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The Le Mans General Discussion Thread
- Thread starter arvin charles
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- Northamton
- FRS_SK8R
what are you trying to say?
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- Blackburn
- Furinkazen_54
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- FLAT_TWELVE
Going back (a few posts) to the discussion about active F1 drivers racing at Le Mans, to share a bit of digging I did into the past. And it's interesting to understand that in the 1960's and 1970's this was almost the norm.
I guess in those eras even F1 drivers needed to be calm, precise and collected while driving, under penalty of death, and that made them good endurance drivers too.
This list of Le Mans pole positions is impressive (easier to read than the full entry lists, but rest assured, the big teams lineup of drivers were filled with active F1 competitors):
1963 Ferrari 330 TR - Pedro Rodriguez (also raced F1 that year)
1964 Ferrari 330 P - John Surtees (also raced F1 that year)
1965 Ford GT 40 Mk II - Phil Hill (also raced F1 that year)
1966 Ford GT 40 Mk II - Dan Gurney (also raced F1 that year)
1967 Ford GT Mk IV - Bruce McLaren (also raced F1 that year)
1968 Porsche 908 - Jo Siffert (also raced F1 that year)
1969 Porsche 917 - Rolf Stommelen (also raced F1 that year)
1970 Porsche 917 - Vic Elford (raced in F1 BEFORE - 1969 - and AFTER - 1971 - this year)
1971 Porsche 917 - Pedro Rodriguez (also raced F1 that year)
1972 Matra MS 670 François Cévert (also raced F1 that year)
1973 Ferrari 312 P/B Arturo Merzario (also raced F1 that year)
1974 Matra MS 670 B - Henri Pescarolo (also raced F1 that year)
1975 Mirage GR 8 - Jacky Ickx (also raced F1 that year)
1976 Alpine A 442 - Jean-Pierre Jabouille (raced in F1 BEFORE - 1975 - and AFTER - 1977 - that year)
1977 Renault Alpine A442 - Jean-Pierre Jabouille (also raced F1 that year)
1978 Porsche 936/78 - Jochen Mass (also raced F1 that year)
1979 Porsche 936 - Bob Wollek (NEVER RACED IN F1)
After Jochen Mass, and unless I missed something on the list, never again the pole position at Le Mans was achieved by an active Formula 1 driver. Many ex-F1 guys (with varying degrees of success in F1, from Ickx to Alliot or Nakajima), and a few Sports cars specialists, but never active F1 drivers. (Bourdais achieved pole in 2010, his last year in F1 was 2009)
We shall see if Hulkenberg has what it takes tp put an end to this 35 year-long drought
I guess in those eras even F1 drivers needed to be calm, precise and collected while driving, under penalty of death, and that made them good endurance drivers too.
This list of Le Mans pole positions is impressive (easier to read than the full entry lists, but rest assured, the big teams lineup of drivers were filled with active F1 competitors):
1963 Ferrari 330 TR - Pedro Rodriguez (also raced F1 that year)
1964 Ferrari 330 P - John Surtees (also raced F1 that year)
1965 Ford GT 40 Mk II - Phil Hill (also raced F1 that year)
1966 Ford GT 40 Mk II - Dan Gurney (also raced F1 that year)
1967 Ford GT Mk IV - Bruce McLaren (also raced F1 that year)
1968 Porsche 908 - Jo Siffert (also raced F1 that year)
1969 Porsche 917 - Rolf Stommelen (also raced F1 that year)
1970 Porsche 917 - Vic Elford (raced in F1 BEFORE - 1969 - and AFTER - 1971 - this year)
1971 Porsche 917 - Pedro Rodriguez (also raced F1 that year)
1972 Matra MS 670 François Cévert (also raced F1 that year)
1973 Ferrari 312 P/B Arturo Merzario (also raced F1 that year)
1974 Matra MS 670 B - Henri Pescarolo (also raced F1 that year)
1975 Mirage GR 8 - Jacky Ickx (also raced F1 that year)
1976 Alpine A 442 - Jean-Pierre Jabouille (raced in F1 BEFORE - 1975 - and AFTER - 1977 - that year)
1977 Renault Alpine A442 - Jean-Pierre Jabouille (also raced F1 that year)
1978 Porsche 936/78 - Jochen Mass (also raced F1 that year)
1979 Porsche 936 - Bob Wollek (NEVER RACED IN F1)
After Jochen Mass, and unless I missed something on the list, never again the pole position at Le Mans was achieved by an active Formula 1 driver. Many ex-F1 guys (with varying degrees of success in F1, from Ickx to Alliot or Nakajima), and a few Sports cars specialists, but never active F1 drivers. (Bourdais achieved pole in 2010, his last year in F1 was 2009)
We shall see if Hulkenberg has what it takes tp put an end to this 35 year-long drought
- 9,089
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- Essex
I strongly recommend Silverstone as well as Le Mans. Was great to see the cars for the first time at silverstone and made the excitement for Le Mans build even faster
- 5,551
- Controls set for heart of sun
- GTP_RogerTheHors
Wait, what?
- 1,584
- Northamton
- FRS_SK8R
lets just hope it dosent rain this time! its not much fun walking around Silverstone (witch is winder than it looks on TV) cold and wet!
but once you get in the dry its the single best place to be!
- 4,186
- Donington Park
- ROB__MK2
Journey to Le Mans is on ITV4 at the moment
- 9,089
- Scotland
And the director is going mental, not a happy bunny at all it seems.
- 44,185
- Blackburn
- Furinkazen_54
- 9,089
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They just missed out a huge part of the story!!!It's the cut version.. I'm watching full one tonight
- 35,145
- Addison,Texas
- GTP_RACECAR
Attachments
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- Essex
It's kinda scary how overpriced F1 is. I can go to Le Mans for less money than the British GP 
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- catamount39
Holy cow! £40?! Man, that's the deal of the century! 
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- ROB__MK2
Think I might be going to Silverstone this year for the WEC 
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Think I might be going to Silverstone this year for the WEC
Do it.
- 4,186
- Donington Park
- ROB__MK2
Haven't been to an endurance event in years. I'm planning on going to Le Mans in 2016/17 based on when my exams finish.
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- Essex
Do it.
Seriously tho you won't regret it. Obviously it takes more planning getting over to france but it's so worth it.
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- catamount39
Should have done that with ALMS..... 
But good to hear that they'll be trying to get that series some more "zing".
But good to hear that they'll be trying to get that series some more "zing".
CodeRedR51
Premium
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Surprised this hasn't been posted yet.
http://www.foxsports.com/motor/stor...e-lmp1-program-120814?cmpid=tsmfb:fscom:speed
http://www.foxsports.com/motor/stor...e-lmp1-program-120814?cmpid=tsmfb:fscom:speed
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CodeRedR51
Premium
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Forgot to add, team NISMO has returned.
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