1975 24 Hours of Le Mans

43rd 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race 1974 1975 1976 The 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 43rd Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 14 and 15 June 1975. In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, the ACO demanded a maximum fuel consumption of 40 liter per 100 km,les organisateurs imposent une consommation maximale de 40 litres aux 100 km. - https://www.24h-lemans.com/fr/actualites/il-y-a-40-ans-les-24-heures-du-mans-1975-20610 and with different rules, the 24h was not part of the 1975 World Sportscar Championship. Colloquially called the “Le Mans Economy Run”,Spurring 2011, p.171Clausager 1982, p.167-9Clarke 1997, p.10: Motorsport July 1975 stringent refuelling regulations were put in place. Claiming to be unable to match the requisite fuel economy, the Willi Kauhsen Racing Team-entered semi-works Alfa Romeo T33TT12 that dominated the 1975 WSC season remained absent. Matra, three-time winner since 1972, had retired from the sport at the end of 1974, Ferrari had quit already after 1973. Porsche, who had brought a turbo-powered Carrera in 1974, waited until the new WSC rules with two championships came in effect, postponed to 1976. Therefore, in the above 2 liter sportscar category that was favorite for the overall win, this only left Mirage, renamed after sponsor Gulf Oil, and Ligier as front-running works-teams. Both used detuned versions of the 3 liter V8 Cosworth DFV F1 engine which scored its first Le Mans win (the second came in 1980). Two other oil companies, Elf and Esso, supported smaller sportscars with all-female drivers. The race was won by Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell in their Gulf GR-8, finishing just a lap ahead of the Ligier of Jean-Louis Lafosse and Guy Chasseuil. It was the first victory for an all-British car since the Aston Martin in 1959, and for running at an ‘economic’ speed, the winner covered just one lap less than the winning car of the previous year.Clausager 1982, p.167-9 thumb|300px|Le Mans in 1975 Regulations The ongoing fuel-crisis was having a growing impact on international motor-racing, as critics saw the sport as a profligate waste of petrol. The Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), ever wanting to follow its original mandate to advance automobile technology,Clausager 1982, p.24 put in radical measures to provide a solution. All cars had to go 20 laps before refuelling with petrol and oil – roughly equivalent to 270 km on, around 7mpg, for a 25% improvement.Clausager 1982, p.167-9 As a reference, the Matras had only done 16 laps between their fuel stops in 1974.Spurring 2011, p.174 Fuel tank sizes were also limited in size.Clausager 1982, p.167-9 These, however, put it out of step with the CSI (Commission Sportive Internationale - the FIA’s regulations body) and the FIA therefore removed the Le Mans 24 Hours from the World Championship calendar. This had happened before when the FIA had excluded Le Mans in 1956 because of their stricter safety requirements after the 1955 disaster.Clausager 1982, p.167-9Wimpffen 2007, p.158 It can also be pointed out that Le Mans races prior to 1960 had run to refuelling restrictions.Clausager 1982, p.167-9 For its part, the CSI had postponed the introduction of its new Group 5 “silhouette” rules until 1976.Spurring 2011, p.180 The ACO also introduced a new “GTX” (Le Mans Grand Touring Experimental) class for GT cars to use non-homologated equipment like the brand new Porsche 930 turbo. It also opened up its entry list to Group 3 GTs, alongside the Group 5, 4 and 2 cars. Finally, the ACO allowed teams to replace any pieces of equipment during the race, but the defective parts had to be given to the ACO technical team.Spurring 2011, p.174Clarke 1997, p.7-8: Autocar Jun21 1975 This year, the ACO also gave a prize to the car which used the smallest amount of fuel. Also the Index of Thermal Efficiency was now opened to all car classes.Spurring 2011, p.9 Since the race's inception in 1923, the Le Mans circuit had incorporated using public highways. An ambitious plan in the early 1970s had been proposed to build a new Mulsanne Straight parallel to the main road and bypassing the Mulsanne corner.Clausager 1982, p.23 However, by 1975 with the economic recession and reduced interest in motor-racing, no work had been started, and in the end the project was cancelled later in the year. Entries To general surprise, the ACO received a commendable 101 applications, which became 71 arriving for qualifying and a final 55 in the race.Spurring 2011, p.173 However, Matra had followed Ferrari out of Sports-Car racing. Alfa Romeo works team Autodelta had sold its cars to German Willi Kauhsen,Wimpffen 2007, p.158 who chose not to enter, saying there was no way the Alfas could make the necessary fuel economy. Alpine-Renault cited the same reason. Category Sports-PrototypeGroup 5 GT ExperimentalGTX Special GTGroup 4 Production