With Dwight Merriman out the race due to a back injury, Idec Sport bring Porsche driver Patrick Pilet in to save the day

24H Le Mans

24 Heures du Mans

The 24 Hours of Le Mans is rich with fascinating stories of human exploits. For example, Gérard Welter, head of Peugeot style and design, and Michel Meunier, member of the design office, made history with the modest WM team by fielding the fastest car ever at the race.

<p>The iconic section of the 24 Hours circuit known as the Mulsanne Straight whets the appetite for speed. Manufacturers earn bragging rights by setting speed records on this stretch of the track, and Porsche saw its coveted reign challenged in 1988.</p>

<p>For countless competitors, taking the start in the 24 Hours is a dream. This certainly was true for Gérard Welter and Michel Meunier beginning in 1976. Associated with Peugeot, they naturally turned to the French constructor to help make the dream a reality. Despite an impressive fourth place finish in 1980, the WM team found it unfeasible to achieve better results, so it decided on the goal of setting the speed record at Le Mans.</p>

<p>Their first attempt at the "400 kph project" was tried in 1987, but failed. The following year, the team's hopes were placed in its new weapon, the WM P88. Roger Dorchy, Claude Haldi and Jean-Daniel Raulet were tasked with taking the PRV V6 (Peugeot-Renault-Volvo) beyond 9,200 rpms, more than 400 kph.</p>

<p>After several unsuccessful attempts and a fall in the overall classification, Dorchy was charged with focusing solely on completing the mission. He proceeded to stop after each lap and ask his team if he had set the record or not. At 20:46, Dorchy did it! He had reached 405 kph in the Mulsanne Straight! The exact speed was an extraordinary wink to the new Peugeot released that year...the 405.</p>

<p>The temporary Peugeot Exhibition: Allure Le Mans is available for viewing at the 24 Hours Museum until <strong>30 September</strong>.</p>

<p>For more info, go to the official <a href="http://www.lemans-musee24h.com/en/">24 Hours Museum</a> website. </p>

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Peugeot Exhibition: Allure Le Mans – The WM team's adventure and 400 kph project

As constructors began to understand the importance of car body shape in the 1920s, and in the wake of the financial crisis of 1929, Peugeot decided to prioritize the reduction of fuel consumption without negatively affecting performance.

<p>The 1930s are known for highlighting beautiful lines in cars, an era when constructors formed their automobiles like fashion designers dressed their models. The new aesthetic came from an awareness of the importance of shape and profiling in cars. The goal was also to lower fuel consumption, with Peugeot the perfect example of how both resulted in a car maker's new visual identity.</p>

<p>The creation of Peugeot's "Fuseau Sochaux" series ushered in a new design by Henri Thomas. The new shape had one clear aim: to save fuel after the economic crisis of 1929. The French manufacturer claimed a streamlined four-cylinder must have the performance of a traditional six-cylinder. The corners of the grill and fenders were rounded to create the desired shape.</p>

<p>The Peugeot 402 and 302 were the first ambassadors of the new look set to appear at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Until then, car aerodynamics had been anything but an exact science. But, that all changed thanks to the engineering expertise of Charles Deutsch who applied aerodynamic theories to his racing cars and significantly contributed to the advancement of car design.</p>

<p>Deutsch's CDs were the first cars tested in a wind tunnel to validate aerodynamics. These cars stunned the crowd at the 24 Hours circuit and foreshadowed the fastest prototypes of the 1970s. Many features designed and tested at Le Mans by Deutsch and his teams in the 1960s are still noticeable today on racing cars.</p>

<p>These contributions were decisive in increasing performance, including exceeding 400 kph (without taking off) in the Mulsanne Straight in 1988. One of the essential aerodynamic elements on today's cars is the rear wing to keep the car to the ground. However, this component is nowhere to be found on the future Peugeot 9X8. So, what aerodynamic innovation does the French manufacturer have in store?</p>

<p>The temporary <em>Peugeot Exhibition: Allure Le Mans</em> is available for viewing at the 24 Hours Museum until <strong>30 September</strong>.</p>

<p>For more info, go to the official <a href="https://www.lemans-musee24h.com/en/">24 Hours Museum</a> website. </p>

Peugeot Exhibition: Allure Le Mans – Aerodynamics spur progress

BMW has announced Team WRT is set to run BMW M Hybrid V8s in the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024.

<p>After its success in the LMP2 class, Team WRT is partnering with BMW <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-bmw-reveals-plans-to-enter-hypercar-in-2024-56544">(read related article</a>) in the FIA WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the 2024 season. The Belgian outift will run BMW M Hybrid V8s.</p>

<p><strong>BMW M GmbH Chairman and CEO, Franciscus van Meel: </strong><em>"It is fantastic to see how our LMDh project has been gaining momentum in recent weeks. First the successful rollout of the BMW M Hybrid V8, followed by the decision of the Board to approve the return to the WEC – and now the agreement with one of the best and most successful teams in endurance racing. We are proud and delighted that a top-quality team like Team WRT has agreed to take on our BMW M Hybrid V8 and compete with it at Le Mans, and at all the other WEC races. The next few years will see us in a great position in both top race programmes, with BMW M Team RLL in the IMSA series and Team WRT in the WEC."</em></p>

<p><strong>Head of BMW M Motorsport, Andreas Roos:</strong> <em>"The successes and extensive experience make Team WRT the ideal partner for our return to Le Mans. From the word go, discussions with Vincent Vosse and his partners were very positive. It was immediately clear that we share a passion for the WEC project and the BMW M Hybrid V8, and it did not take long to come to an agreement on collaboration. There will now be a period of intensive preparations next year, before the first competitive appearances in 2024. We have not yet considered any potential appearances for Team WRT in GT racing. Over the coming months, we will make a decision about our race programme for the BMW M4 GT3 in the 2023 season in close collaboration with all our BMW M Motorsport teams."</em></p>

<p><strong>Team WRT CEO, Vincent Vosse:</strong><em> "All of us at Team WRT are extremely happy with the start of this new partnership with BMW M Motorsport and feel honoured to be associated with a brand that has such an awesome pedigree in motor racing. Team WRT was launched thirteen years ago and has enjoyed continuous success in different categories, mainly GT3 and endurance racing. Since the very beginning, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been in our plans and in our dreams, and being part of the new Hypercar era of the FIA WEC that is about to open, was our strongest desire. To prepare for that, we launched a programme in LMP2 two years ago, where we have proved to be competitive and successful, taking ELMS and FIA WEC titles, and also a class win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in our maiden participation. Entering the LMDh arena with a strong partner such as BMW M Motorsport was the logical next step and we are not only thrilled about the challenge ahead, but also thankful for BMW M Motorsport’s trust in us. I can still remember when BMW M Motorsport won at Le Mans in 1999, as I was one of the drivers of the team in the neighboring box. We will work hard to repeat these moments and live them together."</em></p>

24 Hours of Le Mans – Team WRT to run BMW M Hybrid V8s in 2024

The recent 6 Hours of Monza (8-10 July), fourth round of the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship season, will go down in endurance racing history as a double premiere for women in the LMGTE classes. In honor of the achievement, here are 10 stories about female competitors at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

<p>In LMGTE Am at Monza, Sarah Bovy (<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/sarah-bovy-iron-dames-le-mans-is-an-incredible-challenge-56225">read interview</a>), Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting clinched both the first pole position and first podium finish (third) for an all-female driver line-up in the FIA WEC. Similarly, Corvette Racing's win in LMGTE Pro was the American team's first in the championship and first for its manager, Laura Wontrop Klauser, who succeeded Doug Fehan last year (<a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/laura-wontrop-klauser-le-mans-was-always-on-my-bucket-list-55953">read interview</a>).</p>

<p>To these accomplishments add Sophia Floersch's best result for a female driver in the European Le Mans Series with second place at the Le Castellet opening round in April. A new era for women in endurance racing has dawned ahead of the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours next year.</p>

<h3>Anny-Charlotte Verney | The record</h3>

<p>A local female holds the participation record at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 10 consecutive starts between 1974 and 1983, Anny-Charlotte Verney made it to the checkered flag eight times, with as best result sixth place shared with American drivers Bob Garretson and Ralph Kent-Cooke in 1981. She set the record at the wheel of various Porsche 911s (Carrera RSR, 934 and 935) and one in a Rondeau prototype in 1983 with Vic Elford and Joël Gouhier (retirement).</p>

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<h3>Odette Siko | 90 years later…</h3>

<p>This year marked the 90th running of the 24 Hours as well as the 90th anniversary of the best classification overall for a female driver in the history of the race. In 1932, for her third and penultimate participation, Odette Siko finished fourth at the wheel of her own Alfa Romeo 8C, along with Louis Charavel. Two years earlier, she had joined forces with Marguerite Mareuse to form the first all-female driver line-up at Le Mans, finishing seventh with a Bugatti Type 40.</p>

<h3>Morgan's journey</h3>

<p>In 1938, British constructor Morgan's first appearance in the 24 Hours came to fruition thanks to Marjorie Fawcett who finished 13th along with Geoffrey White. The following year, she once again fielded her Morgan 4-4, that time with an all-male crew that included White and Cuthbert Marc Anthony (15th).</p>

<h3>Michèle Mouton | Rookie participation culminates in a win</h3>

<p>Entered in the 1975 24 Hours with a Moynet prototype powered by a Simca-ROC 4-cylinder in-line 2-litre engine, Michèle Mouton finished 21st overall and won her class with an all-female trio including Christine Dacremont and Marianne Hoepfner. After becoming the first and only female to date to win in the World Rally Championship, Mouton returned to Le Mans in 2010 as the president of Women in Motorsport, a commission created by Jean Todt dedicated to facilitating women's participation in auto racing. Todt had just been elected to the first of his three terms as president of the FIA. That same year, an all-female driver line-up comprised of Cyndie Allemann, Rahel Frey and Natacha Gachnang took the start in the 24 Hours with a Ford GT (retirement).</p>

