1965 24 Hours of Le Mans

24-hour sportscar endurance race 1964 1965 1966 The 1965 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 33rd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 19 and 20 June 1965. It was also the twelfth round of the World Sportscar Championship. After the disappointing results of the previous year's race, Ford returned with an improved version of its GT. There were 11 Fords or Ford-engined cars in the field. To meet that challenge, Ferrari had no fewer than 12 of their cars. Porsche dominated the medium-engined category with seven cars and Alpine-Renault likewise dominated the small-engine categories with six entries. Despite a strong start, in the end the Fords’ unreliability let them down again and it was an easy victory for Ferrari for the sixth successive year. After the failure of the works team, the winners were Masten Gregory and Jochen Rindt in the North American Racing Team (NART) car – the first non-works team to win since Ecurie Ecosse in 1957. It was also the first international race victory for Goodyear tyres.Spurring 2010, p.178-9 This race would also prove to be the last Ferrari victory at Le Mans until 2023.O'Connell RJ Le Mans Centenary, By The Numbers https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/06/12/le-mans-centenary-by-the-numbers.html DailySportsCar 12 June 2023 19 November 2023 24 June 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230624193838/https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/06/12/le-mans-centenary-by-the-numbers.html liveFerrari wins 2023 Le Mans 24 hours as Toyota streak ends autoindustriya.com 11 June 2023 19 November 2023 https://www.autoindustriya.com/racing-news/ferrari-wins-2023-le-mans-24-hours-as-toyota-streak-ends.html Vince Pornelos thumb|upright=1.3|Le Mans in 1965 Regulations In the year since the last race, plans had got underway to develop a permanent track. Charles Deutsch, erstwhile French car manufacturer, was the design consultant for the project that eventually became the Bugatti Circuit. After the dangerous accident in the previous year's race when a car had crashed into the busy pits, protective barriers were put in front of each pit, although the pit-lane itself was still exposed.Spurring 2010, p.175 Otherwise the only significant change was that the fuel tank on cars with an engine bigger than 5.0 litres was increased to 160 litres (35 gallons).Spurring 2010, p.176-7Moity 1974, p.99-101 There were slight tweaks to the calculation of the two Indices and the minimum engine size was set at 1000cc. Entries The ACO received 89 entries but after the selection process, withdrawals and no-shows there were 51 cars at the start. The proposed entry list comprised: Category Classes PrototypeEntries GTEntries TotalEntries Large-engines 5.0+, 5.0, 4.0, 3.0L20 (+1 reserve)828 Medium-engines 2.5, 2.0, 1.6L88 (+3 reserves)16 Small-engines 1.3, 1.15, 1.0L7 (+1 reserve)4 (+1 reserve)11 Total Cars35 (+2 reserves)20 (+4 reserves)55 This year there was a renewed interest from the manufacturers and their works teams with 42 works-supported entries amongst the starters. After a slow start to the season, Ferrari introduced the new Ferrari 275 P2 design from Mauro Forghieri at the April test weekend, and the following 1000 km Monza race. A range of V12 engines were fitted: The works team had two 4.0-litre 410 bhp open-top cars for F1 world champion John Surtees and former winner Ludovico Scarfiotti, and sports-car specialists Mike Parkes and Jean Guichet. They also ran a 3.3-litre 350 bhp closed-top coupé for Bandini/Biscaldi. Ferrari's regular customer teams, the British Maranello Concessionaires ran a 4.4-litre variant for Jo Bonnier/David Piper. The North American Racing Team (NART) ran a 365 P2 built around a previous year's P chassis with updated aerodynamics and featured a 4.4 L SOHC V12. It was given to NART regular Pedro Rodriguez with Nino Vaccarella.Spurring 2010, p.181 Enzo Ferrari was furious when the CSAI, the Italian motor-racing body, would not assist to Group 3 (motorsport) GT-homologate his too small series of Ferrari 250 LM and vowed to pull his SEFAC Ferrari works team out of the GT Championship. Meanwhile, there were five 250 LM entered again as prototypes by the customer teams. This included NART (Masten Gregory/Jochen Rindt), Maranello Concessionaires (Bianchi/Salmon), Ecurie Francorchamps, Scuderia Filipinetti