24h Le Mans
The first Tourist Trophy was in 1905, the first 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923. These races have several interruptions, but have survived through all the eras and the evolution of motor sport.
The first Tourist Trophy was in 1905, the first 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1923. These two great races have several several interruptions, but have survived through all the eras and the evolution of motor sport. And they are only six to hooking these two appointments to their name.
Tazio Nuvolari, pioneer. One of the greatest drivers of the era between World Wars, he won his first Tourist Trophy in 1931, two years before his victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 1933, the Italian (1892-1953) became one of only two drivers in history to have won the 24 hours and Tourist Trophy in the same year. These successes were with Alfa Romeo, for whom he was a works driver.
Carroll Shelby, the double in 1959. In a Aston Martin DBR 1 the American driver (1923-2012) joined Tazio Nuvolari in the same historic double. At Le Mans, it was with Roy Salvadori. Who was the Texan's team mate in the Tourist Trophy alongside Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman.
Jochen Mass, 17 years and two wins. The German scored the double across two very different stages of his career. In 1972, he won the Tourist Trophy at the age of 26, before he started in Formula 1. Seventeen years later, in 1989, he won the 24 Hours of Le Mans with Stanley Dickens and Manuel Reuter in a Sauber-Mercedes crowning a successful career in endurance racing, where he was for many years one of the privileged team mates of Jacky Ickx.
Hill Graham, the Emperor. The record of this legendary British driver (1929-1974) is outstanding: Twice World Champion in Formula 1 (1962-1968), five wins at the Monaco Grand Prix (1963-64-65-68-69), one in Indianapolis (1966) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1972), plus two consecutive wins at the Tourist Trophy (1963-64), the first won driving a sports car icon: the Ferrari 250 GTO!
Derek Bell, the master of endurance racing. The most successful British driver in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with five wins (tied with Italian Emanuele Pirro and German Frank Biela) in 1975-81-82-86-87, also won the Tourist Trophy in 1973 in a BMW. Like Jochen Mass, he was one of the major team mates of Jacky Ickx: he shared three of his five wins in La Sarthe with the Belgian champion.
Tom Walkinshaw, driver and constructor. The career of Tom Walkinshaw (1946-2010) is unique. He won the Tourist Trophy as a driver 3 times (1981-82-85), before scoring two victories with Jaguar at Le Mans 24 Hours as a team owner (1988 and 1990), and win two more victories in La Sarthe as chassis manufacturer TWR-Porsche in 1996 and 1997!
At the finish of the opening round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, the Tourist Trophy will be awarded to the overall winners. Six former winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will compete on the 14th of April: Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer (Audi e-tron quattro R18 No.1), Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish (Audi R18 e-tron quattro No.2 ) and Alexander Wurz (Toyota TS030 Hybrid No.7).