GTGroup 3 Special TouringGroup 2 TotalEntries Large-engines >2.0L classes13 / 11 4 / 127 / 22 9 / 7 7 / 560 / 46 Medium-engines < 2.0L classes11 / 9000011 / 9 Note: The first number is the number of arrivals, the second the number who started. Although John Wyer had semi-retired, he saw an opportunity for his Gulf-Mirage cars with the fuel-formula and the lack of big opposition. Last year the Gulfs had achieved fuel consumption of 6.1mpg.Clarke 1997, p.6: Autocar Jun14 1975 So he and JWA designer John Horsman set about adapting and optimising a new model, the Gulf GR-8 for this single race in the season. It had a long-wheelbase and low-drag body. They detuned the Cosworth DFV to run at a 8400rpm rev-limit, down about 2000rpm.Spurring 2011, p.176-7Clarke 1997, p.17-8: Autosport Jun19 1975 The engine would now put out 380 bhp capable of 310 kp/h (195 mph). Chemists at Gulf Oil developed a fuel for the cars and put together they could achieve an impressive 7.25mpg.Spurring 2011, p.176-7 Once again, Wyer was able to call upon Jacky Ickx to drive, partnered with Derek Bell, while the other car had Vern Schuppan and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud. thumb|300px|right|Ligier JS2 In the absence of other manufacturers, it was Guy Ligier who would be Gulf's biggest competition. Suffering from the effects of the economic downturn, Ligier realised he would not have sufficient cars built to get Group 4 homologation. Having purchased the facilities of the defunct Matra Sport at the end of 1974, Ligier was preparing to enter Formula One. With the services of Matra's engineer Gérard Ducarouge and ace driver Henri Pescarolo he also adapted his JS2 cars to carry the Cosworth DFV engine (detuned to about 410 bhp) and Hewland gearboxes. However, being about 10% heavier than the Gulfs meant the Ligiers were slightly slower in a straight line. For the race, regular drivers François Migault and Jean-Louis Lafosse were split: Migault drove with Pescarolo, while Lafosse teamed up with Ligier-regular Guy Chasseuil. As a late entry, the team also ran a 320 bhp Maserati-engined version for two other former Matra drivers, Jean-Pierre Beltoise and Jean-Pierre Jarier.Spurring 2011, p.178 Meanwhile, in the World Championship, it had been the five-year old,Clarke 1997, p.13-4: Motor Jun21 1975 360 bhp Porsche 908/03 of Joest Racing taking the battle to Willi Kauhsen's Alfa Romeos. Norbert Singer, Porsche works engineer, was seconded to the team and gave the car a longtail chassis. Team-owner Reinhold Joest drove with Mario Casoni and Jürgen Barth.Spurring 2011, p.180 British privateer Alain de Cadenet arrived with a new car – a Lola T380 fitted with a Cosworth DFV capable of 400 bhp by engine-specialist John Nicholson. Despite this the chassis was very new, and nearly 40 kp/h slower on the straights than the Gulfs and Ligiers. It was driven by regular racing duo of de Cadenet with Chris Craft.Spurring 2011, p.187 Swiss privateer Heinz Schulthess likewise entered a new Lola-Cosworth T284, tuned by another engine-specialist, compatriot Heini Mader.Spurring 2011, p.191 Shin Kato returned with his latest Sigma model, the MC-75, that was now powered by a 1.6-litre Toyota turbo engine which put it in the 3-litre class because of the x1.4 equivalency factor for turbo enginesSpurring 2011, p.84Spurring 2011, p.191 (in sports car racing, the factor in Formula 1 was x2.0Automobile Year 1976, p.145). thumb|300px|right|Elf-sponsored Alpine Renault A441 of Beaumont & Lombardi The fuel-economy regulations now made S-2000 class a lot more competitive. Renault Sport had won the inaugural 1973 World Rally Championship, and was now focused on Sports-car racing.Spurring 2011, p.182-3 Along with its subsidiary companies Gordini (engines) and Alpine (chassis) had been working on a new sports car. For 1975, the new turbo-powered A442 made an immediate impression beating the Alfa Romeos at Mugello. However their cars were very new and proved fast but unreliable. The works team did not enter, however a non-turbo, A441 arrived in the colours of Elf Switzerland for the all-female team of Marie-Claude Beaumont and Lella Lombardi.Spurring 2011, p.182-3 It was the first Alpine to race at Le mans for six years.Clausager 1982, p.167-9 André Moynet, French war hero, politician and amateur racer, had been building his own sports car, based on a Chappe et Gesselin chassis with a 2-litre Simca-JRD engine and Porsche transmission. He gained sponsorship from Elf's competitor Esso-France, who suggested also compiling an all-female driving team. Moynet hired Michèle Mouton, Christine Dacremont and Marianne Hoepfner for his car.Spurring 2011, p.184 The strong showing by the new 2-litre Simca-ROC engines in the 1974 race saw five cars with Fred Stadler's engine including three Lolas of his own team.Spurring 2011, p.190 In lieu of the works team, Ferrari was represented primarily by the North American Racing Team (NART) bringing four different cars in three categories. The 