On November 6, 1813, by way of the Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern America, which would not be ratified until 1821, Mexico declared its independence from Spain. On September 29, 1968, Pedro Rodriguez became the first, and only to-date, Mexican driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with Lucien Bianchi in the John Wyer team's Ford GT40.

24H Le Mans

Le Mans Legendes

24 Heures du Mans

Historique

Italian outfit Prema Racing made it two wins from two starts in their debut season with Louis Deletraz taking the chequered flag 4.6 seconds ahead of the no22 United Autosports Oreca of Tom Gamble.

<p>The win for the no9 Oreca didn’t come easily after two early penalties for a jump start and then crossing the pit exit line pushed Lorenzo Columbo down the order. However, a quick pitstop under Full Course Yellow put the Italian team back at the front.</p>

<p>Another penalty for Ferdinand Habsburg dropped the car back down the order again and a top five finish was on the cards before another fortuitous Full Course Yellow with 25 minutes to go put Louis Deletraz back to the front of the field following a quick pitstop.</p>

<p>The LMP2 podium was completed by the no37 Cool Racing Oreca, with Yifei Ye, who had been looking good for the victory prior to the FCY, finished just ahead of the no65 Panis Racing Oreca of Job Van Uitert.</p>

<p>The no34 Racing Team Turkey Oreca was the top LMP2 Pro-Am car for the second time in a row, with Jack Aitken crossing the line in 7thoverall, three places ahead of Mathias Beche in the no31 TDS Racing X Vaillante Oreca, which finished 2ndin Pro/Am after starting the race from the pitlane.</p>

<p>The LMP3 win went to the no3 United Autosports Ligier with Kay Van Berlo finishing well ahead of the two Cool Racing Ligiers, with the no27 Ligier of Antoine Doquin finishing ahead of the no17 Ligier of his Danish teammate Malthe Jakobsen.</p>

<p>The no14 Inter Europol Competition Ligier of Mateusz Kaprzyk was lying in second place but with just six minutes left on the clock, the Polish driver ended up in the gravel at Turn 3, promoting the two Cool Racing Ligiers that were behind him at the time.</p>

<p>History was made in the LMGTE Category with the first win for an Omani flagged team in ELMS history. The no69 Oman Racing with TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage of Marco Sorensen took the chequered flag after the car, which had been started by Ahmad Al Harthy, lead for almost the entire race distance.</p>

<p>It was a 1-2 for the team with the no95 Oman Racing with TF Sport Aston Martin Vantage AMR finishing second after Henrique Chaves took the flag nearly a minute behind his teammate.</p>

<p>The final podium position was filled by the no57 Kessel Racing Ferrari F488 GTE EVO, with Mikkel Jensen crossing the line a distant third behind the two Aston Martins.</p>

<p>CLICK <a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/doc-prod/NYu7dPJw0tshkMtWag8C3haj.PDF">HERE</a> for the provisional result from the 4 Hours of Imola</p>

ELMS – Prema Racing takes home win in topsy-turvy 4 Hours of Imola

Same as last year, the LMGTE Pro class will see Ferrari, Porsche and Chevrolet Corvette battle for victory.

<h2>AF CORSE</h2>

<p>#21 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Simon Mann (GBR) – Christoph Ulrich (CHE) – Toni Vilander (FIN)<br />
#54 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Thomas Flohr (CHE) – Francesco Castellacci (ITA) – Nicholas Cassidy (NZL)<br />
#61 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Louis Prette (ITA) – Conrad Grunewald (USA) – Vincent Abril (FRA)</p>

