24h Le Mans
In 1995 the McLaren F1 GTR caused a stir by beating the usually faster prototypes and winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The five GTRs that raced twenty years ago will be part of the opening ceremony of the 83rd edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours this June.
The Le Mans title makes the McLaren the only carmaker to have won all three of the world’s most iconic motor races, known as The Triple Crown of Motorsport: the Indianapolis 500, the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix and the Le Mans 24 Hours. In fact, the British marque’s 1995 victory was more than a win, it was all-out domination: the F1 GTRs took first, third, forth, fifth and thirteenth place!
The parade of the five McLaren F1 GTRs will also include the newest addition to the family, the P1 GTR, which will be seen in motion for the first time, having been unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show.
The 1995 winning drivers, JJ Lehto, Masanori Sekiya and Yannick Dalmas will all be present to see the quintet reunited for the first time in twenty years and French legend Dalmas will have the honour of leading the parade in the new P1 GTR.
Le Mans 24 Hours results for the five McLaren F1 GTRs in 1995:
Team: Kokusai Aihatsu Racing (GB) – chassis #01R
N°: 59
Drivers: Yannick Dalmas (F), J.J. Lehto (SF), Masanori Sekiya (J)
Qualifications: 9th / Final Place: 1st
Team: Mach One Racing (GB) – chassis #06R
N°: 51
Drivers: Derek Bell (GB), Justin Bell (GB), Andy Wallace (GB)
Qualifications: 13th / Final Place: 3rd
Team: Gulf Racing (GB) – chassis #02R
N°: 24
Drivers: Ray Bellm (GB), Mark Blundell (GB), Maurizio Sandro Sala (BR)
Qualifications: 11th / Final Place: 4th
Team: Giroix Racing Team (F) – chassis #07R
N°: 50
Drivers: Jean-Denis Delétraz (CH), Fabien Giroix (F), Olivier Grouillard (F)
Qualifications: 15th / Final Place: 5th
Team: Société BBA Compétition (F) – chassis #05R
N°: 42
Drivers: Jean-Luc Maury-Laribiére (F), Hervé Poulain (F), Marc Sourd (F)
Qualifications: 20th / Final Place: 13th
Come and celebrate an epic win with McLaren F1 GTRs at the opening of the 83rd Le Mans 24 Hours on Saturday 13 June 2015!
Cécile Bonardel / ACO Translated from French by Emma Paulay
Photo: D.R. Archives ACO
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, SATURDAY 17 & SUNDAY 18 JUNE 1995. Yannick Dalmas will take the wheel of the winning McLaren at the opening ceremony of the 83rd Le Mans 24 Hours.
