Romeo withdrew its cars just before raceweek. In a fairly lacklustre race, the Matra of Henri Pescarolo and Gérard Larrousse led virtually from start to finish for their second successive victory.Laban 2001, p.173-4 It was also the third in a row for Pescarolo and the Matra team. The race was enlivened on Sunday morning when the leading car was delayed for a long time by engine and gearbox troubles. But such was the lead they had built up that they were not headed. Second place, six laps back was the works-supported Martini Racing Porsche 911 Carrera RSR trubo of Gijs van Lennep and Herbert Müller. Third went to another Matra of Jean-Pierre Jabouille and François Migault. The Group 4 (GTS) category was a battle between the 3-liter Porsche RSR and the V12 Ferrari. It was won by the French-privateer Ferrari of Cyril Grandet and Dominique Bardini as the leading Porsches fell out with problems. thumb|300px|Le Mans in 1974 Regulations There was negligible change to the regulations this year. The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) reduced the eligible classes back to six, removing the intermediate divisions of Group 2 and 5.Spurring 2011, p.143 Qualification was tightened, such that each driver, not just each car, had to be within 133% of the fastest times of the top three different car types.Spurring 2011, p.144 Modern Motor magazine reported at the time that the event cost near to £1 million to hold. Of that, most was paid by Chrysler-France (£500000) and the French government (£300000) with the rest coming from sponsorship. It also noted the declining interest in the racing formula by the manufacturers and fans alike.Clarke 1997, p.165: Modern Motor Aug 1974 John Wyer had noted that it cost more than a full season of Formula One to put one of his cars on the grid.Clarke 1997, p.170: Motor Trend Sep 1974 Entries The fuel crisis triggered by the 1973 Yom Kippur War in the Middle East had dramatically affected motor-racing, including the cancellation of the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. The lack of interest in the 3-litre “universal race-engine” formula was evident and the ACO received only 81 applications, and just 50 turned up for qualification on race-week. Ferrari had quit Sports cars at the end of 1973 to focus on Formula One and Autodelta, the Alfa Romeo works team, again withdrew this time just days before the event. This left only eleven works entries, all from Group 5.Spurring 2011, p.143 This year there were six female drivers across three teams, the most since 1938's six female starters.http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/pages/retro/p_pilotes_6_gb.html Women in the 24 Hours Automobile Club de l'Ouest 2018-07-19 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081205013353/http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/pages/retro/p_pilotes_6_gb.html December 5, 2008 Category Sports-PrototypeGroup 5 Special GTGroups 4 Special TouringGroup 2 TotalEntries Large-engines >2.0L classes2422445 Medium-engines < 2.0L classes10005 Total cars3422460 thumb|300px|right|Matra-Simca MS670C With the non-appearance of the Alfa Romeo works team, Matra became the strong favourites. They arrived confident, holding a firm command of the Manufacturers’ Championship, with a strong 4-car line-up. Three of them were the long-tail MS670B, while the fourth chassis was modified with side radiators allowing a more aerodynamic nose. It was called the MS680 and driven by Jean-Pierre Beltoise/Jean-Pierre Jarier. Although slower on the straights it made up time being quicker through the corners.Clarke 1997, p.160: Autosport Jun20 1974 The others were also manned by all-French driver lines-ups, including the 1973 race-winners Henri Pescarolo/Gérard Larrousse and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud/Bob Wollek/José Dolhem, Jean-Pierre Jabouille/François Migault. The V12 engines got tuned down to 460 bhp to better preserve them, but still gave about 320 kp/h (200 mph).Spurring 2011, p.146 In Alfa Romeo's absence, Matra's biggest challenger would be from John Wyer’s Gulf Research Racing. The company had dropped the Mirage name and the new car was called the Gulf GR7 designed