The victorious eras at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2) : 1970-2013
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The victorious eras at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (2) : 1970-2013

Throughout its 90 year history, the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been punctuated by the predominant cycles of several specific automakers. In this second chapter of 1970-2013, Porsche and Audi accomplished no less than twenty-eight wins in forty-four editions.

The 1970s: Porsche and Matra materialize - Nineteen years after its first appearance in La Sarthe, Porsche primed the 70s with two consecutive wins in 1970 and 71, accompanied by an endurance record that wouldn't be beaten until 2010. The sound of the three liter engine prototypes was then overtaken by the melody of the Matra V12, with a three wins (1972-73-74), attributable as well to Henri Pescarolo. Then Porsche took back control with four victories over the last half of the decade (1976 and 77, with the 936 prototype, and then in 1979 with the 911).

The 1980s: Porsche aims at a new record - The German automaker reigned virtually unchallenged during the 80s, sacrificing only three wins to the competition: Rondeau in 1980, Jaguar in 1988, and Sauber-Mercedes in 1989. With this fabulous series of seven consecutive victories, Porsche beat Ferrari's record of nine wins, all the way to twelve in 1987... and that was not all.

The 1990s: Porsche improves, Peugeot arrives - The early 90s were marked by the victory of a single Japanese automaker (Mazda in 1991) and a double-win by Peugeot (1992-93). Porsche once again took hold of the prototypes and GTs, with the Joest-Porsche TWR (1996-97) and the indestructible 911 (1998), bringing its record to sixteen wins before the first appearance at the 24 Hours in 1999 of another German automaker of the Volkswagen group: Audi.

From 2000-2013 : Audi, the new German reign – At the turn of the twenty-first century, Audi exerted dominance as yet unseen at Le Mans, with twelve wins in fifteen years of competition, separated into four distinct episodes with the R8 prototypes (from 2000 to 2002, then in 2004 and 2005), the R10 TDI (2006-2008), the R15 TDI (2010), and the R18 (since 2011). In 2014, the return of Porsche to prototypes, a sumptuous duel between the two most successful automakers in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is set to begin.

Also available to read : The victorious eras at the 24 Hours of Le Mans: (1) - 1923-1969

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Rainier Ehrhardt / ACO

The 82nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans will take place June 14-15, 2014. The teams that have been invited will be announced at a press conference in Paris on Thursday, February 13th.


Photo : LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY JUNE 23 2013, PODIUM. Another Audi victory (thanks to Loïc Duval, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish): German automakers have won more than a third of the 81 editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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