308 special returned in Group 5, and a regular 365 GTB/4 for Ronnie Bucknum/Carlo Facetti in Group 4. The other two were entered in the new GTX category: a new 365 Berlinetta Boxer and a 365 Daytona spyder.Spurring 2011, p.186 The Group 4 Special GT class was dominated by the Porsche RSR teams. This year's most successful team - Georg Loos’ Gelo Racing - had three cars entered, for John Fitzpatrick (the current European GT champion)/Gijs van Lennep, Tim Schenken / Howden Ganley and Toine Hezemans/Manfred Schurti. Their main competition came from their compatriot Kremer Racing and Tebernum teams (supported by Joest Racing), the Swiss Porsche Club Romand, Spanish Escuderia Montjuïch along with the local French ASA Cachia-Bondy team and owner-engineers Robert Buchet and Louis Meznarie.Spurring 2011, p.181-2 Up against the armada of 911s (comprising half the field with 28 of 55 starters) alongside the NART Ferrari, were two other 365s for the Ecurie Francorchamps and French privateer Marcel Mignot.Spurring 2011, p.186 Along with Henri Greder's Chevrolet Corvette was also a De Tomaso Pantera and a Datsun 240Z. As expected, Porsche dominated the new Group 3 entry with eight of the nine cars against Wicky Racing's lone De Tomaso Pantera. There was renewed interest in Group 2 this year, with seven cars arriving for qualification. These included two Ford Capris from the French Shark Team and the return of Claude Buchet's Mazda twin-rotary RX-3. Against them were three BMWs: defending class-winner Jean-Claude Aubriet brought his 3.0 CSL back. Lichtenstein engine-specialist Max Heidegger prepared a BMW 2002 TI with a F2 engine (capable of 260 bhp) for French privateer Daniel Brillat.Spurring 2011, p.189 The third was another French privateer. Hervé Poulain, an art dealer and keen racer, entered another 3.0 CSL and convinced his friend, artist Alexander Calder, to paint it. Although not the first “art car” (Porsche had raced the psychedelic Martini-917 in 1970 and “Pink Pig” in 1971), it was to become the first of many BMW Art Cars. BMW insured it for DM 1 million (~US$430 000),Clarke 1997, p.11: Road&Track Oct 1975 and Poulain got 1964-winner Jean Guichet and American IMSA-BMW driver Sam Posey as co-drivers.Spurring 2011, p.188 The last entry was a big American “muscle car” – a Plymouth Barracuda with a big 426cu in Hemi engine entered by French privateer Michel Guicherd. Practice The ACO cancelled the March Test Weekend, when the CSI scheduled a championship race at Mugello on the same weekend. Thus, many teams came to Race Week with no real idea of their racing fuel economy. The ACO required every car to prove some time during the practice sessions that it could run at least 20 laps at a race pace before refuelling.Spurring 2011, p.173Clarke 1997, p.17-18: Autosport Jun19 1975 This meant at least one 60-90 minute run. But in compensation, the total practice time was increased to ten hours over the Wednesday and Thursday. Also, every driver now had to pass a minimum lap-time in both daylight and night.Spurring 2011, p.174 Jacky Ickx immediately set the pace on Wednesday night with a 3:49.9 lap that would put his Gulf on pole. This was fully fourteen seconds slower than the Matra's pole time the previous year. After initial issues, on Thursday Jean-Pierre Jaussaud put the sister Gulf on the front row with a 3:51.8. Third was Lafosse in the Ligier with Casoni fourth in the Joest-Porsche and Pescarolo in the other Ligier.Spurring 2011, p.173 Then came the two Lolas of Schulthess and De Cadenet, joined by 2-litre Lola-ROC (4:02.8) fractionally ahead of the women in the Alpine. Tenth on the grid was the Ligier-Maserati of Beltoise/Jarier. Eleventh was the BMW “art-car” (4:06.0) proving significantly faster than the Group 4 GTs, the quickest of which was the Buchet Porsche in 13th (4:16.0) ahead of the Tebernum Porsche. The Buchet Porsche's stablemate, of Wollek/Grandet, was the first of the Group 3 cars down in 38th with a 4:28.9. Slowest qualifier was the little BMW 2002 with a 4:47.9, although it was still quicker in its class than a Ford Capri and the ‘Hemicuda’Spurring 2011, p.195 A major argument broke out on Friday when the officials declared that the NART Dino 308 GT4 had not qualified, although it had met the qualification requirements. Team manager Luigi Chinetti was incensed and when his appeal was denied he pulled all four of his Ferraris off the dummy grid in protest, as the cars were forming up on Saturday.Spurring 2011, p.186 Some last minute calls and preparation got the Japanese Sigma and the Claude Buchet Mazda RX-3 there in their stead.Spurring 2011, p.191 Paul Rilly, running the Lamborghini Islero that had not qualified in the GTX category was not at home and missed his call to bring the car back to the track.Spurring 2011, p.173https://www.lemans.org/en/news/the-24-hours-of-le-mans-and-lamborghini-part-1/18124 The 24 Hours of Le Mans and Lamborghini (Part 1) Riom Pierre-Yves Ehrhardt Nikki 12 November 2014 