Photo : Pierre BARRAU - ACO/NIKON

The Porsche 917s and Ferrari 512s in Grid 5 will revive motoring and movie memories. Forty years ago, two events marked the history of the Le Mans 24 Hours: the first win by Porsche and the visit of Steve McQueen.

A diehard motor racing fan, the American actor finished as the runner-up of the 1970 Sebring 12 Hours with Peter Revson (Porsche 908). His insurance company did not grant him the authorization to compete in the Le Mans 24 Hours that same year, but he came to La Sarthe as the actor and producer of the “Le Mans” movie, performing as Michael Delaney, a Gulf Porsche 917 driver. Directed by Lee H. Katzin, “Le Mans” reached the US movie theatres on June 23, 1971, and the French ones on September 24. It still remains one of the best feature films (with John Frankenheimer’s “Grand Prix” in 1966) dedicated to motor racing, and also a remarkable document on the Porsche-Ferrari duel of that period.

Another great car of this legendary era will also be featured in Grid 5 and must not be forgetten. From 1967 to 1971, the Lola T70 (and especially the T70 Mk III coupe version) was a witness of the great Ford-Ferrari duel, and also raced against the Ferrari 512s, and the Porsche 908s and 917s. Some T70 chassis were even disguised as 917s and 512s by Steve McQueen and his company Solar Productions for the shooting of the “Le Mans” movie.

Jean-Philippe Doret