Photo : ACO/Nikon

 

While we wait for 2014, here is a refresher course on the two constructors' combined past accomplishments at Le Mans, the two most successful marques in the history of the 24 Hours.

Twenty-eight victories at Le Mans. Porsche : 16 from 1970 to 1998 / Audi : 12 from 1999 to 2012. Although Porsche holds the record for most wins, the Stuttgart marque waited 21 years to win its first 24 Hours, while Audi took the overall victory in just its second participations. The impressive success ratio (12 wins in 15 races) must also be factored in with Porsche's absence during this entire period.

Porsche and Audi  "go the distance" ! Since 1971, the two constructors hold the distance record at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The 5,335 kilometers (222 kph average) covered by the Porsche 917 of Gijs van Lennep and Helmut Marko in 1971 were not beaten until 2010 by the Audi R15 TDI "Plus" driven by Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller, racing 5,405 kilometers (225 kph average).

First technologies. In 1976, Porsche, along with drivers Jacky Ickx and Gijs van Lennep, were the first to win at Le Mans with a turbo engine, in the 936. Exactly 30 years later, Audi took the first win by a diesel engine at the 24 Hours with the R10 TDI of Frank Biela, Emanuele Pirro and Marco Werner. In 2012, the Audi R18 e-tron quattro became the first hybrid prototype to win in La Sarthe, with drivers Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer. Know-how and how to succeed are two common points between Porsche and Audi: the 936, R10 TDI and R18 e-tron quattro each won on their very first Le Mans starts.

Winning driver lineups. In 1986 and 1987, Derek Bell, Al Holbert and Hans-Joachim Stück (Porsche 962 C) were the first three-driver squad to win Le Mans back to back. In years to come, they would be joined by six Audi drivers:  Frank Biela-Emanuele Pirro-Marco Werner in 2006 and 2007, then Marcel Fässler-André Lotterer-Benoît Tréluyer in 2011 and 2012… without forgetting of course Frank Biela-Tom Kristensen-Emanuele Pirro, the only trio to win Le Mans three consecutive years in 2000, 2001 and 2002, driving the Audi R8.

But lets certainly not forget Toyota, who will be looking to continue their winning ways from the final race of the season at the 6 Hours of Bahrain this year and add even more spice to this fabulous German battle in 2014.

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translated by Rainier Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo : LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY, JUNE 17, 2012, FINISH. In 2014, hybrid technology that Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer won with at Le Mans for the first time in 2012, will be at the heart of the Porsche and Audi duel.