lemans.org en 2020-03-28http://www.les24heures.fr/images/24hphotoarticle/1975lambo/Lemans1975-34-Islero.pdf ISLERO LE MANS 1975 – PAUL RILLY Nameche Olivier 2007 jaramaregistry.com The Ecuador-Marlboro team had brought two cars, neither of which qualified. However, in a race-first, the team still managed to sneak onto the back row of the dummy grid with its 911, and even got to run three laps in the race until it was spotted and black-flagged by the officials.Spurring 2011, p.181-2 Race Start On a hot Saturday afternoon, Bell took the lead from the rolling start. Schuppan then overtook him heading onto the Mulsanne Straight for the first time and proceeded to build a lead. Joest slotted into third with Craft then Pescarolo, in the first of the Ligiers, and the Group 2 BMW “art-car” in a credible sixth. As always there were a number of cars pitting with early problems: The Schulthess Lola had not been able to fire up in time and started the race a lap behind after the rolling start had passed by.Spurring 2011, p.191 Lafosse brought his Ligier in when a warning light came on, and lost a lap only to find that it was the light at fault.Spurring 2011, p.178 The BMW art-car pitted with a broken brake-line, dropping it well down the order, and two of the ROC-Lolas pitted with the start of many electrical issues. The Gulfs were able to maintain a strong 4-minute pace right through to their first pit-stops after 21 laps, and soon afterward Ickx took the lead the car was never going to forfeit thereafter. It was at the first stops that the only victim was afflicted by the fuel regulations. Marie-Claude Beaumont, in the Alpine 2-litre running sixth, came to a stop at Mulsanne corner with no fuel three laps before her scheduled refuelling stop. The team had managed 26 laps on a tank during practice. Able to manually pump some fuel she could only get as far as Indianapolis. A faulty fuel system was blamed,Clarke 1997, p.19-20: Autosport Jun19 1975 but team principal Gérard Larrousse later admitted the team had got their fuel calculations wrong.Spurring 2011, p.182-3 Going into the third hour, the Gulfs were 2 seconds apart, with de Cadenet, Joest and Casoni now the last on the lead lap. Migault was a lap down and the other two Ligiers a further lap back with Posey in the BMW catching up again and the Poirot Porsche in eighth. Schickentanz in the Tebernum Porsche lead the GTs by ten seconds from the Fitzpatrick Gelo-Porsche. Beltoise in the Ligier-Maserati was running sixth when he tried to outbrake a Ferrari going into Indianapolis, but only ended up getting pushed off into the Armco barrier.Spurring 2011, p.178 Craft pitted the de Cadenet from third. The notorious vibration of the Cosworth engine had popped rivets in the engine case and broken the exhaust. The repairs took 45 minutes, and when Craft came back out he set the fastest lap rushing back through the field.Spurring 2011, p.187 The third Gelo Porsche (Hezemans/Schurti) crashed when its suspension failed. They continued on until nightfall when the car was retired and the drivers were transferred to the team's leading car, now running fifth.Spurring 2011, p.181-2 Night Around 9.30pm, as night fell, the second-placed Gulf of Schuppan/Jaussaud spent 25 minutes in the pits replacing an alternator, dropping it to 5th, six laps behind the teammates The BMW ‘art-car’ had got back up to 6th when a broken CV joint left Posey stuck out on the circuit.Spurring 2011, p.188 In the GTs it was Fitzpatrick two laps ahead of the “Beurlys” car with the Kremer car closing. Just before midnight Alain De Cadenet, running third, was completely unaware when the engine-cover of his Lola flew off while at speed on the Mulsanne Straight.Clausager 1982, p.167-9 It landed on the track and fourth-placed François Migault had the misfortune to hit it at full speed in the dark with his Ligier. Although repaired (taking three-quarters an hour) a faulty alternator in the small hours dropped them out of contention.Spurring 2011, p.178 Around 2am the second-placed Joest Porsche collided with Poirot's 908 (running 6th) at Mulsanne corner. Repairs took 20 minutes and dropped them down to fourth.Spurring 2011, p.180 By half-time, the Gulf cars were back running 1-2 (albeit 6 laps apart), ahead of the Lafosse/Chasseuil Ligier and the repaired Joest Porsche. The Gelo Porsche still led the GT class, and running fifth overall, now ahead of the Kremer Porsche up to second in class. thumb|300px|right|Gulf-Mirage GR8 of Ickx & Bell Morning Soon after dawn Pescarolo suffered a puncture on his Ligier, ruining the bodywork, and stranding him out on the track.Spurring 2011, p.178 About the same time a very similar accident happened to Joest but he was more fortunate to be able to get the Porsche back to the pits.Spurring 2011, p.180 However the repairs put the car 15 laps behind the leader and only two ahead of the Gelo Porsche. By the time the sun was up, Ickx and Bell had built up a sizeable lead. Right on 6am Jaussaud