and Pierre Dumay's private entry. Finally, Ferrari also entered a new Dino prototype, the 166 P, with a 1.6-litre V6 engine used in 1966 in the Ferrari Dino 166 F2. After the departure of Eric Broadley and Lola Cars, Ford put its racing organisation under Shelby American, with car production and development handled by Kar Kraft in the US and Ford Advanced Vehicles in the UK (run by John Wyer with a number of ex-Aston Martin staff).Fox 1973, p.196 After no wins in the 1964 season, the new year had started with a win for Ford at Daytona.Laban 2001, p.148 The new Mk II (also known as the “X-car”) was sent from FAV across to Kar Kraft to get the new engine fitted – the massive 7-litre, 450 bhp, NASCAR racing engine based on a Ford Galaxie block. Ready just in time for Le Mans, two cars would be raced by Phil Hill/Chris Amon and Ken Miles/Bruce McLaren.Spurring 2010, p.182-3Fox 1973, p.197 Meanwhile, FAV was tasked with production of the requisite 50 GT40s for homologation. On Shelby's initiative, the GT40s were now fitted with the same 380 bhp 4.7-litre engine as the Cobras Clarke 2009, p.157: Car & Driver Sept 1965 (except for the Filipinetti entry) and the Colotti gearbox that proved unreliable was replaced by the more robust German-made ZF gearbox. Four cars came to Le Mans: FAV used Alan Mann Racing with Innes Ireland / John Whitmore. Shelby American supported the Rob Walker Racing Team (Maglioli/Bondurant) and the Swiss Scuderia Filipinetti (Müller/Bucknum) who were both also entering Ferraris. Ford France ran an open-top spyder variant for Maurice Trintignant/Guy LigierSpurring 2010, p.186Clarke 2009, p.156: Car & Driver Sept 1965 Once again Maserati France's John Simone commissioned the company to develop a new car for racing. The Tipo 65 was built in only 7 weeks, with a mid-mounted 5-litre engine in a ‘birdcage’ frame. Replacing the destroyed Tipo 59, it left no time to test before the race for its drivers Jo Siffert and Jochen Neerpasch The final big-engine entry was the returning Iso Grifo A3C. Originally there were to be three but two cars had been wrecked earlier in the year at Sebring. alt=The Rover-BRM turbine car of Hill/Stewart. It finished 10th overall.|thumb|The Rover-BRM turbine car of Hill/Stewart. It finished 10th overall. Porsche had got their desired new 185 bhp Porsche flat-six engine fitted for the prototype versions of the 904 GTS cars, alongside the Porsche flat-eight (225 bhp), with three works cars entered and a spare.Spurring 2010, p.184 Opposing them were two British cars – a privately entered Elva and the return of the Rover turbine, first seen in the 1963 race, now categorised as equivalent to 1992cc. It had a new coupé body and ceramic rotary generators as heat exchangers which halved its fuel consumption. It would be driven by F1 drivers Graham Hill and Jackie StewartSpurring 2010, p.191 Curiously, in the small-engine categories, Alpine was the only French manufacturer present. A new model, the M65 had aerodynamic tailfins and a new 1.3-litre Gordini engine that developed 135 bhp pushing it to 250 kp/h (155 mph). It was given to Mauro Bianchi/Henri Grandsire. The other four works cars were a mix of engines and body styles.Spurring 2010, p.196-7 Their opposition were a pair of the latest Sebring Sprites from Austin Healey. Fitted with the 1293cc engine in the Mini-Cooper S they could reach 240 kp/h (148 mph)Spurring 2010, p.198 In the GT classes Ferrari were now the underdog after being beaten by the Shelby Cobras the previous year, and the races since. Five of the six Shelbys that had been made were at Le Mans, prepared by Alan Mann Racing: two for Shelby American, and one each for Ford France, Scuderia Filipinetti and AC Cars themselves.Spurring 2010, p.188 For his part, after his fit of pique, Ferrari homologated his new road-car the 275 GTB. The racing version had the 3.3-litre V12 engine extended to 300 bhp and lightened with magnesium castings. After protests from Carroll Shelby were upheld for being significantly lighter than the production car – 1100 kg - ballast had to be added.Spurring 2010, p.185 Cars were being prepared for Ecurie Francorchamps and Scuderia Sant Ambroeus. In the smaller GT classes were the 2-litre Porsche 904s with the homologated 4-cylinder engine. Autodelta, Alfa Romeo's racing division, brought the Giulia TZ2 rebodied by Zagato. With its 1.6-litre engine tuned to 170 bhp