During Scrutineering on Sunday we asked some of this year’s drivers and personalities which Le Mans racecar was their all-time favourite. Some of their answers surprised us …
Marc Lieb (Porsche 919 Hybrid #2) – Porsche 956 (1982-83)
At the time when I was growing up, my father was a race mechanic. He was more interested in sportscars than Formula 1, and when I was aged six, I was given a replica Rothman’s race suit. The car was designed and developed by Herr Norbert Singer, and it’s just perfect. It’s fast, it was technically advanced for its time, and it was successful … and it was very beautiful.
Pipo Derani (ESM Ligier Nissan LMP2 #31) – Audi R10 Tdi (2006-2008)
I was still very interested in a single-seater career, but was introduced to the Audi movie, Truth in 24. This car won against very tough competition. Over three years, the R10 won at Le Mans against faster cars, and that’s a good example for us this year. We should always have faith.
Jono Coleman (So24 ! Ligier Judd #22) – Peugeot 905 (1993)
I first became aware of the Le Mans 24 Hours when my parents bought me the video of the 1993 race. I watched the Peugeots win, and thought the 905 was a really cool car. At the time I was karting, and I was certainly no Schumcher. When the time came to decide what to do next I knew there was no single-seater career for me, so I bought a Radical, and that was my first step on the road to getting here. (Jono also gave honourable mentions for V8 Toyota Group C and Zytek)
Jacques Nicolet (Owner, Onroak Automotive) – McLaren F1 GTR (1995)
The McLaren is such a beautiful car, and I believe it is the best-ever compromise between a road car and a race car.
Andreas Seidl (Porsche Team Principal) – Porsche 911 GT1 (1998)
The 1998 911 was a fantastic car with so much Porsche DNA and, of course, it was the last Porsche to win here at Le Mans before we took the 17th win for Porsche last year with the 919 Hybrid.
Brendon Hartley (Porsche 919 Hybrid #1) – Porsche 917 (1970-71)
From any angle, it’s just such a beautiful car. You only have to watch Steve McQueen’s Le Mans movie to see how fabulous it looks in action. I was a late-comer to sportscars, but have been lucky enough to see some of these legendary cars on track, and drove a factory 962 at Goodwood, although not in anger.
Richard Bradley (KCMG Oreca 03 Nissan #47) – Toyota GT-One (1998-99)
What a fantastic looking car! You can’t fail to be excited just by the look of the thing.
Matt Howson (KCMG Oreca 03 Nissan #47) – Porsche 911 GT1 (1998)
I think the 911 GT1 is one of the most stunning cars ever to race. I know it’s not a popular view, but I find the Group C cars really ugly, they were function over form, whereas the Porsche was not only very successful, but also very good looking.
Joel Camathias (KCMG Porsche 911 RSR #78) – Porsche 911 GT3 RS (996)
At a time when I was beginning to become interested in racing, these Porsches were the cars that teams were bringing to this fantastic race and were able to have great success with, without spending huge amounts of money.
Christian Ried (KCMG Porsche 911 RSR #78) – Porsche 911 GT1 (1996)
I’m, a Porsche guy, of course, and I think the 1996 911 GT1 is one of the most fantastic cars they’ve ever built. I’ve never driven one, but I have a promise from one of the guys who owns an original GT1 that the next time he runs it he’ll call me and let me know.
Kévin Estre (Porsche Motorsport 911 RSR #91) – Porsche 917 (1970-71)
When I joined Porsche I was invited to tour the museum in Stuttgart. It was full of fantastic cars, but this was the car, more than any other, that stopped me in my tracks. I just stared at it; it is simply beautiful.
Nick Tandy (Porsche Motorsport 911 RSR #91) – Porsche 962 (1984-87)
I’d nominate the Porsche 962, simply because it was winning races when I started watching, and, because it’s a stunning-looking race car.
Jean-Philippe Belloc (Larbre Competition Chevrolet C7.R #50) – Dodge Viper GTS-R (1995-1999)
The Dodge was a car I drove. It was fantastic, very competitive and an exciting car to drive as well as to watch, and not so very different in concept from today’s Corvette C7.R. (Jean-Philippe also gave honourable mentions for the Ford GT40 and Porsche 917)
Julien Canal (Greaves Motorsport Ligier Nissan LMP2 #41) – Porsche 917 (1970-71)
For me, the 917 is the classic Le Mans car. You cannot look at this car without thinking of the 24 Hours.
Marino Franchitti (Ford Chip Ganassi Ford UK GT #67) – Ford GT 40 (1967)
The original GT40 is gorgeous, and the story behind it is even better, with Phil Remington re-designing and re-modelling the by-then unloved “J” car to create something that looked just stunning and was more than good enough to win this race.