pitted complaining of an excessive rear-end vibration. Subsequent checks and work took a quarter-hour and put them on the same lap, two minutes behind the Ligier.Spurring 2011, p.176-7 Joest had yet another puncture at 8am, but kept his place. The Gelo Porsche was now four laps back, still holding a two-lap lead over the Kremer and “Beurlys” cars. Throughout the morning the Ligier traded places with the second Gulf which would power past only to then come into the pits to investigate its engine vibration further. Soon after midday the rain arrived. The Gulf of Schuppan/Jaussaud pitted yet again, when water got into its electrics. Drying them out cost fifteen minutes which finally gave the Ligier breathing space in second place.Spurring 2011, p.176-7 Finish and post-race thumb|300px|right|Two-litre class-winning Moynet LM 75 of Mouton, Hoepfner and Dacremont The leading Gulf also had the same ongoing vibration as their stablemate and it finally came to a head when it was forced to pit at 2.30pm with an exhaust shaken apart by the vibration. While repairs were being done, the Ligier closed in. It had just got onto the lead lap when Bell took the Gulf back out, fuelled to the finish. When the Ligier subsequently pitted for its final fuel stop, the race was secure for JWA. About the same time, the Kremer Porsche had to pit with a major engine failure. Amazingly, the team was able to replace the whole engine in 30 minutes and they only lost ten laps to finish 9th.Spurring 2011, p.181-2 Going into the final hour Bob Wollek, running 12th, spun his Porsche damaging the exhaust. While pitted, the crew mistakenly refuelled the car, before its requisite 20 laps and was disqualified.Spurring 2011, p.181-2 The fastest S-2000, the Lola-ROC of Ferrier/Lapeyre/Ethuin had issues from the start but was stopped at its final pitstop when the starter motor broke.Spurring 2011, p.190 In the end Ickx and Bell won by a lap from the Lafosse/Chasseuil Ligier. Schuppan/Jaussaud were third, five laps back, with Joest's Porsche 908 another five laps back. The next eight places were Porsche GTs lead home by the Gelo car of van Lennep/Fitzpatrick/Hezemans winning Group 4 by four laps from the veteran Jean Blaton's privateer entry with Belgian racing-journalist Nick Faure. De Cadenet's Lola was 14th, finishing the race with a bodywork stuck together with a lot of adhesive tape. First of the S-2000 class home was the Moynet with the all-female crew, finishing 21st, after a careful and trouble-free run.Spurring 2011, p.184 The last classified finisher, and winner of the Group 2 category by attrition, was the little BMW 2002 having spent the first half of the race battling with the Mazda RX-3 for last place.Spurring 2011, p.189 Winner of the Index of Thermal Efficiency was the second X-Racing Group 3 Porsche. The privateer Lola-ROC (although slowest of the S-2000 class) came second in class four laps behind the Moynet, and comfortably used the smallest amount of fuel.Spurring 2011, p.190 It was the first Le Mans victory for the nine-year old Cosworth-DFV engine finally proving its reliability. This was the fourth win for John Wyer, dating back to the Aston Martin triumph in 1959 and the second for Jacky Ickx.Spurring 2011, p.175 After the race, Wyer retired for good and the JWA team was disbanded.Spurring 2011, p.176-7 After an impressive start, the BMW “art car” had been retired with a damaged driveshaft in the sixth hour.Clarke 1997, p.9: Road&Track Oct 1975 Having been displayed in the Louvre and in Munich before the race, afterward it went onto the Museum of Modern Art in New York. As it was, Ickx and Bell covered only one lap less than the winning Matra of the previous year.Clausager 1982, p.167-9 With the cars run at far lower engines revs, the mechanical wear was far lower and thirty cars were running at the end – equalling the record of 1923 and 1951. Ironically that meant there was much more fuel consumed overall than in the previous year's race.Spurring 2011, p.175 Although derided at the time,Clarke 1997, p.6a: Autosport Jun12 1975Automobile Year 1976, p.159 the ACO regulations would, in fact, be a predecessor to the Group C era of the 1980s. 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 11 GBR Gulf Research Racing BEL Jacky IckxGBR Derek Bell Gulf-Mirage GR8 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 Goodyear 337 2 S3.0 5 FRA Automobiles Ligier Gitanes FRA Jean-Louis LafosseFRA Guy Chasseuil Ligier JS2 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 Michelin 336 3 S3.0 10 GBR Gulf Research Racing AUS Vern SchuppanFRA Jean-Pierre Jaussaud Gulf-Mirage GR8 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 Goodyear 331 4 S3.0 15 DEU Joest Racing DEU Reinhold JoestITA Mario CasoniDEU Jürgen Barth Porsche 908/03 Porsche 3.0L F8 Goodyear 326 5 GTS 58 DEU Gelo Racing Team NLD Gijs van LennepGBR John FitzpatrickLIE Manfred SchurtiNLD Toine Hezemans Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Goodyear 316 6 GTS 69 BEL "Beurlys"(private entrant) BEL “Beurlys” (Jean Blaton)GBR Nick FaureGBR John Cooper Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 312 7 GTS 53 FRA ASA Cachia-Bondy FRA Henri CachiaFRA Jacques BorrasFRA Pascal Moisson Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 310 8 GTS 55 FRA Écurie Robert Buchet FRA Claude Ballot-LénaCAN Jacques Bienvenue Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 305 9 GTS 65 DEU Porsche Kremer Racing Team MEX Juan Carlos BolañosMEX Andres ContrerasMEX Billy Sprowls Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 305 10 GT 84 CHE G. Maurer(private entrant) CHE Gerhard MaurerCHE Christian BaezCHE Eugen Strähl Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 296 11 GT 67 FRA A.