The history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is punctuated with victorious sagas linking drivers to constructors: Olivier Gendebien and Ferrari (4 wins), Henri Pescarolo and Matra (3 wins), Jacky Ickx and Porsche (4 wins), Tom Kristensen and Audi (7 wins). Yannick Dalmas is a true exception to the rule, "but every one of the cars in which I won at the 24 Hours of Le Mans had its pros and its cons!" he says by way of introduction. The French driver is not guilty of favouritism!

After impressive debuts in promotional single-seaters formulas in the early 1980s and 24 Formula 1 Grand Prix between 1987 and 1994, Yannick Dalmas was recruited for the first time for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a long-term program. Jean Todt, the head of Peugeot Sport at the time and now President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), entered Peugeot at Le Mans. After a retirement in 1991 at his first participation, Dalmas won in 1992 along with British drivers Mark Blundell and Derek Warwick, then finished second in 1993.

In 1994, he won his second victory at the wheel of the road version of the Porsche 962 C, the winning prototype at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1986 and 1987. The following year, he was one of the drivers to debut at Le Mans the F1 GTR, later released as a sports cars in 1992 by McLaren, a multiple Formula 1 world champion, and won at its wheel his third victory, in horrible weather.

After three participations as a Porsche factory driver (third place and two retirements), Dalmas joined BMW in 1999...and claimed the top step on the podium for the fourth time. With that win, he matched Henri Pescarolo as the French driver most often winner at the 24 Hours...with four different cars.

"The 1992 Peugeot was very efficient, very fast, cutting-edge, you were on another planet behind the wheel," recalls Dalmas. "The 1994 Dauer-Porsche was a little less sophisticated and heavier. The 1995 McLaren F1 GTR had a fantastic engine, with a lot of torque and power, like the 1999 BMW V12 LMR which was an open prototype. The McLaren F1 GTR was unique: three front seats, with the driving position in the middle, which of course was kept for the racing version. It was much more efficient because at the wheel I had a truly panoramic view, and that made up for the increased difficulty getting in and out of the car as a result of the center driving position."

After his last three participations at the 24 Hours (2000 to 2002), Dalmas, now 55 years of age, was once again recruited by Jean Todt: he is currently a driver consultant in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).

The 62nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans podium:
1-Hurley Haywood-Yannick Dalmas-Mauro Baldi (No. 36 Dauer-Porsche 962 LM)
2-Jeff Krosnoff-Eddie Irvine-Mauro Martini (No. 1 Toyota 94 CV)
3-Thierry Boutsen-Danny Sullivan-Hans Joachim Stück (No. 35 Dauer-Porsche 962 LM)

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO