Le Mans 24 Hours 1979 - Racing Sports Cars

Event: 24 Heures du Mans		Date: 10.6.1979
Track: Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans (France), 13.626 kms	Organiser: Automobile Club de l'Ouest
Le Mans 24 Hours
FIA World Challenge for Endurance Drivers (round 6)

Weather:	intermittent rain
Start time:	9/6 15:00
Grid:	2-2-2, PP right
Distance:	24 hours
Attendance:	unknown

Entered:	87
Practiced:	59
Qualified:	55
Started:	55
Finished:	22
Classified:	22

Classes:	Pract	Start	Class
Group 6 - Sports +2000	13	12	3
Group 6 - Sports 2000	16	14	4
Group 5 - +2000	9	9	6
Group 5 - 2000	0	0	0
Group 4 - Grand Touring +3000	5	4	3
Group 4 - Grand Touring 3000	0	0	0
IMSA GTX - +2500	11	11	5
IMSA GTX - 2500	1	0	0
Le Mans GTP - +3000	4	4	1
Le Mans GTP - 3000	1	1	0

Photo Gallery Entered Cars Technical Data Appearance Race Results Grid Qualifying Lap Times

Pre-race sessions:
2 qualifying sessions held for a total of 660 minutes on 6-7/6

Winners:
Overall:	41	Porsche 935 K3	Whittington / Ludwig / Whittington
Group 6 - Sports +2000:	5	Rondeau M379 Ford	Ragnotti / Darniche
Group 6 - Sports 2000:	29	Chevron B36 Ford	Charnell / Jones / Smith
Group 4 - Grand Touring +3000:	82	Porsche 934	Müller / Pallavicini / Vanoli
IMSA GTX - +2500:	70	Porsche 935	Stommelen / Barbour / Newman
Le Mans GTP - +3000:	52	WM P79 Peugeot	Mamers / Raulet
Leaders:
laps 1-18:		Porsche 936	Ickx
laps 19-37:		Porsche 936	Wollek, Haywood
laps 38-43:		Porsche 936	Ickx
laps 44-59:		Porsche 936	Wollek
laps 60-97:		Ford M 10	Bell, Hobbs
laps 98-306:		Porsche 935's
Fastest Laps:
Overall:	12	Porsche 936/78	Jacky Ickx (B)	3:36.100	227.003 km/h
Pole Positions:
Overall:	14	Porsche 936/78	Wollek / Haywood	3:30.070
Group 6 - Sports 2000:	27	Chevron B36 ROC	Vetsch / Sourd / Carmillet	4:01.320
Group 5 - +2000:	41	Porsche 935 K3	Whittington / Ludwig / Whittington	3:34.640
Group 4 - Grand Touring +3000:	82	Porsche 934	Müller / Pallavicini / Vanoli	4:06.650
IMSA GTX - +2500:	70	Porsche 935	Stommelen / Barbour / Newman	3:49.840
IMSA GTX - 2500:	77	Mazda RX-7 252i	Ikuzawa / Terada / Buchet	4:18.880	189.484 km/h
Le Mans GTP - +3000:	53	WM P79 Peugeot	Pignard / Coulon / Saulnier	3:56.080
Le Mans GTP - 3000:	55	Rondeau M379 Ford	Rondeau / Haran	3:54.280
Notes of interest:
Top makes by numbers:	Porsche (20), Lola (7), Chevron (5), Ferrari (4), Rondeau (3), WM (3), De Cadenet (3)
Top engines by numbers:	Porsche (20), Ford (16), BMW (6), ROC (5), Ferrari (4)
Top car types by numbers:	Porsche 935 (14), Chevron B36 (5), Porsche 934 (4), Ferrari 512 BB (4)
Driver nationalities:	F (68), GB (27), USA (20), CH (13), D (10), I (4), B (3), AUS (2)
Team nationalities:	F (18), D (8), USA (8), CH (4), GB (4), J (2)
Most used colours:	white (33%), red (24%), blue (17%), yellow (7%), green (6%), black (5%)
Engine positions:	mid-engined (65%), rear-engined (32%), front-engined (3%)
Average engine size:	2930 cc (with regard to 43% turbocharged cars an applicable size is 3433 cc)
Oldest known drivers:	Tony Trimmer (58), Paul Newman (54), Preston Henn (48)
Youngest known drivers:	Patrick Bardinon (21), Denis Morin (23), Manfred Winkelhock (27)
Woman drivers:	Anny-Charlotte Verney

Official Race Programme:

Cover	Entry List	Schedule	Track Map