it could 245 kp/h (152 mph).Spurring 2010, p.195 Finally there was the newly homologated Triumph Spitfire. The factory brought four cars to the race. Practice thumb|Porsche 904 of Mitter/Davis, which was the fastest Porsche during practice but retired from the race due to clutch failure. Fastest car at the April test-weekend was brand new 330 P2 – John Surtees putting in a lap of 3:35, fully five seconds quicker than the Fords and other Ferraris.Spurring 2010, p.203 However the weekend was overshadowed by the death of Lloyd Casner in the rain on the Saturday. Casner, with his Camoradi team, was a long-time Maserati campaigner. Braking at the end of the Mulsanne straight, his Tipo 151/3 speared off the track and rolled, possibly when braking on the slick white-paint road markings. Casner was thrown from the car and died later from head injuries in hospital.Spurring 2010, p.189 For the first time in the race's history the initial practice session on race week had to be cancelled. A severe storm felled trees and flooded parts of the circuit. The ACO rescheduled an extra session on the Saturday instead.Clarke 2009, p.166: Autosport Jun25 1965 Phil Hill, in the big 7-litre Ford, put in a blistering fastest lap of 3:33, fully 30 seconds faster than the best practice lap from only four years earlier. Surtees was second fastest, two seconds slower, in the rival Ferrari ahead of Bondurant's and Miles’ Fords. Dan Gurney had the quickest GT car – his Shelby Cobra was 12th with a 3:51.3, just ahead of the 3:55.0 of Willy Mairesse in the Belgian Ferrari GTB. In the next days, additional stabilising fins were added to the two GT40Xs. The fastest Porsche was the flat-8 of Gerhard Mitter who put in a 3:59.4 to qualify 18th ahead of the other Cobras and the Maserati. Mauro Bianchi, in the new Alpine, was quickest of the small cars coming in 35th with a 4:20.0.Spurring 2010, p.201 In the end only 51 cars took the start when the small 1-litre Abarth failed to qualify. Race Start After a wet week, race-day was sunny and hot with a huge crowd. It was also the first time the American audience had live coverage of the race. Although having set fastest time, Chris Amon took the start and Phil Hill was the TV guest. As it was, when the live-feed failed Hill took over commentating duties. Siffert got his Maserati away first, followed by the three Fords of Amon, Bondurant and McLaren. Last away was Colin Davis whose Porsche prototype refused to start for two minutes.Clarke 2009, p.161: Autosport Jun25 1965 The two New Zealanders, McLaren and Amon, led the first lap with Surtees up to third as the Maserati fell back. On the fourth lap Siffert planted the Maserati into the haybales at Tertre Rouge. When he finally got back to the pits the car was retired with damage to the oil tank and suspension. It was an underwhelming end to Maserati's presence at Le Mans.Clarke 2009, p.162: Autosport Jun25 1965 But his was not the first retirement: the Dino was gone. Baghetti had over-revved the engine terminally damaging it.Clarke 2009, p.142: Road & Track Sept 1964 Teodoro Zeccoli put his Alfa Romeo in the sandtrap at Mulsanne. He excited the spectators by stripping to his underwear in a long, unsuccessful attempt to dig it out. Back at the front, McLaren and then Amon set about building a lead on the Ferraris, setting new lap records. After two hours only the top four cars were now on the lead lap with Miles ahead of the Ferraris of Scarfiotti, Bonnier and Parkes. But going into the third hour it all started going wrong for Ford. Hill had already fallen away with clutch problems costing 40 minutes in the pits and the French Ford had broken its gearbox when Trintignant had missed a gearchange.Clarke 2009, p.158: Car & Driver Sept 1965 The Filipinetti and Walker cars went out with blown head gaskets on the same lap, and when the McLaren/Miles car broke its gearbox the Ford challenge was beaten in only three hours. Small consolation was Phil Hill's new lap record of 3:37.5 as he vainly attempted to make up the 10 laps of lost time. This now left the race to Ferrari – the three works cars battled for the lead with the Maranello car of Bonnier/Piper. Fifth was the Gurney/Grant Cobra. Both the leading Porsche, of Mitter/Davis, and Alpine of Bianchi/Grandsire were out within three hours – with clutch and gearbox problems respectively. In the fourth hour, Gregory brought the NART