<p>AF Corse has competed in the LMGTE Am class without fail since 2011 and is the current defending champion. Last year, the team also won the FIA Endurance LMGTE Teams trophy and the Drivers trophy thanks to Alessio Rovera, François Perrodo and Nicklas Nielsen (the line-up now in LMP2). Driving the #21 car will be Toni Vilander with 11 participations in the 24 Hours to his credit. He is set to join forces with rookies Simon Mann and Christoph Ulrich. The #54 will be entrusted to Thomas Flohr (five participations), Francesco Castellaci (five) and Nicholas Cassidy (six). The #61 will be shared by Louis Prette (one participation), rookie Conrad Grunewald and Vincent Abril (two). Given the track record of Amato Ferrari's team (2019 Spirit of Le Mans winner), AF Corse is certainly a top contender for victory in LMGTE Am.</p>

<h2>TF SPORT</h2>

<p>#33 – Aston Martin Vantage AMR – Ben Keating (USA) – Henrique Chaves (PRT) – Marco Sørensen (DNK)</p>

<p>2020 LMGTE Am winner TF Sport is seeking a repeat performance this year after finishing second in the class in 2021. The British team is also competing in the European Le Mans Series this season. Ultra-talented Bronze driver Ben Keating will team up with Portuguese native Henrique Chaves and Marco Sørensen, a factory Aston Martin driver with seven starts in the 24 Hours who finished third in LMGTE Pro in 2020. Team owner <strong>Tom Ferrier:</strong> <em>"We have without a doubt a very solid crew and are more than ready to fight for the win at Le Mans and the FIA WEC title."</em></p>

<h2>TEAM PROJECT 1</h2>

<p>#46 – Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Matteo Cairoli (ITA) – Mikkel Pedersen (DNK) – Nicolas Leutwiler (CHE)<br />
#56 – Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Brendan Iribe (USA) – Olliver Millroy (GBR) – Ben Barnicoat (GBR)</p>

<p>Team Project 1 will be taking its fifth start in the race this season. Last year, both of the German team's Porsche 911 RSR-19s were forced to retire as a result of mechanical troubles for the #46 and an incident for the #56. The 2019 LMGTE Am winner, Team Project 1 is looking to secure a second victory in the class. Note the #56's participation is a result of a collaboration between the team and Inception Racing, 12th in the class last year with a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo.</p>

<h2>SPIRIT OF RACE</h2>

<p>#55 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Duncan Cameron (GBR) – Matthew Griffin (IRL) – David Perel (ZAF)<br />
#71 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Franck Dezoteux (FRA) – Pierre Ragues (FRA) – Gabriel Aubry (FRA)</p>

<p>Runner-up in LMGTE in the 2021 European Le Mans Series, the Italian team will rely on continuity with the same driver line-up for the #55 as in 2021. The self-appointed mission by Duncan Cameron, Matthew Griffin (five participations each) and David Perel (seven) is to achieve a better result than last year when they were forced to retire after an incident.</p>

<p>Gentleman driver Franck Dezoteux initiated the entry for the #71 car and is on the cusp of making a longtime dream come true. After climbing the endurance racing ladder culminating in the 24 Hours, he will receive the support of veteran teammates Pierre Ragues (12 participations) and Gabriel Aubry (four). </p>

<h2>KESSEL RACING</h2>

<p>#57 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Takeshi Kimura (JPN) – Frederik Schandorff (DNK) – Mikkel Jensen (DNK)</p>

<p>This Swiss team is heading into its third 24 Hours. Ninth in LMGTE Am in 2019 then forced to retire in 2021 following an engine malfunction, Ronnie Kessel's outfit is seeking a top 10 finish. Returning after last year are Takeshi Kimura (three participations) and Mikkel Jensen (two). Danish driver Frederik Schandorff (age 25, fifth in the GTD class at the 2022 Rolex 24 at Daytona with Inception Racing) will round out the trio.</p>

<h2>INCEPTION RACING</h2>

<p>#59 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Alexander West (FIN) – Côme Ledogar (FRA) – Mavin Klein (FRA)</p>

