24h Le Mans
The 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans was the scene of a stunning duel between Renault-Alpine and Porsche that culminated in Jacky Ickx's fourth victory after a thrillingly suspenseful race. Today the Belgian champion considers the win one of the best of his prestigious career. In addition to the astounding win after a spectacular climb, other competitors helped make it an outstanding edition.
- Ten former and future winners took the start at the 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans: Jürgen Barth, Derek Bell, Hurley Haywood, Al Holbert, Jacky Ickx, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud, Henri Pescarolo, Didier Pironi, Jean Rondeau and Vern Schuppan. They boast 27 wins between them.
- The first turbocompressed engine prototype to win at Le Mans (1976), the Porsche 936 won its second consecutive victory at this edition. After 1970, 1971 and 1976, it was also Porsche's fourth win.
- After his victories in 1969, 1975 and 1976, Jacky Ickx won for the fourth time, matching in 1977 the record held since 1962 by Olivier Gendebien. It was the first win for his teammates Jürgen Barth and Hurley Haywood. The latter is still today - along with his fellow countrymen Phil Hill and Al Holbert - the winningest American driver in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (three victories each).
- Two years after its win with Gulf, Mirage switched out its Ford Cosworth atmospheric V8 engine for a turbocompressed Renault V6. The Anglo-American constructor claimed its final podium finish at Le Mans with second place for the Franco-Australian duo Jean Pierre Jarier-Vern Schuppan.
- Having made its debut the previous year, the Porsche 935 - largely derived from the 911 for the Group 5 or "Silhouette" regulations - claimed its first overall podium thanks to Claude Ballot-Léna and Peter Gregg. The car won the 24 Hours in 1979 with at the wheel Klaus Ludwig and brothers Don and Bill Whittington.
- For its second 24 Hours, Inaltéra made it into the top 5, with fourth place for driver-constructor Jean Rondeau and Jean Ragnotti, winners in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class. The three Inaltéras entered all crossed the finish line, in fourth, 11th and 13th places.
- Three women crossed the finish line at the 1977 24 Hours: Italian driver Lella Lombardi, the Belgian Christine Beckers and Le Mans native Anny-Charlotte Verney. The duo Lombardi-Beckers finished 11th at the wheel of one of the three Inaltéra prototypes. Sharing the Porsche 934 with René Metge and Dany Snobeck, Anny-Charlotte Verney finished in 18th place at her fourth 24 Hours. With 10 starts between 1974 and 1983, she still holds the record for participations by a woman in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- The BMW 320 i decorated by American artist Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) was the Bavarian marque's first "Art Car" to make it to checkered flag at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Initiator of the series, auctioneer and gentleman-driver Hervé Poulain finished in ninth place along with Marcel Mignot. An instructor at the Automobile Club de l'Ouest driving school, Mignot served in some ways as Hervé Poulain's mentor.
- For the first time since 1964, an Aston Martin took the start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, crossing the finish line in 17th position, with at the wheel the British trio Robin Hamilton (initiator of the entry), Mike Salmon and David Preece.
To learn more about the race for the lead at the 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans, click below for the first installment in this series:
The 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans (1) - A strikingly suspenseful edition
Photo (Copyright - Archives/ACO): The four BMWs at the start of the 1977 24 Hours of Le Mans crossed the finish line, among them, the "Art Car" decorated by Roy Lichtenstein, pictured here.