Ferrari into the pits misfiring. However, after changing the distributor, losing 30 minutes, the car was ready again. Gregory found Rindt changed and ready to leave. With nothing to lose they agreed to push flat-out, rejoining in 18th.Henry 1988, p.101-4Fox 1973, p.198 Night As the sun was setting came the only major accident of the race. Dutchman Rob Slotemaker went off at the fast Maison Blanche corner but was unhurt. His Triumph Spitfire was the same car that had careered towards the pits in the previous year's race when Mike Rothschild had been overcome by exhaust fumes. After seeing off the Fords, the Ferraris also started having problems. First to fall was the Maranello car. An exhaust broke and Bonnier, choking from the fumes, bought the car in from third to retire as night fell. The gearbox of Parkes/Guichet got jammed in fifth gear. During the night, all of the P2s got delayed by cracks in their brake discs, which in turn gave problems in suspension, each losing 30–60 minutes or more in getting the issues fixed. The Cobras had been running very well – at 2am the two Shelby-entered cars were running 4th and 5th, Johnson ahead of Gurney. But the head-gasket problem in the Fords also affected two of the Cobra engines including Johnson's. The French entry had been afflicted with clutch issues. Coming up to half-time, the Gurney/Grant car's motor mounts began to crack and the strain of the engine vibration eventually broke the crankshaft. As the leaders were having troubles, the 250 LMs kept running reliably. By halfway, the surprise leader was the French privateer Pierre Dumay chased hard by the NART car of Gregory/Rindt (catching them by at least 5 seconds a lap after the earlier delay) and the Ecurie Francorchamps GTB of “Beurlys”/Mairesse. Parkes and Guichet had charged back to fourth ahead of the Porsches of Klass/Glemser and Linge/Nöcker. There were only 27 cars left running.Clarke 2009, p.165: Autosport Jun25 1965 Morning Soon before 8am the Alpine of previous class-winner Roger Delageneste and veteran Jean Vinatier was retired with ignition problems when comfortably leading the class and running 16th overall. This had just followed the loss of the smallest car in the field, the fellow works Alpine M63B that had been leading the Thermal Index, when it was stopped by a broken conrod. At 8am, Gosselin had completed 232 laps, with Parkes and Rindt just a lap behind. Mairesse was fourth 3 laps further back with Nöcker in fifth (223 laps), Surtees (221) Vaccarella (220) then Koch, Spoerry and Pon all on 217 laps rounding out the top-10. Against the odds, the privateers held the lead for ten hours until just after midday. A tyre blowout at speed on the Mulsanne Straight did severe damage to the rear bodywork. Dumay got the car back to pits but crucial time was lost with the panelbeating. By the time they rejoined, Rindt and Gregory had a five-lap lead. With less than three hours to go the little Austin-Healey Sprite of Rauno Aaltonen and Clive Baker, which was looking good for the two Index prizes after the demise of the Alpines, broke its gearbox. Soon after the weakened transmission of the Parkes/Guichet P2 also finally gave out, with them having fallen to fifth. After their hard charging, the leaders were also nursing a failing transmission. Gregory, in his last stint, was letting the clutch out in corners to coast through them. Finish and post-race alt=The winning Ferrari 250 LM of Gregory and Rindt.|thumb|The winning Ferrari 250 LM of Gregory and Rindt In the end, despite the fragile differential, the NART car cruised to victory. It packed up completely on the slow-down lap back to the paddock. They kept their five-lap lead over the Dumay/Gosselin car. Three laps further back, and first GT, was Mairesse and “Beurlys” in the Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari GTB. Fourth was the works Porsche of Herbert Linge and Peter Nöcker. Their trouble-free run also netted them the Index of Performance prize ahead of the winning Ferrari. In fifth was their GT stablemate of Gerd Koch / Toni Fischhaber, who in turn won the Index of Thermal Efficiency, despite having to be pushed over the line. After losing nearly two hours replacing their clutch in the middle of the night, the NART Ferrari of Rodriguez/Vaccarella was the only P2 to finish, coming in 7th, 28 laps behind the winner. The only Ford-engined car to finish was