<p>Invited to the 24 Hours thanks to its win in GT in the 2022 Asian Le Mans Series, the team has joined forces with Garage 59 to run a Ferrari 488 GTE Evo. It will also benefit from additional support provided by AF Corse. Alexander West will team up with former AF Corse driver in LMGTE Pro Côme Ledogar and Marvin Klein. The latter won the Porsche Carrera Cup France last year. In 2018, he took the start in a Michelin Le Mans Cup race in Le Castellet with Cool Racing and also hit the track for Road to Le Mans with the Swiss team.</p>

<h2>IRON LYNX</h2>

<p>#60 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Claudio Schiavoni (ITA) – Alessandro Balzan (ITA) – Raffaele Gianmaria (ITA)<br />
#75 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Pierre Ehret (DEU) – Christian Hook (BEL) – Nicolas Varrone (ARG)<br />
#80 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Mattéo Cressoni (ITA) – Giancarlo Fisichella (ITA) – Richard Heistand (USA)</p>

<p>2021 European Le Mans Series LMGTE class champion, Iron Lynx will once again field three Ferrari 488 GTE Evos in the 24 Hours. Last year, the team finished third, fourth and ninth in the class. Iron Lynx recruited former F1 driver Giancarlo Fisichella this past winter. The Italian is gearing up for his 13th participation in the race and is set to share the #80 with Mattéo Cressoni (five participations) and Richard Heistand (four). Team manager <strong>Andrea Piccini:</strong><em> "We had such an incredible year in 2021 and are taking on this season with the same mindset. It will be difficult to repeat the success of 2021, but that is our goal."</em> </p>

<h2>JMW MOTORSPORT</h2>

<p>#66 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Renger van der Zande (NLD) – Marc Kvamme (USA) – Jason Hart (USA)</p>

<p>With 12 participations to its credit, this British team is a 24 Hours and LMGTE Am mainstay and won the class in 2017. Last year, JMW Motorsport was forced to retire with a broken gearbox. For the 90th 24 Hours, the outfit's car will be driven by Dutch driver Renger van der Zande and Americans Marc Kvamme and Jason Hart.</p>

<h2>DEMPSEY-PROTON RACING</h2>

<p>#77 – Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Christian Ried (DEU) – Sebastian Priaulx (FRA) – Harry Tincknell (GBR)<br />
#88 – Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Fred Poordad (USA) – Patrick Lindsey (USA) – Jan Heylen (BEL)</p>

<p>With nine participations under its belt, Dempsey-Proton Racing is the flagship team in LMGTE Am in the FIA WEC and the European Le Mans Series. This year, the team will field two Porsche 911 RSR-19s in an effort to improve upon the #77's result of fifth in the class last year and third in the FIA Endurance FIA LMGTE Am Teams championship. The outfit is heading into the 24 Hours on good footing after winning the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and will count on Christian Ried (nine participations), Sébastien Priaulx (rookie) and Harry Tincknell (eight) to give its rivals a run for their money.</p>

<h2>WEATHERTECH RACING</h2>

<p>#79 – Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Cooper MacNeil (USA) – Julien Andlauer (FRA) – Gianluca Giraudi (ITA)</p>

<p>The American team is heading into its third 24 Hours after two participations in LMGTE Pro and is now hoping to excel in LMGTE Am. Last year, Weathertech Racing was forced to retire after an incident. For the 90th running of the race, the outfit will rely on American driver Cooper MacNeil (six participations), 2018 LMGTE Am winner with Dempsey-Proton Racing Julien Andlauer (four) and Gianluca Giraudi.</p>

<h2>IRON DAMES</h2>

<p>#85 – Ferrari 488 GTE Evo – Rahel Frey (CHE) – Michelle Gatting (DNK) – Sarah Bovy (BEL)</p>

<p>For the fourth year in a row, an all-female driver line-up will take the start in the 24 Hours. Iron Dames is a project founded by Déborah Mayer, now president of the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission aimed at encouraging women to compete in racing. Rahel Frey (four participations), Michelle Gatting (three) and Sarah Bovy (one) will return at the wheel of the #85 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo that finished ninth in the class last year under the banner of Iron Lynx.</p>

