Series III Illustration: 1969 24 HOURS OF LE MANS
The 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans is remembered for many reasons, including the historically close finish between the Gulf GT40 driven by Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver, and the Porsche 908 LH driven by Hans Herrmann and Gerard Larrousse. Porsche brought six factory Prototypes, but Ickx remained confident: “I had this unaccountable belief that the Porsches were going to disappear from the scene between the 20th and the 21st hour...” At the start of the race the works Porsches immediately took up position at the head of the field, but soon mechanical trouble and accidents diminished their numbers. The GT40 of Ickx and Oliver were a comfortable third by dawn, but still unable to match the speed of the leading Porsches. But, as the race unfolded, and just as Jacky Ickx foresaw, both leading Porsche’s (a 917 and 908) suffered race ending gearbox problems. The Ickx/Oliver GT40 was now in the lead. Now the only surviving factory Porsche was that of Herrmann and Larrousse, which was still on the same lap as the leading GT40, despite earlier mechanical issues. The Porsche was now ordered to go flat out. The final portion of the race turned into a remarkable game of cat-and-mouse, with the lead changing constantly. The Porsche had the advantage on the straights, but Ickx in the GT40 (who had taken on new brake pads), was in top form for the final hours. The new brake pads allowed for a more stable car when slowing for cornering, and Ickx could brake very late at the end of the long straights and take back the lead when following closely behind the Porsche. The GT40 driven by Ickx went on to win the race by just a few seconds (less than 100 meters). The 1969 race was the fourth and final victory of the Ford GT40 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Hans Hermann would return to Le Mans the following year and achieve Porsche’s first overall victory driving the Porsche Salzburg 917K with Richard Attwood. Jacky Ickx would go on to win Le Mans again in 1975, ’76, ’77, ’81 and ’82 (driving for Porsche four times).
Print Size: 19" x 13" or 24" x 18"
| Paper Stock: 65lb Cover Uncoated
How to Order| Home Page | View All Cars Page
The 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans is remembered for many reasons, including the historically close finish between the Gulf GT40 driven by Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver, and the Porsche 908 LH driven by Hans Herrmann and Gerard Larrousse. Porsche brought six factory Prototypes, but Ickx remained confident: “I had this unaccountable belief that the Porsches were going to disappear from the scene between the 20th and the 21st hour...” At the start of the race the works Porsches immediately took up position at the head of the field, but soon mechanical trouble and accidents diminished their numbers. The GT40 of Ickx and Oliver were a comfortable third by dawn, but still unable to match the speed of the leading Porsches. But, as the race unfolded, and just as Jacky Ickx foresaw, both leading Porsche’s (a 917 and 908) suffered race ending gearbox problems. The Ickx/Oliver GT40 was now in the lead. Now the only surviving factory Porsche was that of Herrmann and Larrousse, which was still on the same lap as the leading GT40, despite earlier mechanical issues. The Porsche was now ordered to go flat out. The final portion of the race turned into a remarkable game of cat-and-mouse, with the lead changing constantly. The Porsche had the advantage on the straights, but Ickx in the GT40 (who had taken on new brake pads), was in top form for the final hours. The new brake pads allowed for a more stable car when slowing for cornering, and Ickx could brake very late at the end of the long straights and take back the lead when following closely behind the Porsche. The GT40 driven by Ickx went on to win the race by just a few seconds (less than 100 meters). The 1969 race was the fourth and final victory of the Ford GT40 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Hans Hermann would return to Le Mans the following year and achieve Porsche’s first overall victory driving the Porsche Salzburg 917K with Richard Attwood. Jacky Ickx would go on to win Le Mans again in 1975, ’76, ’77, ’81 and ’82 (driving for Porsche four times).
Print Size: 19" x 13" or 24" x 18"
| Paper Stock: 65lb Cover UncoatedHow to Order
| Home Page | View All Cars Page
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Email me.
© Arthur Schening. All rights reserved.