the Sears/Thompson works Cobra in 8th. After a collision with an Alfa Romeo around midnight while running 5th, they had nursed their battered car with oil-pressure issues to the end over 30 laps behind the GT-winning Ferrari. Tenth, and first British car home, was the Rover-BRM turbine. It covered a lesser distance than in 1963, as an early off by Hill had sucked sand into the engine causing constant overheating issues. It was a notable experiment, however the issues with fuel consumption and heat management meant the project was impractical for road application and was subsequently cancelled. In a race of attrition there were only fourteen finishers, with British cars filled the final five places including two class wins. These included rally specialists Simo Lampinen and Jean-Jacques Thuner for Triumph's final appearance. It was also the final appearance for MG for 40 years. Paddy Hopkirk and Andrew Hedges once again had a low-maintenance reliable race with a consecutive race finish. Surprisingly, for the first time ever, not a single French car finished the race. So another debacle for Ford, with only one of the eleven Ford-engined cars finishing. A silver lining was, with a class win the next month at Reims, the Cobra-Ford clinched the GT Championship. Later in the year Ferrari, indeed, sold a portion of his company, not to Ford, but to FIAT. Hugus claim Ed Hugus, the reserve driver, declared many years later that he actually drove a whole shift in the winning car. Just before dawn, Gregory had pitted unexpectedly exhausted and his glasses-vision impaired by the pre-dawn mist. Hugus' story was that Rindt was sleeping somewhere and could not be found, so Hugus took over driving duties for a few hours. This was controversial because - according to the regulations - Gregory would not have been allowed to drive again once Hugus replaced him (which he actually did) and the car should have been disqualified. However, no one recorded it, and Hugus was never officially credited with co-driving duties.http://www.velocetoday.com/people/people_48.php Ed Hugus, Obituary and Appreciation Pete Vack www.velocetoday.com 12 July 2006 16 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20191231160340/http://www.velocetoday.com/people/people_48.php 31 December 2019 live Hugus, either from discretion or that he could not get through the crowd to the podium, never made public claims on this story, which was only revealed in late 2000s. After his death, one of his fans made public a letter written to him by the driver giving all the details.http://www.jochen-rindt.at/Main/In_Memoriam/Curt_Lincoln/Pete_Kerr/Pete_english/body_ed_hugus.html News: Ed Hugus www.jochen-rindt.at 16 February 2015 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304120009/http://www.jochen-rindt.at/Main/In_Memoriam/Curt_Lincoln/Pete_Kerr/Pete_english/body_ed_hugus.html deadHowever, neither the official timing figures nor eye-witness accounts match up with Hugus' claims.Nye Doug The mystery of the third man in Rindt/Gregory's 2010 win Motor Sport October 2010 Official results Finishers Results taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACOSpurring 2010, p.2 Class Winners are in Bold text. Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps 1 P4.0 21 USA North American Racing Team USA Masten GregoryAUT Jochen Rindt Ferrari 250 LM Ferrari 3.3L V12 348 2 P4.0 26 FRA P. Dumay(private entrant) FRA Pierre DumayBEL Gustave ‘Taf’ Gosselin Ferrari 250 LM Ferrari 3.3L V12 343 3 GT4.0 24 BEL Ecurie Francorchamps BEL Willy MairesseBEL “Beurlys” (Jean Blaton) Ferrari 275 GTB Ferrari 3.3L V12 340 4 P2.0 32 DEU Porsche System Engineering DEU Herbert LingeDEU Peter Nöcker Porsche 904/6 Porsche 1968cc F6 336 5 GT2.0 36 DEU Porsche System Engineering DEU Gerhard ‘Gerd’ KochDEU Anton ‘Toni’ Fischhaber Porsche 904/4 GTS Porsche 1968cc F4 325 6 P4.0 27 CHE Scuderia Filipinetti CHE Dieter SpoerryCHE Armand Boller Ferrari 250 LM Ferrari 3.3L V12 324 7 P5.0 18 USA North American Racing Team MEX Pedro RodríguezITA Nino Vaccarella Ferrari 365 P2 Spyder Ferrari 4.4L V12 320 8 GT5.0 11 GBR AC Cars Ltd. GBR Jack SearsUSA Dick Thompson AC Cobra Daytona Coupé Ford 4.7L V8 304 9 P+5.0 3 ITA Iso Grifo Prototipi Bizzarrini FRA Régis FraissinetFRA Jean de Mortemart Iso Grifo A3C Chevrolet 5.4L V8 303 10 P2.0 31 GBR Owen Racing Organisation GBR Graham HillGBR Jackie Stewart Rover-BRM Rover 