Tim Greaves (Team Principal, Greaves Motorsport) – Porsche RS Spyder (2006-2009)
The RS Spyder astonished me, particularly in the hands of Jos Verstappen. I met him last year and we talked about me watching him race the car at Silverstone. I stood at the side of the track and I’ve never seen anybody throw a car into a quick corner the way he did with the Porsche.
Simon Dolan (G-Drive racing Gibson-Nissan #38) – Bentley Speed 8 (2001-2003)
Simply because of the way it looked.
Pierre Fillon (President, ACO)
Monsieur Fillon couldn’t restrict his selection to just a single car, but instead chose three …. the Porsche 917 for being “Beautiful!”, the Ford GT40, “Emblematic”, and the Matra V12: “Musical!”
Harry Tincknell (Ford Chip Ganassi Ford UK GT #67) – McLaren F1 GTR (1995)
The McLaren F1 is an absolutely awesome car. It stands up, even today, and it’s been an utter privilege to have driven one. (Harry drove the Harrods car at Goodwood)
Olivier Pla (Ford Chip Ganassi Ford UK GT #66) – Peugeot 905 (1990-1993)
The 905 was so close to the performance of an F1 car, and what’s more, it’s beautiful too.
Ben Keating (Murphy Prototypes Oreca 03R Nissan #48) – Oreca Viper GTS-R (1995-1999)
I’m just a major Viper fan. It was this car that introduced me to Le Mans. The car has amazing race heritage. I don’t own one but Dodge built 100 Special Edition GTS-R road cars and Bob Lutz, then the CEO of Chrysler, ordered number 99. I now own that car.
Jeroen Bleekemolen (Murphy Prototypes Oreca 03R Nissan #48) – Jaguar XJR-9 (1988)
It looks great and it sounds great but, of course, I love the car because of Jan Lammers and the very cool story of how he won the race (in 1988).
Greg Murphy (Team Principal, Murphy Prototypes) – Oreca 03R (2011-2016)
I have to say the Oreca because of the way it has allowed my team, and several others, to get into this race and to stay competitive for so many years. I’m here today because of this car, and I have a lot to thank it for.
Earl Bamber (Porsche Motorsport 911 RSR #91) – Porsche 919
Come on mate, it’s the 919, my 919, what else?
Richard Westbrook (Ford Chip Ganassi Ford USA GT #69) – Porsche 917 (1970-71)
I’ve got to say the Porsche 917. When I was a kid my dad used to race, and we watched the film Le Mans. It was my favourite film. The 917 was always stunning, and whenever you look at one, you think: ‘Le Mans.’
Alex Wurz (Reserve Driver Toyota Gazoo Racing and Grand Marshal) – Jaguar XJR-9 (1988)
Hmm … The purple Silk Cut Jag. I don’t even know why.
Pierre Ragues (Larbre Competition Chevrolet C7.R #50) – Sauber Mercedes (1989)
I’ve always loved the Sauber Mercedes, ever since I remember seeing it race in Group C – the design, the sound.
Stéfan Mücke (Ford Chip Ganassi Ford UK GT #67) – Ford GT 40 (1966)
I grew up with that car being the iconic sportscar. One of my first memories is seeing that car as a kid. It’s crazy that I get to drive a Ford GT round here now!
Jörg Bergmiester (Porsche Motorsport Porsche 911 RSR #92) – Porsche 917 (1970-71)
The 917 was simply crazy! To be going as quick as they were without the chicanes, hats off to those guys who drove them. I’ve sat in one, but I can’t drive it, I’m too tall. I can’t imagine what it would be like to driving a car like the 917.
Sebastien Buemi (Toyota Gazoo Racing #5) – Toyota TS050
I like old cars, like the 917, but I love technology, and I love this year’s Toyota. It’s an amazing car because of the power and efficiency. As a driver you want to go quick, and it’s the quickest car I’ve ever driven around Le Mans.
Andy Priaulx (Ford Chip Ganassi Ford UK GT #67) – Porsche 956 (1982-83)
I really like the Rothmans Porsche 956. The Derek Bell special, that was nice. I remember growing up, and that was such a famous car at the time.
Joey Hand (Ford Chip Ganassi Ford UK GT #67) – Ford GT 40 (1966)
Because of what I’ve been involved in this year, it has to be the Ford GT 40, because I’ve been around it now, and I’ve seen one of the winners at the Henry Ford Museum. I touched it, even though nobody is supposed to touch it! It was a great experience, one of the best things I’ve done at a PR event. There’s so much history there, and touching it made everything so real, it made me realise how big a deal this is for Ford. I heard so many stories that day, so it made me love that car.
GG, MP & SK, with huge thanks to John Brooks for the historic photos.