<h2>GR RACING</h2>

<p>#86 – Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Michael Wainwright (GBR) – Riccardo Pera (ITA) – Benjamin Barker (GBR)</p>

<p>The British team based in Milton Keynes will once again take the start in the 24 Hours with a Porsche 911 RSR-19. GR Racing's experience last year was anything but smooth sailing and the #86 Porsche finished 14th and last in the LMGTE Am class. The team will be looking to better its result along the lines of its fifth place at the 2020 24 Hours. Teammates since 2016, Michael Wainwright (seven participations) and Benjamin Barker (six) will welcome Italian driver Riccardo Pera (two) to the party.</p>

<h2>PROTON COMPETITION</h2>

<p>#93 – Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Michael Fassbender (IRL) – Matt Campbell (AUS) – Zacharie Robichon (CAN)</p>

<p>This car, part of the extension of Dempsey-Proton Racing's commitment, will be heavily watched as German-Irish actor Michael Fassbender is set to take the wheel. The 2016 Oscar winner for Best Actor has dreamed of following the same path as Patrick Dempsey, second in LMGTE Am in 2016, and Paul Newman, second overall in 1979. In order to fulfill this dream, Fassbender has cut his teeth in the European Le Mans Series the last several seasons. He will join forces with Matt Campbell (four participations) and fellow rookie Zacharie Robichon.</p>

<h2>NORTHWEST AMR</h2>

<p>#98 – Aston Martin Vantage AMR – Paul Dalla Lana (CAN) – David Pittard (GBR) – Nicki Thiim (DNK)</p>

<p>This Aston Martin is expected to be a top contender in the class. Driven by Paul Dalla Lana for his ninth season in the FIA WEC, the car won the 1000 Miles of Sebring this year. The Canadian driver will team up with two-time LMGTE Pro world champion Nicki Thiim (2016 and 2019) and David Pittard seen at the Rolex 24 at Daytona. In 2021, the #98 Aston Martin Vantage AMR was the first car forced to retire after an incident at the Indianapolis corner.</p>

<h2>HARDPOINT MOTORSPORT</h2>

<p>#99 – Porsche 911 RSR-19 – Rob Ferriol (USA) – Katherine Legge (USA) – Adrien de Leener (BEL)</p>

<p>This American team, a rookie at this year's 24 Hours, owes its invitation to Rob Ferriol who won the Bob Akin Award last season in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. For this 90th running of the race, the outfit will be supported technically by Proton Competition. Ferriol will join forces with Katherine Legge who took part in three FIA WEC races in 2021 with Iron Lynx, and Adrien de Leener seen at Le Mans in 2020 at the wheel of a Porsche entered by Dempsey-Proton Racing.</p>

<h2>D’STATION RACING</h2>

<p>#777 – Aston Martin Vantage AMR – Satoshi Hoshino (JPN) – Tomonobu Fujii (JPN) – Charles Fagg (GBR)</p>

<p>Last year, for its first participation, the Japanese team supported by TF Sport finished sixth in LMGTE Am, and ended the 2021 FIA WEC season in ninth place in the FIA Endurance GTE Am trophy championship. Satoshi Hoshino (two participations), Tomonobu Fujii (one) and rookie Charles Fagg will share the wheel of the Aston Martin Vantage AMR.</p>

<p><strong><u>The FIA Endurance GTE Am Teams trophy classification ahead of the 90th 24 Hours of Le Mans</u></strong></p>

<ol><li>Northwest AMR – 53 points</li>
	<li>TF Sport – 47 points</li>
	<li>Dempsey-Proton Racing – 43 points</li>
	<li>Team Project 1 – 23 points</li>
	<li>D’Station Racing – 18 points</li>
</ol><p>Click for the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans <a href="https://assets.lemans.org/explorer/pdf/courses/2022/24-heures-du-mans/entry-list-24-heures-du-mans-2022.pdf">entry list</a>.</p>

24 Hours of Le Mans – The 2022 LMGTE Am class

The competitor exploits, shocking twists and caliber of racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans between 1932 and 2012 have all made it one of the most legendary races in history. As we await the 2022 running on 11-12 June, enjoy this retrospective from 1972.