1992cc Turbine 284 11 GT2.0 39 GBR British Motor Corporation GBR Paddy HopkirkGBR Andrew Hedges MG MGB Hardtop MG 1801cc S4 283 12 P1.3 49 GBR Donald Healey Motor Company AUS Paul HawkinsGBR John Rhodes Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite BMC 1293cc S4 278 13 GT1.15 60(reserve) GBR Standard-Triumph Ltd. CHE Jean-Jacques ThunerFIN Simo Lampinen Triumph Spitfire Triumph 1147cc S4 274 14 GT1.15 54 GBR Standard-Triumph Ltd. BEL Claude DuboisFRA Jean-François Piot Triumph Spitfire Triumph 1147cc S4 263 Did Not Finish Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps Reason DNF P4.0 20 ITA SpA Ferrari SEFAC GBR Mike ParkesFRA Jean Guichet Ferrari 330 P2 Spyder Ferrari 4.0L V12 315 Gearbox (23hr) DNF P1.3 48 GBR Donald Healey Motor Company FIN Rauno AaltonenGBR Clive Baker Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite BMC 1293cc S4 256 Gearbox (22hr) DNF P4.0 19 ITA SpA Ferrari SEFAC GBR John SurteesITA Ludovico Scarfiotti Ferrari 330 P2 Spyder Ferrari 4.0L V12 225 Gearbox (18hr) DNF GT2.0 37 FRA A. Veuillet(private entrant) FRA Robert BuchetNLD Ben Pon Porsche 904/4 GTS Porsche 1968cc F4 224 Oil leak (17hr) DNF P4.0 22 ITA SpA Ferrari SEFAC ITA Lorenzo BandiniITA Giampiero Biscaldi Ferrari 275 P2 Ferrari 3.3L V12 221 Valves (17hr) DNF GT1.6 44 LUX Equipe Grand Ducale Luxembourgeoise LUX Nicholas KoobFRA Alain Finkelstein Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 Alfa Romeo 1570cc S4 218 Engine (19hr) DNF GT1.6 41 ITA Autodelta SpA ITA Roberto BussinelloFRA Jean Rolland Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 Alfa Romeo 1570cc S4 217 Engine (18hr) DNF GT5.0 9 USA Shelby-American Inc. USA Dan GurneyUSA Jerry Grant AC Cobra Daytona Coupé Ford 4.7L V8 204 Crankshaft (16hr) DNF P2.0 35 DEU Porsche System Engineering DEU Günter KlassDEU Dieter Glemser Porsche 904/6 Porsche 1991cc F6 202 Camshaft (16hr) DNF P1.3 47 FRA Société AutomobilesAlpine FRA Roger DelagenesteFRA Jean Vinatier Alpine A110 M64 Renault-Gordini 1296cc S4 196 Ignition (16hr) DNF GT1.3 55 FRA Société AutomobilesAlpine FRA Jacques CheinisseFRA Jean-Pierre Hanrioud Alpine A110 GT4 Renault-Gordini 1108cc S4 196 Clutch (21hr) DNF P1.15 61(reserve) FRA Société AutomobilesAlpine FRA Robert BouhardeFRA Pierre Monneret Alpine A110 M63B Renault-Gordini 1002cc S4 187 Ignition (16hr) DNF GT5.0 10 USA Shelby-American Inc. USA Bob JohnsonUSA Tom Payne AC Cobra Daytona Coupé Ford 4.7L V8 158 Head gasket (12hr) DSQ P1.15 51 FRA Société AutomobilesAlpine FRA Roger MassonFRA Guy Verrier Alpine A110 M64 Renault-Gordini 1150cc S4 148premature water change DNF P4.0 25 BEL Ecurie Francorchamps BEL Gerhard Langlois van OphemBEL “Eldé” (Leon Dernier) Ferrari 250 LM Ferrari 3.3L V12 146 Clutch (12hr) DNF GT2.0 38 FRA J. Franc(private entrant) FRA “Franc” (Jacques Dewes)FRA Jean Kerguen Porsche 904/4 GTS Porsche 1968cc F4 130 Out of fuel (10hr) DNF GT5.0 59(reserve) CHE Scuderia Filipinetti GBR Peter Sutcliffe GBR Peter Harper AC Cobra Daytona Coupé Ford 4.7L V8 126 Head gasket (10hr) DNF P1.15 50 FRA Société AutomobilesAlpine FRA Philippe VidalUSA Peter Revson Alpine A110 M64 Renault-Gordini 1150cc S4 116 Engine (10hr) DNF GT5.0 12 FRA Ford France S.A. FRA Jo SchlesserUSA Allen Grant AC Cobra Daytona Coupé Ford 4.7L V8 111 Clutch (10hr) DNF P5.0 17 GBR Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. GBR David PiperSWE Jo Bonnier Ferrari 365 P2 Ferrari 4.4L V12 101 Ignition (9hr) DNF P4.0 23 GBR Maranello Concessionaires Ltd. BEL Lucien BianchiGBR Mike Salmon Ferrari 250 LM Ferrari 3.3L V12 99 Gearbox (8hr) DNF P+5.0 2 USA Shelby-American Inc. USA Phil HillNZL Chris Amon Ford GT40X Ford 7.0L V8 89 Clutch (7hr) DNF GT5.0 14 GBR Ford Advanced Vehicles GBR Sir John WhitmoreGBR Innes Ireland Ford GT40 Ford 4.7L V8 72 Head gasket (6hr) DNF GT1.15 52 GBR Standard Triumph Ltd. GBR David HobbsNLD Rob Slotemaker Triumph Spitfire Triumph 1147cc S4 71 Accident (7hr) DNF P+5.0 1 USA Shelby-American Inc. GBR Ken MilesNZL Bruce McLaren Ford GT40X Ford 7.0L V8 45 Gearbox (4hr) DNF P1.3 46 FRA Société AutomobilesAlpine BEL Mauro BianchiFRA Henri Grandsire Alpine M65 Renault-Gordini 1296cc S4 32 Gearbox (3hr) DNF P+5.0 6 CHE Scuderia Filipinetti CHE Herbert MüllerUSA Ronnie Bucknum Ford GT40 Ford 5.3L V8 29 Head gasket (3hr) DNF P5.0 7 GBR Rob Walker Racing Team USA Bob BondurantITA Umberto Maglioli Ford GT40 Ford 4.7L V8 29 Head gasket (3hr) DNF P2.0 30 GBR