by Len Bailey,Wimpffen 2007, p.130 a much lighter version of the M6, but still 40 kg heavier than the Matras.Spurring 2011, p.150 Although the Cosworth V8 (with 450 bhp) gave away acceleration torque to the Matra V12,Automobile Year 1973, p.145 reliability would be the biggest concern although they had traded up to stronger ZF gearboxes.Clarke 1997, p.158: Autocar Jun15 1974 Two cars were at Le Mans, driven by team regulars Derek Bell/Mike Hailwood and joined by Vern Schuppan/Reine Wisell. thumb|300px|right|Gulf GR7 After a successful foray into the Can-Am scene, Porsche returned to Sports-car racing this year. The Martini-sponsored works team bought the evolution of the Carrera RSR. It was now powered by a new 2142cc flat-6 engine, augmented by the exhaust-driven KKK (Kühnle, Kopp & KauschWimpffen 2007, p.126) turbo used in their Can-Am cars, that pushed out 490 bhp (and was equivalent to 2999cc using the x1.4 equivalency). It also featured improved aerodynamics (front spoiler, wider wheel arches, full rear wing) and upgraded transmission and braking which all made them slightly quicker than the Matras in a straight line.Spurring 2011, p.152 The two cars were driven by Gijs van Lennep/Herbert Müller and Manfred Schurti/Helmut Koinigg. There were also older Porsches in the Group 5 field: including a non-turbo RSR special from Mexican Héctor Rebaque and two 908/02s returning from the previous year run by Swiss André Wicky and Ecuadorian Guillermo Ortega. thumb|300px|right|Porsche 911 RSR Turbo Guy Ligier arrived with a much-improved version of his JS2 sports car, still running in the prototype class. Designer Michel Têtu had done much with the aerodynamics including a big rear aerofoil and flared wheel arches allowing wider tyres. The Maserati engine had been developed to put out 300 bhp. The team was also encouraged by finishing second in the two heats of the March Testing Weekend race, and being declared overall winner. This year the team-owner was not racing, and the two cars were driven by veteran Guy Chasseuil with Michel Leclère, and Jacques Laffite with Alain Serpaggi.Spurring 2011, p.156 There were also several one-off prototype specials: Alain de Cadenet was back at Le Mans, having fixed the aerodynamic problems that plagued him the year before. It was now in British racing green without its Duckhams Oil sponsorship. However, after being injured in a motorcycle accident, his place alongside Chris Craft was taken by McLaren and Cosworth-engine developer John Nicholson.Spurring 2011, p.154 A new Lola, the T284 (also running a Cosworth engine), was entered by Michel Dupont Racing alongside his Chevron in the 2-litre category. Unable to secure a new 312PB from the factory in 1971, the North American Racing Team (NART) had developed their own spyder version of the 312P. This was subsequently developed in-house to PB-specification in 1972 and arrived at this year's race for Jean-Claude Andruet/Teodoro Zeccoli.Spurring 2011, p.154 The successor to the Dino 246 was the 308 GT4 and NART also prepared a special racing version using engine components taken from the 512BB and 365 GTB/4. The 3-litre engine now pushed out 250 bhp, capable of 285 kp/h (175 mph).Spurring 2011, p.162 The Japanese Sigma rotary returned with an updated model, and now with stronger financial backing from Mazda. Their drivers included the debut race for future Le Mans stalwart Yojiro Terada.Spurring 2011, p.164 Once again there was a small turnout for the S2.0 class. One of the Chevrons featured the first all-female driver line-up since 1951, led by Belgian Christine Beckers. After getting frustrated with the unreliability of the 2-litre racing engines, French privateer Fred Stalder set up his own company, Société Racing Organisation Course (ROC) to build engines. His first engine, designed by Mario Illien and based on a Chrysler-Simca block, could develop 280 bhp and was put into his Lola T292 as well as a French GRAC car.Spurring 2011, p.160 The Group 4 GT category would be a battle between Ferrari and Porsche. NART had three of the five 365 GTB/4 “Daytona” entries alongside Charles Pozzi, the French importer who had won the previous year's GT prize (using Raymond