24h Le Mans
Every year, new inductees are welcomed into the Auto Racing Hall of Fame at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. Yesterday, the induction of Bruce McLaren, winner at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans, was announced at the 108th anniversary celebration of the famous oval circuit.
Since opening in 1952, the Indianapolis Auto Racing Hall of Fame pays tribute to individuals whom have contributed to motorsports history, and inducts new members every year. In 2017, selected by a panel of motorsports journalists, competitors and historians, the Hall of Fame will welcome Dario Franchitti, three-time winner at the Indianapolis 500 between 2007 and 2012, and Bruce McLaren, winner at Le Mans in 1966 and founder of the team and constructor still bearing his name.
Though Dario Franchitti, winner at the 2008 Rolex 24 at Daytona with Chip Ganassi Racing, has never participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, he did attend last year's 84th edition to support his brother Marino driving one of the four Ford GTs entered by...Chip Ganassi Racing. Unfortunately, the Scottish driver's #67 Ford GT experienced mechanical problems from the outset of the race. But that did not prevent the American marque from claiming the top step on the podium in its class, 50 years to the day after…Bruce McLaren's overall win.
The New Zealander, the first "Kiwi" to take the start at the 24 Hours (in 1959 with a Cooper, retirement), did in fact score the first of four consecutive victories for Ford at Le Mans, along with his fellow countryman Chris Amon in a GT40 MkII. He then went on to create his own team and build his own cars - one of which, the McLaren F1 GTR, won the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the constructor's first appearance in 1995.
Sadly, Bruce McLaren, who also won four F1 Grand Prix, was unable to celebrate Yannick Dalmas, J.J. Lehto and Masanori Sekiya's victory. He passed away at Goodwood in June of 1970 during a testing session for a prototype in the American championship CanAm, which he dominated in the late 1960s with his fellow countryman Denny Hulme, F1 World Champion in 1967.
Though he died before his 33rd birthday, Bruce McLaren - who participated in the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times - left an indelible mark on motorsports...as a driver, team owner and constructor.
Photo (Copyright - Archives/ACO): The #2 Ford GT40 driven by Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon on the starting grid at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.
