The chosen years, 1959 to 1971, represent a golden era for Le Mans. In the mid-1960s, as Ford took on Ferrari, the new generation of mid-engined cars was reaching unprecedented speeds on the 3-mile Mulsanne Straight. Then, as the decade drew to a close, the emergence of aerodynamic downforce changed the face of racing for ever. The Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512M were not only faster in corners: they also raised straight-line speeds well in excess of 200mph
Yet 1971 was the swansong of these 5-litre beasts. Their short but glorious life as contemporary racers came to an abrupt end in 1972, with the introduction of a new 3-litre capacity limit. Changing regulations, and alterations to the track, have meant that the average speed of the winning Porsche in 1971 - over 138mph for a day and a night - has never been beaten
In 2003, the Le Mans Legend will re-run the heroic battles between Porsche 917 and Ferrari 512, between Ford GT40 and Ferrari P4, between Matra V12 and Porsche 908. Also invited are charismatic GT cars like Le Mans Cobras and Lightweight E-types, Ferrari GTOs and Aston Martin Project cars
In the smaller-engined classes, too, history was being written between 1959 and 1971. A fascinating mix of cars is eligible for the 2003 event, from period Porsche, Lotus and Lola via Le Mans versions of Austin-Healey Sprite, Triumph, Sunbeam and MG to less familiar marques like Chevron, Costin, Abarth and Ligier
For the first time, this year’s Le Mans Legend will be a two-driver, one-hour event. The new, two-driver format opens the way for entrants to share their cars with Le Mans pastmasters, in a race which will see all the excitement of pit-stops and driver changes plus some famous names and cars from recent Le Mans history. These include Jackie Oliver in a GT40, Phil Hill in an Alfa Romeo TZ1, Stirling Moss and Ulrich Bez sharing the Aston Martin DBR1 which won Le Mans outright in 1959, Nick Mason in a Ferrari 512S and David Piper in a Porsche 917
"When the first Legend race proved so popular with the crowds at Le Mans," explains Duncan Wiltshire, "we decided to maintain the excitement of subsequent events by accepting Le Mans cars from different eras. Each time this historic battle is run, we'll review the eligible dates. By accepting cars from 1959 to 1971, the spectrum of entries in 2003 will take us forward in motor racing history to years of great innovation, before the era of the magnificent 5-litre racers came to a close. This is only the second Le Mans Legend race and the first time it has been run as a two-driver, one-hour event,” said Wiltshire. “Driver changes in the Le Mans pit-lane, just a few hours before the start of the 24Hours, will add a new dimension to the atmosphere and excitement of this Historic race."
Nicked from
www.motorracinglegends.com