Touroul's entry-card).Spurring 2011, p.151 With Porsche's refocus on production racing, they had manufactured the requisite 1000 copies of the Carrera RS cars to get homologation in Group 3. The Group 4 RSR version was very popular with privateers and no less than 13 arrived for the race. Cars included the now-regular team-entries from Kremer and Gelo (West Germany), ASA-Cachia and Claude Buchet (France), Porsche Club Romand and Claude Haldi (Switzerland), Ecurie Francorchamps of Belgium and the Spanish Escuderia Montjuïch.Spurring 2011, p.158 Henri Greder again had his Corvette, now starting to show its age, and the Wicky team also entered a De Tomaso Pantera.Spurring 2011, p.162 With the withdrawal of the Ford and BMW works teams because of reduced racing budgets,Spurring 2011, p.163 this year the Group 2 class comprised just four entries: two BMWs for the Italian Jolly Club team and Frenchman Jean-Claude Aubriet (giving up his Corvette), the Ford Capri of the Shark TeamSpurring 2011, p.163 and Claude Buchet's Mazda twin-rotary RX-3. Practice The Alfa Romeos had been the fastest cars at the March test weekend, with Arturo Merzario recording a 3:31.0, but then they failed to arrive. So, unsurprisingly, the Matras were the fastest cars in qualification. Pescarolo got pole position as early as Wednesday night, with a lap of 3:35.8 and teammate Jarier in the new MS680 claimed second on Thursday with a 3:36.8. The Gulfs were third and fourth, Schuppan ahead of Bell with the other two Matras next.Clausager 1982, p.166-7 There was then a sizeable eight-second gap back to Müller's Porsche turbo and Craft in the De Cadenet (both recording 3:52.4).Spurring 2011, p.143 The Ligiers really impressed themselves, qualifying 10th and 12th on the grid with Chasseuil a full 27 seconds faster than the previous year proving the new aero pack was working and the run at the Test Weekend was no fluke.Spurring 2011, p.156 The Lola-ROC was quickest of the 2-litre class with 4:07.9 (14th). Fastest GT was the Kremer-Porsche (15th with 4:11.3) not far ahead of the Jolly Club Group 2 ex-works BMW (17th with 4:14.2).Clarke 1997, p.161: Autosport Jun20 1974 Disappointments were the NART-Ferrari specials with the 312P recording 4:18.0 and the 308 GT4 down in 38th with 4:25.3. The big old Corvette was in the middle of the GT-pack (4:24.7 for 36th) while the De Tomaso was last qualifier with a sluggish 4:43.6. Of the two rotaries, the Sigma had a number of problems during practice and its 4:20.4 was nine seconds slower than the year before;Spurring 2011, p.164 while the RX-3 was the only car too slow to qualify.Spurring 2011, p.167 Race Start Once again, like the previous year's race, the sunshine in race week became dark clouds on race-day.Spurring 2011, p.145 Henri Pescarolo moved into the lead from the start but Jarier overtook him at Mulsanne corner just as the rain started on the first lap. But it didn’t last and no-one came in to change tyres. By the fourth lap, Matra were running 1-2-3-4 when Schuppan had already bought his Gulf in to change sparkplugs and Jabouille and Jaussaud had overtaken Bell in the other Gulf.Spurring 2011, p.145 One of the NART Ferraris left its braking too late and clouted both barriers at the Esses putting it out.Spurring 2011, p.151 Chasseuil also brought the leading Ligier in for a plug change early on. Pescarolo retook the lead and the Matras kept their positions beyond the first driver changes, a lap ahead of the Gulf. Schuppan's day never improved as the other Gulf's ongoing issues culminated in a broken CV-joint after three hours, stranding Wisell out on the track. In fact a number of cars had early mechanical issues, spreading the field wide apart. The GT battle was very close, with the Buchet Porsche running just ahead of the Montjuïch, Kremer and ASA-Cachia cars. But the troubles that were to afflict most of the Porsches started early when Ballot-Lena and Haldi brought the leading two cars in for repairs.Spurring 2011, p.158 Then in the fourth hour, just as Jarier blasted out of the pits to start his second stint, he collided with the GT-leading Kremer Porsche (leaving twin 22m lines of rubber as it tried to stopClarke 1997, p.162: Autosport Jun20 1974). While the Matra was losing 45 minutes getting repaired, Jabouille's car also came in the pits with water leaking from its engine. When the remaining Gulf also broke its CV joint (fortunately, within coasting distance of the pits, but dropping it to 12th after 45 minutes), it was the turbo Porsches that moved up to 3rd and 5th, split by the De Cadenet now running well after an initial delay to fix a loose wheel.Spurring 2011, p.145 Night At 11pm, the engine of Schurti/Koinigg's Porsche, running 5th, blew up on the Mulsanne Straight. Such was the smoke trail that officials initially put its retirement down to a fire.Spurring 2011, p.152 Within the hour, the Matras of Jarier (12th) and Wollek (2nd) also lost their engines.Spurring 2011, p.145 By 1am Pescarolo had a 6-lap lead over the Müller/van Lennep Porsche, with the De Cadenet four laps further back in third. After its delays, the Gulf of Bell/Hailwood had got back up to fourth, ahead of the Gelo Porsche of Loos/Schickentanz/Barth (leading the GT class in a surprising fifth overall) and the Jabouille/Migault Matra also coming back through the field. Consistency had got the Romand Porsche up to seventh ahead of the Pozzi Ferrari.Spurring 2011, p.167 Then shortly after 1.30am Craft brought the De Cadenet in with suspect handling. As he was leaving a suspension bolt broke but, not being allowed to reverse up the pitlane, Craft had to spend half an hour changing the steering arm himself. After some cautious laps and further repairs he resumed in 11th place and carried on through the night.Spurring 2011, p.154 At 2am, the Gelo Porsche (now running 4th) was out with engine problems – when a loose screw fell into the distributor.Spurring 2011, p.158Clarke 1997, p.163: Autosport Jun20 1974 So by halftime at 4am, Pescarolo/Larrousse had done 179 laps, with a comfortable lead over the Porsche (172) and the Gulf (166). Jabouille/Migault had fought back up to fourth (165 laps). Just two laps back the Swiss Romand Porsche was fifth, pursued by the Pozzi Ferrari and the Francorchamps Porsche. The NART Ferraris were eighth (312P) and tenth (365 GT) with the second Gelo Porsche splitting them.Spurring 2011, p.167 Morning Just as dawn came at 5.30am, the De Cadenet's suspension broke again. However, this time Nicholson was travelling at speed down the pit straight and it slammed him into the pit-barriers and slid 200 metres down the road. Nicholson was able to get out unhurt.Spurring 2011, p.154 The Jolly Club BMW had been the fastest of the Group 2 cars in practice but had been slowed in the very first hour with a gearbox issue. Having driven back through the field up to 17th, it was forced to retire just after dawn when the engine overheated.Spurring 2011, p.163 The Ford Capri leading the class broke its clutch after 7am while running 13th overall. The back-and-forth Porsche-Ferrari battle in GT got clearer at 7am when the 5th-placed Romand Porsche had to spend a half-hour repairing a universal joint, handing the class lead back to the Pozzi Ferrari.Spurring 2011, p.158 After a four-hour engine rebuild, the Sigma got back into the race, much to the appreciation of the crowd. Although unlikely to be classified, the team were determined to get to the finish. At 8am, the trouble-free run of the leading Matra ended when Larrousse bought the car in with a misfire. Several stops were needed to fix the issue, costing three-quarters of an hour, but they were able to keep their lead.Spurring 2011, p.148 The Gulf then also lost almost 45 minutes fixing its starter motor, dropping to fourth. Around 10am the Porsche developed a steering problem and then lost all but its fourth and fifth gears. Running around 40 seconds a lap slower, it fell eleven laps behind the leading Matra.Spurring 2011, p.152Clausager 1982, p.166-7 Then just before 11am, Pescarolo had a gearbox failure. The Porsche-designed Matra gearbox problem was easy to repair, but it still took 45 minutes. When Larrousse resumed, their 11-lap lead had been cut to just one.Spurring 2011, p.145Clarke 1997, p.164: Autosport Jun20 1974 Finish and post-race However, from then on, the Matra ran smoothly and between them Pescarolo and Larrousse