<h3>1975 | Eight women at the start</h3>

<p>In addition to the class win secured by Christine Dacrement/Marianne Hoepfner/Michèle Mouton mentioned above, two other female crews took the start in the 43rd running of Le Mans. The best overall result was achieved by Yvette Fontaine/Corinne Tarnaud/Anny-Charlotte Verney, 11th with a Porsche 911 Carrera RS. Despite their retirement with a 2-liter Renault-Alpine A441 prototype, French driver Marie-Claude Beaumont and Italian driver Lella Lombardi pioneered the French constructor's future offensive at the race, culminating in Jean-Pierre Jaussaud and Didier Pironi's win in 1978.</p>

<h3>Lyn St. James | The 24 Hours to Indianapolis</h3>

<p>American driver Lyn St. James counts two participations in the 24 Hours to her credit with a Spice-Ford prototype. First teamed up with Ray Bellm and Gordon Spice in 1989, three years later she joined an all-female crew with French driver Cathy Muller and South African driver Desiré Wilson, but both participations ended in retirements. On 24 May 1992, St. James made history by becoming the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the two oldest circuit races in the history of auto racing in terms of runnings. In seven starts in the Indy 500 until 2000, she earned her best result, 11th place, in 1992.</p>

<h3>Leena Gade | Head engineer</h3>

<p>The 2011 24 Hours is recognized as a stand-out thanks to the intensity of the fight for the lead on Sunday between the Peugeot 908 of Sébastien Bourdais/Pedro Lamy/Simon Pagenaud and the Audi R18 TDI of winners Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer. At the same time, Leena Gade became the first woman to win Le Mans as head engineer, and two more victories would follow for the British engineer and the trio of drivers, in 2012 and 2014.</p>

<h3>From the Porsche Cup to the 24 Hours</h3>

<p>Lilou Wadoux's win at the Porsche Sprint Cup Challenge France on Saturday before the 2021 24 Hours earned her a spot three months later in the Rookie Test organized at the 8 Hours of Bahrain, closing round of the FIA WEC. An official driver with Richard Mille Racing Team for 2022 season, Wadoux competed in her first 24 Hours with one of the most famous driver line-ups of the 90th running of Le Mans thanks to Sébastien Ogier. She finished ninth in LMP2 (13th overall) with the eight-time world rally champion and Charles Milesi.</p>

<h3>Women racing drivers in the 2020s</h3>

<p>Eight women have taken the start in the 24 Hours since 2019: Sarah Bovy, Tatiana Calderon, Sophia Floersch, Rahel Frey, Michelle Gatting, Manuela Gostner, Beitske Visser and Lilou Wadoux, making it into the top 10 several times in their respective classes: ninth in LMGTE Am in 2019 (Frey/Gatting/Gostner), ninth in LMP2 (Calderon/Floersch/Visser) and LMGTE Am (Frey/Gatting/Gostner) in 2020 and ninth in 2021 (Bovy/Frey/Gatting). This year, in addition to the ninth place scored in LMP2 by Wadoux, Floersch finished fifth in LMP2 Pro/Am along with Jack Aitken and John Falb. Twenty-fifth overall, the young German driver was delayed in the very first lap by a gearbox sensor problem that eventually cost her six laps.</p>

<h3>Female starters…</h3>

<p>Three women have waved the French flag to give the start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: Hélène Blanc (local regional prefect) in 1991, Joan Hall (Australia's Minister of Tourism) in 1999 and HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco in 2019.</p>

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<p><strong>PHOTOS (Copyright - ACO ARCHIVES): LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24 HOURS OF LE MANS. From top to bottom: Michelle Gatting, Rahel Frey and Sarah Bovy (from left to right) at the 2022 Drivers' Parade; the Porsche 935 K3 with which Anny-Charlotte Vernay finished sixth in 1981; Odette Siko at the finish of the 1932 24 Hours; Marjorie Fawcett and teammate Geoffrey White in 1938; Leena Gade and the Audi team in 2011; Lilou Wadoux at the wheel of Richard Mille Racing Team's ORECA in 2022; Sophia Floersch at the 2022 Drivers' Parade flanked by teammates Jack Aitken (at left) and John Falb; HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco giving the start at the 2019 24 Hours.</strong></p>

24 Hours of Le Mans – Women making their talent known

24 Heures du Mans 2020

<p>The American driver Dwight Merriman is out of the race after sustaining a back injury when his car came off the track during yesterday&rsquo;s second practice session. It&rsquo;s not the end of the road for the #17 Oreca 07- Gibson though, as Idec Sport are drafting in an illustrious replacement. Porsche factory driver Patrick Pilet will step in to help the French team out for this weekend&rsquo;s race at Le Mans. It will be the French driver&rsquo;s first time in a prototype!</p>

24H LE MANS

Patrick Pilet steps in to replace Dwight Merriman at the last minute

Related News

Peugeot Exhibition: Allure Le Mans – The WM team's adventure and 400 kph project

Peugeot Exhibition: Allure Le Mans – Aerodynamics spur progress

24 Hours of Le Mans – Team WRT to run BMW M Hybrid V8s in 2024

24 Hours of Le Mans – Women making their talent known