<h3>Dates</h3>

<p>10-11 June 1972 (40th running)</p>

<p>Distance covered by the winners: 344 laps or 4,691.343 km (an average of 195.473 kph).</p>

<h3>The winners…</h3>

<p>For his sixth 24 Hours, and four years after his stunning nighttime performance in the rain without wipers, Henri Pescarolo triumphed and went on to become in 1973 then 1974 the only French driver to reach the top step on the podium at Le Mans three times in a row. Graham Hill had not participated in the race since 1966…the year of Pescarolo's rookie 24 Hours. The victory made him the only driver to win an F1 world championship (1962 and 1968), the Indianapolis 500 (1966) and Le Mans. Pescarolo's exceptional track record also includes five wins at the Monaco Grand Prix. The French-British duo won the race after a lengthy duel with teammates François Cevert and Howden Ganley. The two driver line-ups gave Matra a one-two for the first victory by a French marque since Talbot-Lago in 1950, and in front of French President Georges Pompidou on site to give the start that year. Two more wins followed in 1973 then 1974 with an audibly recognizable and appreciated 3-liter V12 engine.</p>

<h3>…and other stories from the top 10</h3>

<p>Though Ferrari had not participated in the 24 Hours as a factory team seeking the overall win since 1971, one of its road sportsters was a major contender at Le Mans during the first half of the 1970s. In 1972, the 365 GTB/4 "Daytona" pulled off a remarkable hat trick from fifth to ninth place thanks to long-time Ferrari partner teams Charles Pozzi, North American Racing Team (NART), Scuderia Filipinetti and Ecurie Francorchamps.</p>

<p>Another outstanding GT from this period, the Ford Capri finished its first 24 Hours in the top 10 with 10th place for Gerry Birrell and Claude Bourgoignie.</p>

<p>Previous and future Le Mans winners also figured in the top 10: Nino Vaccarella, victorious in 1964 (fourth with Alfa Romeo) and Derek Bell (eighth with Ferrari) who went on to win five times between 1975 and 1987. Second with Porsche, Reinhold Joest is now the winningest team owner in the history of the 24 Hours.</p>

<h3>Auto racing in 1972</h3>

<p>Former driver turned highly successful team owner Roger Penske won the first of his 18 wins at the Indianapolis 500. In 2023, he will partner with Porsche for its return to the top endurance class, Hypercar, for the 100th running of the 24 Hours.</p>

<p>In 1972, Emerson Fittipaldi became the first Brazilian Formula 1 world champion. Half a century later, will Alpine driver André Negrão become the first citizen of that country to win Le Mans?</p>

<h3>Also in 1972</h3>

<p><strong>Bangladesh: a concert and a film –</strong> The first major charity concert in rock history on 1 August 1971 in New York was organized by former Beatle George Harrison and Indian musician Ravi Shankar. <em>The Concert for Bangladesh</em> was released in theatres in 1972.</p>

<p><strong>The environment: first awareness –</strong> As the 40th 24 Hours was underway, the city of Stockholm hosted the first United Nations conference on the environment on 5-16 June.</p>

<p><strong>Prelude to an upcoming scandal –</strong> On 17 June in the middle of the American election campaign, five men supposedly plumbers were arrested for installing listening devices in the headquarters of the Democratic party, marking the beginning of the Watergate scandal.</p>

<p><strong>Last (provisional?) rendez-vous with the moon –</strong> From 7-19 December, Gene Cernan, Ronald Evans and Harrison Schmitt carried out the latest manned lunar mission on board Apollo 17.</p>