Anglian Racing Developments GBR Richard WrottesleyGBR Tony Lanfranchi Elva GT160 BMW 1991cc S4 29 Clutch (4hr) DNF GT1.6 42 ITA Autodelta SpA ITA “Geki” (Giacomo Russo)ITA Carlo Zuccoli Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 Alfa Romeo 1570cc S4 22 Oil pipe (2hr) DNF P2.0 33 DEU Porsche System Engineering GBR Colin DavisDEU Gerhard Mitter Porsche 904/8 Porsche 1985cc F8 20 Clutch (4hr) DNF GT2.0 62(reserve) FRA C. Poirot(private entrant) FRA Christian PoirotDEU Rolf Stommelen Porsche 904/4 GTS Porsche 1968cc F4 13 Gearbox (2hr) DNF P5.0 15 FRA Ford France S.A. FRA Maurice TrintignantFRA Guy Ligier Ford GT40 Spyder Ford 4.7L V8 11 Gearbox (2hr) DNF GT1.3 53 GBR Standard Triumph Ltd. GBR Peter BoltonGBR Bill Bradley Triumph Spitfire Triumph 1147cc S4 6 Engine (1hr) DNF P5.0 8 FRA J. Simone(private entrant) CHE Jo SiffertDEU Jochen Neerpasch Maserati Tipo 65 Maserati 5.0L V8 3 Accident damage (1hr) DNF P1.6 40 ITA SpA Dino SEFAC ITA Giancarlo BaghettiITA Mario Casoni Dino 166 P Ferrari 1593cc V6 2 Engine (1hr) DNF GT1.6 43 ITA Autodelta SpA ITA Teodoro ZeccoliFRA José Rosinski Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 Alfa Romeo 1570cc S4 1 Accident (2hr) Did Not Practice Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Reason DNQ P1.15 56 FRA Abarth France FRA Claude Ballot-LénaFRA Franck Ruata Abarth 1000 SP Fiat 998cc S4 Did not qualify DNA P+5.0 4 ITA Iso Grifo Prototipi Bizzarrini BEL Pierre NobletCHE Edgar Berney Iso Grifo A3C Chevrolet 5.4L V8 Did not arrive DNA P+5.0 5 ITA Iso Grifo Prototipi Bizzarrini CHE Silvio Moser POR Mario Cabral Iso Grifo A3C Chevrolet 5.4L V8 Did not arrive DNA GT5.0 16 GBR John Willment Automobiles AUS Frank GardnerGBR Alan Rees AC Cobra Daytona Coupé Ford 4.7L V8 Did not arrive DNA P2.0 34 DEU Porsche System Engineering Porsche 904/6 Porsche 1991cc F6 Did not arrive DNA P1.6 45 FRA Société d’Etudes & Construction FRA Alain BertautFRA André Guilhaudin CD 3 Alfa Romeo 1570cc S4 Did not arrive DNP GT4.0 57(reserve) USA North American Racing Team Ferrari 275 GTB Ferrari 3.3L V12 Not required DNP P4.0 63(reserve) BEL Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 250 LM Ferrari 3.3L V12 Not required DNP GT2.0 66(reserve) CHE Scuderia Filipinetti CHE Dieter SpoerryCHE Jacques Calderari Porsche 904/4 GTS Porsche 1968cc F4 Not required DNP GT1.6 69(reserve) FRA C. Laurent(private entrant) FRA Claude LaurentFRA Pierre Gelé Lotus Elan Lotus 1598cc S4 Not required alt=The Iso Grifo A3C of Fraissinet/de Mortemart, which won the Prototype > 5000cc class.|thumb|The Iso Grifo A3C of Fraissinet/de Mortemart, which won the Prototype > 5000cc class. Class Winners ClassPrototypeWinners ClassGT Winners Prototype >5000 #3 Iso Grifo A3C Fraissinet / de Mortemart Grand Touring >5000 no entrants Prototype 5000 #18 Ferrari 365 P2 Spyder Rodriguez / Vaccarella Grand Touring5000 #11 AC Cobra Daytona Coupé Sears / Thompson Prototype 4000 #21 Ferrari 250 LM Gregory / Rindt Grand Touring 4000 #24 Ferrari 275 GTB Mairesse / “Beurlys” Prototype 3000 no entrants Grand Touring 3000 no entrants Prototype 2500 no entrants Grand Touring 2500 no entrants Prototype 2000 #32 Porsche 904/6 Linge / Nöcker * Grand Touring 2000 #36 Porsche 904/4 GTS Koch / Fischhaber Prototype 1600 no finishers Grand Touring 1600 no finishers Prototype 1300 #49 Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite Hawkins / Rhodes Grand Touring 1300 no entrants Prototype 1150 no finishers Grand Touring 1150 #60 Triumph Spitfire Thuner / Lampinen Note: setting a new Distance Record. Index of Thermal Efficiency Spurring 2010, p.171 Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Score 1 GT2.0 36 DEU Porsche System Engineering DEU Gerhard ‘Gerd’ KochDEU Anton ‘Toni’ Fischhaber Porsche 904/4 GTS 1.10 2 P4.0 26 FRA P. Dumay(private entrant) FRA Pierre DumayBEL Gustave ‘Taf’ Gosselin Ferrari 250 LM 1.07 3 P1.3 49 GBR Donald Healey Motor Company AUS Paul HawkinsGBR John Rhodes Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite 1.05 4 P2.0 32 DEU Porsche System Engineering DEU Herbert LingeDEU Peter Nöcker Porsche 904/6 1.03 5= P4.0 21 USA North American Racing Team USA Masten GregoryAUT Jochen Rindt Ferrari 250 LM 1.00 5= GT4.0 24 BEL Ecurie Francorchamps BEL Willy MairesseBEL “Beurlys” (Jean Blaton) Ferrari 275 GTB 1.00 5= GT2.0 39 GBR British Motor Corporation GBR Paddy HopkirkGBR Andrew Hedges MG MGB Hardtop 1.00 8 P4.0 