In 1976, Jean Rondeau set himself the challenge of winning Le Mans in a car of his own design, he built two cars in his garage in Le Mans. At the second attempt, the Inaltéra, named after its main sponsor, won the Grand Tourisme Prototype class and came fourth overall.
Inaltéra later pulled out of the sponsorship and Jean Rondeau therefore fielded and drove a car in his own name, sharing the wheel with Bernard Darniche and Jacky Haran. In 1978 the M378/01 won its class and finished in ninth place overall. The best was yet to come.
Renamed due to modifications, Rondeau’s Cosworth-powered M379 finished fifth in 1979. In 1980 the #17 driven by Gordon Spice and Philippe and Jean-Michel Martin made third place while Rondeau and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud took the coveted trophy in the #16. Rondeau had achieved his goal.
The following year the #17 came second to Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell’s Porsche 936. It changed hands several times and was entered for the 24 Hours of Le Mans until 1988, although performance was lacklustre compared to its earlier years.
In 2012, still flanked #17, the car was sold at auction in Monaco for €358,400. The Belgian buyer ran it at Le Mans Classic in 2014 and is now seeking a new owner.
Photo: The #17 Le Mans Rondeau is for sale.