-C. Verney(private entrant) FRA Anne-Charlotte VerneyBEL Yvette FontaineFRA Corinne Tarnaud Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 295 12 GTS 47 BEL Ecurie Francorchamps FRA Jean-Claude AndruetBEL Teddy PiletteBEL Baron Hughes de Fierlandt Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Ferrari 4.4L V12 Michelin 294 13 GTS 48 FRA M. Mignot(private entrant) FRA Marcel MignotFRA Philippe GurdjianUSA Harry Jones Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Ferrari 4.4L V12 Michelin 294 14 S3.0 4 GBR A. de Cadenet (private entrant) GBR Alain de CadenetGBR Chris Craft Lola T380 LM Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 Goodyear 292 15 GTX 20 CHE Porsche Club Romand CHE Claude HaldiFRA Bernard BéguinCHE Peter Zbinden Porsche 911 Carrera RSR TurboSpurring 2011, p.172 Porsche 2.2L F6 Turbo Michelin 291 16 GTS 43 BEL Team Claude Dubois(private entrant)ECU Ecuador Marlboro Team CHE Pierre RubensITA Paolo Bozzetto De Tomaso Pantera Ford 5.8L V8 Michelin 291 17 GT 77 FRA P. Dagoreau(private entrant) FRA Philippe DagoreauFRA Thierry SabineCHE Jean-Pierre Aeschlimann Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 Michelin 285 18 GT 80 FRA X Racing FRA Raymond TouroulFRA Philippe Hesnault Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 284 19 GT 63 CHE Porsche Club Romand CHE Jean-Claude BeringDEU Klaus UtzDEU Horst Godel Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 284 20 GT 87 FRA X Racing FRA Philippe DemagneFRA René Boubet Porsche 911 Carrera S Porsche 2.7L F6 Dunlop 282 21 S2.0 35 FRA Société Esso(private entrant) FRA Michèle MoutonFRA Marianne HoepfnerFRA Christine Dacremont Moynet LM75 Simca-JRD 1994cc S4 Michelin 270 22 S2.0 30 FRA J.-M. Lemerle(private entrant) FRA Jean-Marie LemerleFRA Patrick DaireFRA Alain Levié Lola T292 Simca-ROC 1994cc S4 Goodyear 266 23 GTS 61 FRA Écurie Armagnac Bogorre(private entrant) FRA Christian BussiFRA Patrick Metral Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 266 24 S2.0 28 FRA Société Racing Organisation Course FRA François SérvaninFRA Jacques HenryFRA Albert Dufrène Lola T294 Simca-ROC 1994cc S4 Goodyear 258 25 GTS 71 FRA J. Laplacette(private entrant) FRA Joël LaplacetteFRA Alain LerouxFRA Claude Pigeon Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Michelin 258 26 GTS 72 FRA A. Haller(private entrant) FRA André HallerDEU Hans SchullerFRA Benoit Maechler Datsun 240Z Datsun 2.4L S6 Bridgestone 254 27 TS 91 DEU Heidegger Racing Team FRA Daniel BrillatITA Giancarlo GagliardiCHE Michel Degoumois BMW 2002Ti BMW 1990cc S4 Kleber 252 N/C* GTS 50 FRA L. Meznarie (private entrant) FRA Hübert StriebigFRA Hugues KirschofferFRA Pierre Mauroy Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 243 N/C* S2.0 38 GBR Rays Racing GBR Nigel Clarkson GBR Derek Worthington Lola T292/294 Cosworth BDA 1950cc S4 Goodyear 241 N/C* S2.0 23 GBR Madison Racing Team GBR Richard KnightGBR Mike Knight FRA “Cyprien” (Christian Mons] March 75S Cosworth BDG 1975cc S4 Goodyear 218 Note *: Not Classified because did not cover sufficient distance (70% of the leader) at the 12, 18 and 24-hour intervals.Spurring 2011, p.8 Did Not Finish Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Tyre Laps Reason DSQ GT 78 FRA Écurie BuchetFRA C. Grandet (private entrant) FRA Cyril GrandetFRA Bob Wollek Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Michelin 294 Premature refuel (24hr) DNF S3.0 3 FRA C. Poirot(private entrant) FRA Christian PoirotFRA Gérard CuynetECU Guillermo Ortega Porsche 908/02 Porsche 3.0L F8 Dunlop 249 Transmission (21hr) DNF S2.0 27 FRA Société Racing Organisation Course FRA Xavier LapeyreFRA Christian EthuinFRA Laurent Ferrier Lola T294 Simca-ROC 1994cc S4 Goodyear 223 Starter motor (24hr) DNF S2.0 29 FRA Société Racing Organisation Course FRA Pierre-Marie PainvinFRA Franz Hummel Lola T292 Simca-ROC 1994cc S4 Goodyear 206 Transmission (23hr) DNF S3.0 1 CHE Wicky Racing Team MAR Max Cohen-OlivarCHE Philippe Coran FRA Joël Brachet Porsche 908/02K Porsche 3.0L F8 Goodyear 161 Transmission (17hr) DNF S3.0 6 FRA Automobiles Ligier Gitanes FRA Henri PescaroloFRA François Migault Ligier JS2 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 Michelin 146 Puncture (14hr) DNF GTS 59 DEU Gelo Racing Team AUS