27 CHE Scuderia Filipinetti CHE Dieter SpoerryCHE Armand Boller Ferrari 250 LM 0.95 9= GT5.0 11 GBR AC Cars Ltd. GBR Jack SearsUSA Dick Thompson AC Cobra Daytona Coupé 0.91 9= P2.0 31 GBR Owen Racing Organisation GBR Graham HillGBR Jackie Stewart Rover-BRM 0.91 Note: Only the top ten positions are included in this set of standings. Index of Performance Taken from Moity's book.Moity 1974, p.172 Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Score 1 P2.0 32 DEU Porsche System Engineering DEU Herbert LingeDEU Peter Nöcker Porsche 904/6 1.248 2 P4.0 21 USA North American Racing Team USA Masten GregoryAUT Jochen Rindt Ferrari 250 LM 1.220 3 GT2.0 36 DEU Porsche System Engineering DEU Gerhard ‘Gerd’ KochDEU Anton ‘Toni’ Fischhaber Porsche 904/4 GTS 1.211 4 P4.0 26 FRA P. Dumay(private entrant) FRA Pierre DumayBEL Gustave ‘Taf’ Gosselin Ferrari 250 LM 1.201 5 GT4.0 24 BEL Ecurie Francorchamps BEL Willy MairesseBEL “Beurlys” (Jean Blaton) Ferrari 275 GTB 1.190 6 P4.0 27 CHE Scuderia Filipinetti CHE Dieter SpoerryCHE Armand Boller Ferrari 250 LM 1.136 7 P1.3 49 GBR Donald Healey Motor Company AUS Paul HawkinsGBR John Rhodes Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite 1.120 8 P5.0 18 USA North American Racing Team MEX Pedro RodriguezITA Nino Vaccarella Ferrari 365 P2 Spyder 1.096 9 GT2.0 39 GBR British Motor Corporation GBR Paddy HopkirkGBR Andrew Hedges MG MGB Hardtop 1.068 10 P2.0 31 GBR Owen Racing Organisation GBR Graham HillGBR Jackie Stewart Rover-BRM 1.056 Note: Only the top ten positions are included in this set of standings. A score of 1.00 means meeting the minimum distance for the car, and a higher score is exceeding the nominal target distance. Statistics Taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACO Fastest Lap in practice – P.Hill, #2 Ford GT40X – 3:33.0secs; 227.51 km/h on Fastest Lap – P.Hill, #2 Ford GT40X – 3:37.5secs; 222.80 km/h on Distance – 4677.11 km on Winner's Average Speed – 194.88 km/h on Attendance – 300 000+ Challenge Mondial de Vitesse et Endurance Standings As calculated after Le Mans, Round 8 of 9, with the best 6 results counting (full score in brackets) Pos Manufacturer Points 1 ITA Ferrari 49 (53) 2 West Germany Porsche 22 (24) 3 USA Ford 19 4 GBR AC-Ford 14 5= USA Chaparrel 9 5= AUS Brabham 9 7 GBR Lola 6 8 ITA iso 2 9 ITA Abarth 1 Citations 30em References Armstrong, Douglas – English editor (1966) Automobile Year #13 1965-66 Lausanne: Edita S.A. Clarke, R.M. - editor (2009) Le Mans 'The Ferrari Years 1958-1965' Cobham, Surrey: Brooklands Books 1-85520-372-3 Clausager, Anders (1982) Le Mans London: Arthur Barker Ltd 0-213-16846-4 Fox, Charles (1973) The Great Racing Cars & Drivers London: Octopus Books Ltd 978-0-7064-0213-1 Henry, Alan (1988) Fifty Famous Motor Races Northamptonshire: Patrick Stephen Ltd 0-85059-937-7 Laban, Brian (2001) Le Mans 24 Hours London: Virgin Books 1-85227-971-0 Moity, Christian (1974) The Le Mans 24 Hour Race 1949-1973 Radnor, Pennsylvania: Chilton Book Co 0-8019-6290-0 Spurring, Quentin (2010) Le Mans 1960-69 Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing 978-1-84425-584-9 External links Racing Sports Cars – Le Mans 24 Hours 1965 entries, results, technical detail. Retrieved 28 February 2018 Le Mans History – Le Mans History, hour-by-hour (incl. pictures, YouTube links). Retrieved 28 February 2018 World Sports Racing Prototypes – results, reserve entries & chassis numbers. Retrieved 28 February 2018 Team Dan https://web.archive.org/web/20090607083916/http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1965/65lemans.html 2009-06-07  – results & reserve entries, explaining driver listings. Retrieved 28 February 2018 Unique Cars & Parts – results & reserve entries. Retrieved 28 February 2018 Formula 2 – Le Mans 1965 results & reserve entries. Retrieved 28 February 2018 YouTube – Race highlights, in colour with French commentary (25min). Retrieved 25 May 2025 YouTube – Pt 1 of 3 colour film (20mins total). Retrieved 28 February 2018 YouTube – 30min colour film following the Triumph team. Retrieved 28 February 2018 YouTube – 6min b/w footage of the last lap. Retrieved 28 February 2018 YouTube – 3min modern film of the race-winning Ferrari. Retrieved 28 February 2018 fr Le Mans 1965 in Automobile Historique n°48, May 2005 Category:24 Hours of Le Mans races Le Mans Category:1965 in French motorsport Category:June 1965 sports events in Europe