<p><br /><strong>PHOTOS: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, 10-11 JUNE 1972. At top: Henri Pescarolo on his way to his first Le Mans win. He would go on to score two more with Matra (1973 and 1974) and a fourth with Porsche (1984). Below: the first of the five Ferrari Daytonas ranked in the top 10 was fielded by French importer Charles Pozzi thanks to the fifth place overall finish of Jean-Claude Andruet and Claude Ballot-Léna.</strong></p>

24 Hours of Le Mans 1972 – Matra triumphs

Kamui Kobayashi, José María López and Mike Conway triumphed at the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps after a breathtaking race in the rain this weekend. As always, Toyota will be one to watch at the 90th 24 Hours of Le Mans in a few short weeks.

<p>Red flags, safety car deployments and a Full Course Yellow punctuated the second round of the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship season this weekend, culminating in the win for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's #7 Toyota GR010 ahead of Alpine Elf Team's #36 Alpine A480-Gibson. Team WRT's #31 ORECA 07-Gibson rounded out the podium and won the LMP2 class. The #8 Toyota was forced to retire after its hybrid system failed.</p>

<p>The #51 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo driven by Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado reached the top step on the LMGTE Pro podium after a cutthroat duel with Porsche GT Team's #92 Porsche 911 RSR-19. The #52 Ferrari finished third and Corvette Racing's #64 Corvette C8.R fourth.</p>

<p>In LMGTE Am, Dempsey-Proton Racing's #77 Porsche shared by Harry Tincknell, Christian Reid and Sebastian Priaulx beat out TF Sport's pole-sitter #33 Aston Martin Vantage AMR.</p>

<p>Alpine is currenty in the lead of the Hypercar Manufacturers Championship classification with 38 points, ahead of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing's 27 and Glickenhaus Racing's 23.</p>

<p>Porsche is ahead of Ferrari in the FIA Endurance GT Manufacturers Championship by 28 points and Chevrolet Corvette by 34.</p>

<p>Thanks to its win, Team WRT is in the top spot in the FIA Endurance LMP2 Teams Championship ahead of United Autosports and Realteam by WRT. JOTA and Prema Orlen Team round out the top 5 and all teams are within nine points of each other!</p>

<p>Northwest AMR is ahead of TF Sport and Dempsey-Proton Racing in the FIA Endurance GTE Am Championship classification.</p>

<p>Now the teams and 62 cars have set their sights on the next round, the 90th 24 Hours of Le Mans on 11-12 June. Scrutineering will once again be held in downtown Le Mans at the Place de la République on 3-4 June prior to Test Day. The free practice, qualifying and Hyperpole are scheduled for 11- 12 June, and the start of the race will be given on Saturday 11 June at 16:00 local time. Plenty of exciting entertainment is also on the programme like concerts by Kyo, Pete Doherty, Martin Solveig and The Stranglers.</p>

<p>Click to learn more about the <a href="https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/news/24-hours-of-le-mans-exceptional-entertainment-for-the-90th-edition-56195">entertainment at the 90th 24 Hours of Le Mans</a>. </p>

FIA WEC – Toyota takes the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps

24 Heures du Mans 1968

<p>The two winners would meet a tragic end, as did&nbsp;Ricardo, the young brother of&nbsp;Pedro, who passed away during the free practice at the Grand Prix of&nbsp;Mexico in 1962. Pedro Rodiguez (seated&nbsp;on the car) died during a race in Norisring, Germany, and&nbsp;Lucien Bianchi was killed during the preliminary free practice at the&nbsp;24 Hours of Le&nbsp;Mans in 1969. The first was 31, the second 34&hellip;</p>

24H LE MANS

Today in History - Mexican driver Pedro Rodriguez wins Le Mans in 1968

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24 Hours of Le Mans – The 2022 LMGTE Am class

24 Hours of Le Mans 1972 – Matra triumphs

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