Tim Schenken NZL Howden Ganley Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Goodyear 106 Gearbox (21hr) DNF GTS 52 FRA Écurie du Nord CHE William VolleryFRA Roger DorchyCHE Eric Chapuis Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 93 Engine (13hr) DNF GTS 68 FRA G. Verrier(private entrant) FRA Guy VerrierCHE Florian VetschCHE Jean-Robert Corthay Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 Michelin 91 Engine (10hr) DNF TS 98 FRA Auto Mazda Claude Buchet FRA Claude BuchetFRA Jean Rondeau Mazda RX-3 Coupé Mazda 12A 2-Rotor (2.3L equiv.) Dunlop 78 Engine (13hr) DNF TS 93 FRA H. Poulain(private entrant) FRA Hervé PoulainUSA Sam Posey FRA Jean Guichet BMW 3.0 CSL BMW 3.5L S6 Dunlop 73 Transmission (9hr) DNF GTS 96 FRA J. Bonnemaison(private entrant) FRA Lucien NageotteFRA Gérard Picard Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 48 Electrics (5hr) DNF GTS 16 DEU Joest RacingDEU Tebernum Racing DEU Clemens SchickentanzDEU Hartwig Bertrams Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 42 Engine (5hr) DNF GTS 60 DEU Gelo Racing Team NLD Toine HezemansLIE Manfred Schurti Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Goodyear 41 Accident (10hr) DNF S3.0 18 JPN Sigma Automotive JPN Hiroshi FushidaJPN Harukuni Takahashi Sigma MC75 Toyota 1636cc S4 Turbo Dunlop 37 Oil pump (7hr) DNF S3.0 97 FRA Automobiles Ligier Gitanes FRA Jean-Pierre BeltoiseFRA Jean-Pierre Jarier Ligier JS2 Maserati 3.0L V6 Michelin 36 Accident (4hr) DNF TS 95 FRA Shark Team FRA Jean-Claude GuérieFRA Dominique Fornage Ford Capri LV Ford 3.0L V6 Dunlop 27 Engine (4hr) DNF GTS 7 BEL Beurlys InternationalAuto (private entrant) FRA Pietro PoleseITA "Willer" (Germano Premol) De Tomaso Pantera Ford 5.8L V8 Michelin 22 Engine (9hr) DNF S2.0 26 CHE Equipe Elf Switzerland FRA Marie-Claude Beaumont ITA Lella Lombardi Renault-Alpine A441C Renault 1997cc V6 Michelin 20 Fuel pump (8hr) DNF GTS 57 GER Ganto Racing USA John Rulon-MillerUSA Tom Waugh GBR Serge Godard Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop 16 Oil leak (10hr) DNF S3.0 12 CHE Racing Team Schulthess(private entrant) CHE Heinz SchulthessFRA Hervé BayardCHE André Savary Lola T284 Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 Goodyear 16 Chassis (3hr) DNF S2.0 40 FRA P. Mettetal(private entrant) FRA Jean RagnottiFRA Michel Lateste Tecma 755 Ford-Hart 1790cc S4 Michelin 11 Fuel injection (2hr) DNF GT 83 FRA J.-Y. Gadal(private entrant) FRA Jean-Yves GadalFRA "Ségolen" (André Gahinet) Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 2.7L F6 Michelin 6 Electrics (3hr) DNF TS 90 FRA J.-C. Aubriet(private entrant) FRA Jean-Claude AubrietFRA "Dépnic" (Jean-Claude Depince) BMW 3.0 CSL BMW 3.5L S6 Dunlop 1 Accident (3hr) DNF GTS 42 FRA H. Greder(private entrant) FRA Henri GrederFRA Alain Cudini Chevrolet Corvette C3 Chevrolet 7.0L V8 Michelin 0 Oil pump (1hr) Did Not Start Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Tyre Reason DNS GTX 45 USA North American Racing Team USA Ronnie BucknumITA Carlo Facetti Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Ferrari 4.4L V12 Michelin Withdrawn DNS GTS 46 USA North American Racing Team FRA Jean-Pierre MalcherFRA Patrick Langlois Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Michelotti Spider Ferrari 4.4L V12 Michelin Withdrawn DNS GTS 62 ESP 1945 Escuderia Montjuïch ESP 1945 Juan FernándezECU Francisco PérezECU Andrés Chiriboga Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Porsche 3.0L F6 Michelin Practice accident DNS GTX 99 USA North American Racing Team FRA Lucien GuittenyFRA Jacky Haran Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Berlinetta Boxer Ferrari 4.4L V12 Michelin Withdrawn DNQ S3.0 2 ECU Ecuador Marlboro Team(private entrant) ECU Guillermo OrtegaECU Lothar Ranft Porsche 908/02 Porsche 3.0L F8 Goodyear Did not qualify DNQ S3.0 9 ECU Ecuador Marlboro Team(private entrant) ECU Fausto MerelloECU Francisco MaderaECU Louis Larrea Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0L F6 Dunlop Did not qualify DNQ S3.0 17 USA North American Racing Team GBR Richard BondITA Giancarlo GagliardiUSA Harley Cluxton Dino 308 GT4 LM Ferrari 2.9L V8 Goodyear Did not qualify DNQ S2.0 33 FRA J.-L. Gama(private entrant) FRA Jean-Louis Gama FRA Franc LeclercqFRA “Deneulin” GLD 910/6 Porsche 1991cc F6 Goodyear Did not qualify DNQ GTX 34 FRA P. Rilly(private entrant) FRA Paul RillyFRA Roger Le VeveLamborghini IsleroLamborghini 3.9L V12 Michelin Did not qualify DNQ S2.0 39 FRA M. Lateste(private entrant) FRA Michel LatesteFRA Gilbert Sedergo Sederap Cosworth BDG 1844cc S4 Firestone Did not qualify DNQ GT 54 CHE A. Pallavicini(private entrant) CHE Angelo PallaviciniITA Marco Vanoli Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0 F6 Dunlop Did not qualify DNQ GTS 70 FRA Les Maisons de Week-End(private entrant) FRA Jean-Louis RavenelFRA Jacky RavenelBEL Dany Wauters Porsche 911 Carrera RS Porsche 3.0 F6 Dunlop Did not qualify DNQ GTS 73 FRA T. Perrier(private entrant) FRA Thierry