24h Le Mans
The competitor exploits, shocking twists and caliber of racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1932 and 2012 have all made it one of the most legendary races in history. As we await the 2022 running on 11-12 June, enjoy this retrospective from 1982.
19-20 June 1982 (50th running)
Distance covered by the winners: 359 laps or 4,899.090 km (an average of 204.128 kph).
After 1975 and 1981, the duo of Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell won its third victory at the 24 Hours. Ickx, having been crowned the new win record-holder in 1981, brought his personal total to six the following year, a record that held until 2005. Bell went on to win two more times, in 1986 and 1987.
Triumphant for the seventh time in 1982, Porsche pulled off a perfect hat trick for the new 956 prototype's rookie participation, in racing number order: Jacky Ickx/Derek Bell (#1), Jochen Mass/Vern Schuppan (#2) and Jürgen Barth/Hurley Haywood/Al Holbert (#3). During this period, the German marque achieved the longest victory cycle for a manufacturer at the 24 Hours, remaining undefeated for seven consecutive runnings from 1981 to 1987.
With three 935s entered by private teams (fourth, fifth and eighth), Porsche placed a total of six cars in the top 10 in 1982. The first constructor ranked behind Porsche's top 5 overall was Ferrari with sixth and ninth places for the 512 BB. After the launch of its road version in 1976, the 512 BB made its first appearance in the 24 Hours in 1978, succeeding the Daytona has the Ferrari fan favorite at the race. In addition to the winning Porsche 956s, two other prototypes figured in top 10: the Nimrod-Aston Martin driven by Ray Mallock/Simon Phillips/Mike Salmon (seventh) and the Rondeau shared by Lucien Guitteny/Bruno Sotty/Pierre Yver (10th).
The World Rally Championship saw a stunning duel between French driver Michèle Mouton (Audi) and German driver Walter Röhrl (Opel). The latter won his second victory in the discipline and became the first multiple world rally champion (the drivers title was created in 1979).
12 June 1982 is the birthdate of French driver Loïc Duval, pole-sitter and winner at the 2013 24 Hours representing Audi along with Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish.
A masterpiece debuts – On 23 May, the Cannes Film Festival hosted the world premiere of The Wall, a film adaptation directed by Alan Parker of Pink Floyd's double album released in autumn 1979.
Italy 44 years later – On 11 July, Italy won its third World Cup, the first since 1938, by beating Germany in the final three goals to one. The top scorer in the competition was also Italian, Paolo Rossi, with six goals.
Stephen King, one short story collection produces three films – On 27 August, American author Stephen King published Different Seasons, a collection of novellas. Three were adapted into movies: Stand By Me (1986), Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (1994) and An Apt Pupil (1998).
Michael Jackson, a triumph is released – On 30 November, Michael Jackson's Thriller hit the charts and became the best-selling pop rock album of all time.
PHOTOS (Copyright - ACO ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 19-20 JUNE 1982. From top to bottom: the perfect hat trick in racing number order achieved by the new Porsche 956; Derek Bell (helmeted) and Jacky Ickx, the winning duo in 1975 (with Gulf Mirage), 1981 and 1982 (with Porsche); ninth overall, the Ferrari 512 BB of Alain Cudini, John Morton and John Paul, Jr. fielded by the NART owned by previous three-time winner Luigi Chinetti.