rebuilt their lead over the ailing Porsche. Their pursuers were in damage-control mode, just trying to limp to the finish. The Gelo Porsche's engine finally gave out with less than three hours to go. Even though rain briefly returned in the last hour, Larrousse took the chequered flagClarke 1997, p.159: Autosport Jun20 1974 a full six laps ahead of Müller and van Lennep. The remaining Matra of Jabouille/Migault, which had kept its third place since daybreak, was a further ten laps behind with a four-lap margin over the Bell/Hailwood Gulf. Both cars had endured troubles right through the race, and every pit-stop needed attention – extra water for the Matra's leaking engine and grease added to the Gulf's fragile CV-joint.Spurring 2011, p.150 First GT home from a close race-long battle was the Charles Pozzi Ferrari 365 of Cyril Grandet/Dominique Bardini finishing fifth. They had had a very reliable run, spending only 30 minutes in the pits over the whole race.Spurring 2011, p.151 Sixth was the NART Ferrari of Dave Heinz/Alain Cudini that had managed to chase down and pass the ailing Porsche Club Romand car of Chenevière / Zbinden / Dubois in the last quarter-hour.Spurring 2011, p.145 Jacques Laffite and Alain Serpaggi gave Ligier its best finish to date coming in eighth,Spurring 2011, p.156 despite a fuel-fire at the last pit-stop. Ninth was the NART Ferrari 312 special, having endured six broken throttle cables. The sole surviving Group 2 car was Jean-Claude Aubriet's BMW finishing fifteenth.Spurring 2011, p.154 Likewise, there was only a single finisher in the S-2000 class. The all-female crew in the third Dupont entry ran a conservative race but outlasted all their opposition to finish 17th and, perhaps more importantly, prove that the fragile engines could run 24 hours.Spurring 2011, p.160 They finished ahead of the Corvette of Marie-Claude Beaumont, which had numerous issues and ran 49 laps less than it had completed the year before.Spurring 2011, p.162 Technically, the Matra mechanics had replaced the gearbox housing on the winning car, which was against regulations. The officials decided not to disqualify the car unless someone protested, and no team did. It was a Porsche gearbox.Clarke 1997, p.165: Road & Track Oct 1974 Henri Pescarolo became only the third driver to win three Le Mans in a row, after Woolf Barnato (1928–30) and Olivier Gendebien (1960-62). Having won Le Mans those three years in a row, and then the World Championship (with nine wins out of ten), Matra announced its retirement from racing at the end of the season with mission accomplished.Clausager 1982, p.166-7Spurring 2011, p.148 Official results Finishers Results taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACOSpurring 2011, p.2 Class winners are in Bold text. Pos Position Class No. Car number Team Drivers Chassis Engine Tyre Laps Laps completed 1 S3.0 7 FRA Équipe Gitanes FRA Henri PescaroloFRA Gérard Larrousse Matra-Simca MS670C Matra 3.0L V12 Goodyear 338 2 S3.0 22 DEU Martini Racing Porsche System NLD Gijs van LennepCHE Herbert Müller Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Turbo Porsche 2.1L F6 Turbo Dunlop 332 3 S3.0 9 FRA Équipe Gitanes FRA Jean-Pierre JabouilleFRA François Migault Matra-Simca MS670C Matra 3.0L V12 Goodyear 322 4 S3.0 11 GBR Gulf Research Racing GBR Derek BellGBR Mike Hailwood Gulf GR7 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 Firestone 318 5 GTS5.0 71 FRA Automobiles Charles PozziFRA R. Touroul FRA Cyril GrandetFRA Dominique Bardini Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Ferrari 4.4L V12 Michelin 314 6 GTS5.0 54 USA North American Racing Team USA Dave HeinzFRA Alain Cudini Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Ferrari 4.4L V12 Goodyear 313 7 GTS3.0 66 CHE Porsche Club Romand CHE Bernard ChenevièreCHE Peter Zbinden FRA Michel Dubois Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 313 8 S3.0 15 FRA Automobiles Ligier FRA Jacques LaffiteFRA Alain Serpaggi Ligier JS2 Maserati 3.0L V6 Michelin 311 9 S3.0 1 USA North American Racing Team FRA Jean-Claude AndruetITA Teodoro Zeccoli NART-Ferrari 312P Ferrari 3.0L V12 Goodyear 299 10 GTS3.0 70 FRA ASA Cachia-Bondy FRA Henri CachiaFRA Raymound Touroul FRA Dennis Rua Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 289 11 GTS5.0 56 USA North American Racing Team FRA Christian EthuinFRA Lucien Guitteny Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Ferrari 4.4L V12 Goodyear 286 12 GTS3.0 69 CHE C. Haldi(private entrant) FRA Lucien NegeotteFRA Jean-Pierre LaffeachFRA Jean- François Jaunet Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 277 13 GTS3.0 59 FRA P. Mauroy(private entrant) FRA Pierre MauroyFRA Anne-Charlotte Verney FRA Martine Rénier Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 2.8L F6 Dunlop 277 14 GTS3.0 63 FRA J.