The 80th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours is an opportunity to revisit a great sporting heritage. Today we look back in video of the three races that were the fastest in the history of the 24 Hours.

The 5,000 km barrier at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was passed for the first time in 1967 by the Ford Mk IV of Dan Gurney and AJ Foyt. Four years later, Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep (Porsche 917) set a record for the distance would not be beaten until 2010 by the Audi R15 TDI+ of Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller. Since 1967, eighteen Le Mans 24 Hours have exceeded 5000 km. Here in the video clips below are the top 3 of this exclusive club.

In 2010, Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas and Mike Rockenfeller (Audi R15 TDI+ #9) covered 5,405 km, breaking a 39 year old record.
 

For the second and final victory of the Porsche 917 at Le Mans, Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep (Porsche 917 #22) were the second to break the 5,000km mark, four years after AJ Foyt and Dan Gurney (German commentary in the video clip below).

In 1988, Jaguar revived their success in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, 31 years after their previous victory. Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries and Andy Wallace (Jaguar XJR 9 #2) remain the third fastest driver crew in the history of the 24 Hours.

The 80th Le Mans 24 Hours will be on the 16th and 17th June 2012. Click here ticket information, and for the list of entrants for the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA World Endurance Championship.Jean-Philippe Doret

Photo : CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES (LE MANS, SARTHE), LE MANS 24 HOURS, 10 & 11 JUNE 1967. In the duel between Ford and Ferrari, Dan Gurney and AJ Foyt (Ford Mk IV) set a record distance of 5,233 km.