PerrierFRA Jean Belliard Porsche 911S Porsche 2.3L F6 Michelin Did not qualify DNQ GT 75 CHE Wicky Racing Team CHE André WickyFRA José ThibaultFRA Elio CogoCHE Philippe Carron De Tomaso Pantera Ford 5.8L V8 Michelin Did not qualify DNQ TS 89 FRA M. Guicherd(private entrant) FRA Michel GuicherdFRA Jean-Claude GéralFRA Christian Avril Chrysler Hemicuda Chrysler Hemi 7.0L V8 Michelin Did not qualify DNQ TS 94 FRA Shark Team FRA Christian GouttepifreFRA Jean-Pierre Bodin Ford Capri RS Ford 3.0L V6 Dunlop Did not qualify Class Winners Class Winning car Winning drivers Group 5 S Sports Over 2-litre #11 Gulf-Mirage GR8 Ickx / Bell Group 5 S Sports Under 2-litre #35 Moynet LM75 Hoepfner / Mouton / Dacremont Group 4 GTS Special GT #58 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Fitzpatrick / van Lennep / Hezemans / Schurti Group 3 GT Production GT #84 Porsche 911 Carrera RS Maurer / Baez / Strähl * GTX Le Mans Experimental #20 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR Turbo Haldi / Béguin / Zbinden * Group 2 TS Special Touring #91 BMW 2002 Ti Brillat / Gagliardi / Degoumois Note: setting a new class distance record. Index of Thermal Efficiency Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Score 1 GT 87 FRA X Racing FRA Philippe DemagneFRA René Boubet Porsche 911S 19 2 GT 84 CHE G. Maurer(private entrant) CHE Gerhard MaurerCHE Christian BaezCHE Eugen Strähl Porsche 911 Carrera RS 20 3 GTS 55 FRA Écurie Robert Buchet FRA Claude Ballot-LénaCAN Jacques Bienvenue Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 20 4 GTS 53 FRA ASA Cachia-Bondy FRA Henri CachiaFRA Jacques BorrasFRA Pascal Moisson Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 20 5 GTS 58 DEU Gelo Racing Team NLD Gijs van LennepGBR John FitzpatrickLIE Manfred Schurti NLD Toine Hezemans Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 20 6 GT 77 FRA P. Dagoreau(private entrant) FRA Philippe DagoreauFRA Thierry SabineCHE Jean-Pierre Aeschlimann Porsche 911 Carrera RS 22 7 GTS 65 DEU Porsche Kremer Racing Team MEX Juan Carlos BolañosMEX Andres ContrerasUSA Billy Sprowls Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 23 8 GT 67 FRA A.-C. Verney(private entrant) FRA Anne-Charlotte VerneyBEL Yvette FontaineFRA Corinne Tarnaud Porsche 911 Carrera RS 25 9 GTS 69 BEL "Beurlys"(private entrant) BEL “Beurlys” (Jean Blaton)GBR Nick FaureGBR John Cooper Porsche 911 Carrera RSR 25 10 S3.0 5 FRA Automobiles Ligier Gitanes FRA Jean-Louis LafosseFRA Guy Chasseuil Ligier JS2 26 Note: Only the top ten positions are included in this set of standings.Spurring 2011, p.9 Fuel Consumption Prize Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Score 1 S2.0 30 FRA J.-M. Lemerle(private entrant) FRA Jean-Marie LemerleFRA Patrick DaireFRA Alain Levié Lola T292 23 2 S2.0 23 GBR Madison Racing Team GBR Richard KnightGBR Mike Knight FRA “Cyprien” (Christian Mons] March 75S 25 3 S2.0 38 GBR Rays Racing GBR Nigel Clarkson GBR Derek Worthington Lola T292/294 25 4 S2.0 35 FRA Société Esso(private entrant) FRA Michèle MoutonFRA Marianne HoepfnerFRA Christine Dacremont Moynet LM75 25 5 GT 87 FRA X Racing FRA Philippe DemagneFRA René Boubet Porsche 911S 26 6 S2.0 28 FRA Société Racing Organisation Course FRA François SérvaninFRA Jacques HenryFRA Albert Dufrène Lola T294 26 Note: Only the top six positions are included in this set of standings, which is a ranking of the cars using the least volume of fuel during the race.Spurring 2011, p.174Spurring 2011, p.197 Statistics Taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACO Fastest Lap in practice –J.Ickx, #11 Gulf-Mirage GR8 – 3:49.9secs; 213.59 km/h on Fastest Lap – C. Craft, #4 Lola T380 – 3:53.8secs; 210.03 km/h on Winning Distance – 4595.58 km on Winner's Average Speed – 191.50 km/h on Attendance – ~80000Laban 2001, p.179 http://www.wsrp.cz/nonchamp1975.html#20 World Sports Cars World Sports Racing Prototypes.com 2018-07-20 Citations 30em References Chilvers, Tim – English editor (1976) Automobile Year #23 1975-76 Lausanne: Edita S.A. Clarke, R.M. - editor (1997) Le Mans 'The Porsche Years 1975-1982' Cobham, Surrey: Brooklands Books 1-85520-387-1 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 1975 entries, results, technical detail. Retrieved 6 Jul 2018 Le Mans History – Le Mans History, hour-by-hour (incl. pictures, quotes, YouTube links). Retrieved 20 Jul 2018 World Sports Racing Prototypes – results, reserve entries & chassis numbers. Retrieved 20 Jul 2018 Team Dan – results & reserve entries, explaining driver listings. Retrieved 20 Jul 2018 Unique Cars & Parts – results & reserve entries. Retrieved 20 Jul 2018 Formula 2 – Le Mans results & reserve entries. Retrieved 20 Jul 2018 Motorsport Memorial – details of the year's fatal accidents. Retrieved 20 Jul 2018 YouTube – Colour footage of the start preparation in French (4mins). Retrieved 8 Aug 2018 YouTube – The Calder BMW art-car (1min). Retrieved 8 Aug 2018 Category:24 Hours of Le Mans races Le Mans Category:1975 in French motorsport