-C. Lagniez(private entrant) FRA Jean-Claude LagniezFRA Gérard Meo Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 275 15 TS5.0 86 FRA J.-C. Aubriet(private entrant) FRA Jean-Claude AubrietFRA "Dépnic" (Jean-Claude Depince) BMW 3.0 CSL BMW 3.5L S6 Michelin 270 16 GTS5.0 57 FRA M. Mignot(private entrant) FRA Marcel MignotUSA Harry Jones Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Ferrari 4.4L V12 Michelin 267 17 S2.0 30 CHE Michel Dupont ScatoBEL Écurie Seiko-Scato BEL Christine BeckersBEL Yvette FontaineFRA Marie Laurent Chevron B23 Cosworth FVC 1790cc S4 Firestone 266 18 GTS+5.0 51 FRA Greder Racing Team FRA Henri GrederFRA Marie-Claude Beaumont Chevrolet Corvette C3 Chevrolet 7.0L V8 Michelin 254 19 S3.0 65 FRA C. Poirot(private entrant) FRA Christian PoirotFRA Jean Rondeau Porsche 908/02 Porsche 3.0L F8 Dunlop 252 20 GTS3.0 73 CHE Paul BlancpainUSA Toad Hall Racing CHE Paul BlancpainUSA Michael Keyser USA Milt Minter Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Goodyear 247 N/C * S3.0 25 JPN Sigma Automotive JPN Yasuhiro OkamotoJPN Harukuni TakahashiJPN Yojiro Terada Sigma MC74 Mazda 12A 2-Rotor (2.3L equiv.) Dunlop 156 'Note *: Not classified because did not cover sufficient distance (70% of winner’s = 236 laps). Did not finish Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Tyre Laps Reason DNF GTS3.0 72 DEU Polifac Gelo Racing Team DEU Jürgen BarthDEU Franz Pesch Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Firestone 232 Engine (23hr) DNF GTS3.0 62 BEL Ecurie Francorchamps BEL Baron Hughes de FierlandtGBR Richard Bond Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 227 Transmission (19hr) DNF GTS3.0 67 CHE Porsche Club Romand CHE William VolleryCHE Eric ChapuisFRA Roger Dorchy Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 225 Engine (19hr) DNF TS5.0 90 FRA Shark Racing Team(private entrant) FRA Jean-Claude GuérieGBR Serge GodardFRA Dominique Fornage Ford Capri RS Ford 3.0L V6 Dunlop 186 Transmission (16hr) DNF S3.0 10 GBR A. de Cadenet(private entrant) GBR Chris CraftNZL John Nicholson De Cadenet LM72 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 Firestone 168 Accident (15hr) DNF TS5.0 87 ITA Scuderia Jolly Club ITA Martino FinottoITA Carlo FacettiDEU Manfred Mohr BMW 3.0 CSL BMW 3.5L S6 Dunlop 155 Engine (14hr) DNF S2.0 43 FRA Société Racing Organisation Course FRA Fred StalderFRA Robert Mieusset FRA François Sérvanin Lola T292 Simca-ROC 1994cc S4 Firestone 145 Electrics (13hr) DNF S2.0 44 FRA G. Cuynet(private entrant) FRA Gérard CuynetFRA Yves EvrardFRA Jean-Louis Gama Porsche 910 Porsche 1991cc F6 Goodyear 143 Out of fuel (17hr) DNF GTS3.0 64 DEU Polifac Gelo Racing Team DEU Georg LoosDEU Clemens Schickentanz Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Firestone 134 Electrics (14hr) DNF S3.0 17 ECU Ecuador Marlboro Team(private entrant) ECU Guillermo OrtegaECU Fausto Merello ECU Lothar Ranft Porsche 908/02K Porsche 3.0L F8 Goodyear 122 Accident (11hr) DNF S3.0 8 FRA Équipe Gitanes FRA Jean-Pierre JaussaudFRA Bob WollekFRA José Dolhem Matra-Simca MS670B Matra 3.0L V12 Goodyear 120 Engine (9hr) DNF GTS3.0 61 FRA R. Buchet(private entrant) GBR Vic ElfordFRA Claude Ballot-Léna Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 117 Transmission (11hr) DNF S3.0 6 FRA Équipe Gitanes FRA Jean-Pierre BeltoiseFRA Jean-Pierre Jarier Matra-Simca MS680 Matra 3.0L V12 Goodyear 104 Engine (9hr) DNF S3.0 21 DEU Martini Racing Porsche System AUT Helmut KoiniggLIE Manfred Schurti Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Turbo Porsche 2.1L F6 Turbo Dunlop 87 Engine (8hr) DNF S3.0 14 FRA Automobiles Ligier FRA Guy ChasseuilFRA Michel Leclère Ligier JS2 Maserati 3.0L V6 Michelin 82 Engine (9hr) DNF GTS3.0 68 DEU Samson Kremer Racing DEU Erwin KremerDEU Hans HeyerCHE Paul Keller Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 65 Engine (6hr) DNF S3.0 46 MEX Rebaque-Rojas Racing Team(private entrant) MEX Héctor RebaqueMEX Guillermo Rojas, Sr MEX Freddy Van Beuren Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Goodyear 60 Electrics (7hr) DNF S3.0 12 GBR Gulf Research Racing AUS Vern SchuppanSWE Reine Wisell Gulf GR7 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 Firestone 49 Engine (5hr) DNF S2.0 23 FRA M. Mamers(private entrant) FRA Marcel “Max” MamersFRA Xavier Lapeyre GRAC MT20 Simca-ROC 1994cc S4 Goodyear 45 Transmission (5hr) DNF GTS3.0 58 ESP 1945 Escuderia Montjuïch CHE Claude HaldiESP 1945 José-Marie Fernández FRA Jean-Marc Seguin Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 43 Engine (4hr) DNF S3.0 19 CHE Wicky Racing Team CHE André WickyFRA Jacques BoucardFRA “Nouvestille” (Louis Cosson) Porsche 908/02 Porsche 3.0L F8 Firestone 41 Gearbox (6hr) DNF S3.0 28 CHE Michel Dupont Scato CHE Heinz SchulthessFRA Michel Lateste Lola T280/284 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 Firestone 32 Engine (8hr) DNF S3.0 18 USA North American Racing Team FRA Jean-Louis LafosseITA Giancarlo Gagliardi Dino 308 GT4 LM Ferrari 3.0L V8 Goodyear 30 Transmission (4hr) DNF GTS3.0 60 FRA L. Meznarie(private entrant) FRA Hubert StriebigFRA Hugues KirschofferFRA Jean-Louis Chateau Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 23 Accident (4hr) DNF GTS+5.0 52 CHE Wicky Racing Team MAR Max Cohen-OlivarCHE Philippe Carron De Tomaso Pantera Ford 5.8L V8 Firestone 16 Engine (4hr) DNF S3.0 31 ESP 1945 Escuderia Tibidabo(private entrant) ESP 1945 Francesco TorredemerESP 1945 Juan FernándezFRA Bernard Tramont Porsche 908/03 Porsche 3.0L F8 Goodyear 12 Gearbox (3hr) DNF GTS5.0 55 USA North American Racing Team FRA Jean-Pierre PaoliFRA Alain Couderc Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Ferrari 4.4L V12 Goodyear 4 Accident (2hr) DNF S2.0 27 CHE Michel Dupont Scato CHE Michel DupontCHE Gregor FischerFRA Daniel Brillat Chevron B23/26 Cosworth FVC 1790cc S4 Firestone 3 Engine (3hr) Did not start Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Tyre Reason DNQ TS5.0 98 FRA C. Buchet(private entrant) FRA Claude BuchetFRA Jean-Paul AgèresFRA Frederic Canal Mazda RX-3 Coupé Mazda 124A 2-Rotor (2.3L equiv.) Dunlop Did not qualify DNA S3.0 3 ITA Autodelta SpA DEU Rolf StommelenITA Andrea de Adamich Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT12 Alfa Romeo 3.0L F12 Firestone Withdrawn DNA S3.0 4 ITA Autodelta SpA ITA Arturo MerzarioITA Carlo Facetti Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT12 Alfa Romeo 3.0L F12 Firestone Withdrawn DNA S3.0 5 ITA Autodelta SpA DEU Rolf StommelenITA Carlo FacettiITA Teodoro Zeccoli Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT12 Alfa Romeo 3.0L F12 Firestone Withdrawn DNA S3.0 24 ITA Lancia Marlboro Team FRA Jean-Claude AndruetITA Sandro MunariITA Umberto Maglioli Lancia Stratos Ferrari 2.4L V6 Withdrawn DNA S2.0 26 FRA P.-M. Painvin(private entrant) FRA Pierre-Marie PainvinFRA Lucien GuittenyFRA Guy Fréquelin GRAC MT20 Simca-JRD 1994cc S4 Withdrawn DNA S2.0 29 FRA R. Touroul(private entrant) FRA Raymond Touroul March 74S BMW 1994cc S4 Withdrawn DNA S2.0 32 ESP J. Uriarte(private entrant) ESP José UriarteFRA Hervé LeGuellec Lola T292 Cosworth FVC 1790cc S4 Withdrawn DNA S2.0 33 CHE P. Blancpain(private entrant) CHE Paul Blancpain Chevron B23 Cosworth FVC 1790cc S4 Withdrawn DNA S2.0 34 FRA M.Lateste(private entrant) FRA Michel LatesteFRA Michel DufustFRA Robert Nee A.C.E. PB2 Cosworth FVC 1790cc S4 Withdrawn Class winners ClassGroup 5 SportsWinners ClassGroup 4 Special GTWinners ClassGroup 2 Special TouringWinners Sports 3000 GTS >5000 #51 Chevrolet Corvette C3 Greder / Beaumont Sports 3000 #7 Matra-Simca MS670C Pescarolo / Larrousse GTS 5000 #71 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Grandet / Bardini TS 5000 #86 BMW 3.0 CSL Aubriet / Depince Sports 2000 #30 Chevron B23 Beckers / Fontaine / Laurent GTS 3000 #66 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Chenevière / Zbinden / Dubois Note: setting a new class distance record. Index of Thermal Efficiency For Group 2 and Group 4 cars.Spurring 2011, p.9 Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Score 1 GTS5.0 71 FRA Automobiles Charles PozziFRA R. Touroul FRA Cyril GrandetFRA Dominique Bardini Ferrari 365 GTB/4 1.05 2 GTS5.0 54 USA North American Racing Team USA Dave HeinzFRA Alain Cudini Ferrari 365 GTB/4 0.94 3 GTS3.0 66 CHE Porsche Club Romand CHE Bernard ChenevièreCHE Peter Zbinden FRA Michel Dubois Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 0.90 4 TS5.0 86 FRA J.-C. Aubriet(private entrant) FRA Jean-Claude AubrietFRA "Dépnic" (Jean-Claude Depince) BMW 3.0 CSL 0.83 5 GTS3.0 69 CHE C. Haldi(private entrant) FRA Lucien NegeotteFRA Jean-Pierre LaffeachFRA Jean- François Jaunet Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 0.78 6 GTS3.0 63 FRA J.-C. Lagniez(private entrant) FRA Jean-Claude LagniezFRA Gérard Meo Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 0.74 7= GTS3.0 70 FRA ASA Cachia-Bondy FRA Henri CachiaFRA Raymound Touroul FRA Dennis Rua Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 0.74 7= GTS3.0 59 FRA P. Mauroy(private entrant) FRA Pierre MauroyFRA Anne-Charlotte Verney FRA Martine Rénier Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 0.74 9 GTS5.0 57 FRA M. Mignot(private entrant) FRA Marcel MignotUSA Harry Jones Ferrari 365 GTB/4 0.69 10 GTS5.0 56 USA North American Racing Team FRA Christian EthuinFRA Lucien Guitteny Ferrari 365 GTB/4 0.64 Note: Only the top ten positions are included in this set of standings. A score of 1.00 means meeting the target fuel consumption for the car. Statistics Taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACO Fastest lap in practice –H.Pescarolo, #7 Matra-Simca MS670C – 3:35.8secs; 227.55 km/h on Fastest lap – J.-P. Jarier, #6 Matra-Simca MS680 – 3:42.7secs; 220.49 km/h on Winning Distance – 4606.57 km on Winner's average speed – 191.96 km/h on Attendance – 200000 http://www.wsrp.cz/wsc1974.html#5 World Championship for Makes World Sports Racing Prototypes.com 2018-06-25 World Championship for Makes Standings As calculated after Le Mans, Round 5 of 10 http://www.wsrp.cz/tablewscmakes.html#1974- World Championship for Makes World Sports Racing Prototypes.com 2018-06-25Automobile Year 1974, p.216 Pos Manufacturer Points 1 FRA Matra-Simca 80 2 ITA Alfa Romeo 50 3 West Germany Porsche 49 4 GBR Gulf 45 5 ITA Ferrari 8 6= GBR Lola 6 6= FRA Ligier 6 6= GBR Chevron 6 9 West Germany BMW 3 10= FRA Alpine-Renault 1 10= ITA AMS 1 Note: Only the best 7 of 10 results counted to the final Championship points. The full total earned to date is given in brackets Citations 30em References Armstrong, Douglas – English editor (1975) Automobile Year #22 1974-75 Lausanne: Edita S.A. Clarke, R.M. - editor (1997) Le Mans 'The Ford and Matra Years 1966-1974' Cobham, Surrey: Brooklands Books 1-85520-373-1 Clausager, Anders (1982) Le Mans London: Arthur Barker Ltd 0-213-16846-4 Laban, Brian (2001) Le Mans 24 Hours London: Virgin Books 1-85227-971-0 Spurring, Quentin (2011) Le Mans 1970-79 Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing 978-1-84425-539-9 Wimpffen, János (2007) Spyders and Silhouettes Hong Kong: David Bull Publishing 1-893618-83-8 External links Racing Sports Cars – Le Mans 24 Hours 1974 entries, results, technical detail. Retrieved 6 Jul 2018 Le Mans History – Le Mans History, hour-by-hour (incl. pictures, quotes, YouTube links). Retrieved 6 Jul 2018 World Sports Racing Prototypes – results, reserve entries & chassis numbers. Retrieved 6 Jul 2018 Team Dan – results & reserve entries, explaining driver listings. Retrieved 6 Jul 2018 Unique Cars & Parts – results & reserve entries. Retrieved 6 Jul 2018 Formula 2 – Le Mans results & reserve entries. Retrieved 6 Jul 2018 Motorsport Memorial – details of the year's fatal accidents. Retrieved 6 Jul 2018 YouTube – Colour amateur footage (no sound), in three parts (30mins). Retrieved 18 Jul 2018 YouTube – Colour amateur footage (music over top) (7mins). Retrieved 18 Jul 2018 Category:24 Hours of Le Mans races Le Mans Category:1974 in French motorsport