Porsche au Mans

A record of victories!

For more than five decades, Porsche regularly dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With 19 victories between 1970 and 2017, the manufacturer from Stuttgart is still the most successful in the Sarthe.

Since the creation of its first model in 1948, Porsche has always strived to give its cars a sporty spirit derived directly from racing experience. By the time it made its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans three years later, Porsche had incorporated this industrial philosophy perfectly into its overall production. As Ferry Porsche explained in his autobiography published in 1989, "I have always been convinced that motor sport is a real precursor to innovation...".

The Porsche 910 entered in the Sport-Prototype class and driven by Christian Poirot and Pierre Maublanc finished 9th overall in 1969 and won the class 1,601 at 2,000 cm3. © IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Porsche / D.R.

The history of the Bavarian manufacturer is inextricably linked to that of the world's most famous race. However, when Porsche entered one of its cars in the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time in 1951, it was still a small brand making its debut, unaware of the fabulous destiny that the event would hold in store for them. And indeed, following this first experience on the Le Mans circuit, there was not a single model in the Porsche range that did not take part at least once in this highly demanding race.

The 917 was the model that made Porsche legendary at Le Mans. This is the LH version driven by Gérard Larrousse and Willy Khausen, in which they finished 2nd and won the Energy Index. © IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Porsche / D.R.

Steady progress

It was in 1951 that Porsche made its first appearance on the grid at Le Mans. A single car was entered by the factory and entrusted to Auguste Veuillet, the brand's French importer, and Edmond Mouche. It was an impressive test, finishing 20th and winning the 1,100cc 751 class. From that moment on, there would always be at least one Porsche, factory or private, at the start of this event. The idea was that Porsche customers could regularly spot models from their favourite brand performing impressive achievements on the racetrack. And at Le Mans no customer will ever be disappointed! After all, the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a fantastic technological laboratory that Porsche is able to exploit through its Research and Development Centre based in Weissach. In the course of its appearances in the Sarthe, Porsche regularly achieved podium positions: Performance Index and Biennial Cup in 1955 (Type 550), 3rd overall in 1958 (Type 718 RSK), then 2nd ten years later (Type 907/8).

Pit refuelling for the Dauer-Porsche 962 LM from the Joest Racing team that won in 1994 with Mauro Baldi, Yannick Dalmas and Hurley Haywood. © IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Porsche / D.R.

Taste of victory

The first victory was achieved in 1970 by Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood driving a 917 L entered by Porsche System Engineering. That year, Porsche put an end to the four consecutive Ford victories that had begun in 1966. After a fierce duel in heavy rain, Porsche masterfully won the event, as well as the fastest lap of the race. This 38th edition of the race was started by Ferry Porsche himself, as if in a sign of fate... In 1971, a veritable Bavarian Armada dominated the pits, with no less than thirty-three Porsches lining up. That year, the Zuffenhausen-based manufacturer achieved a one-two finish with two different teams: Martini Racing Team (Helmut Marko and Gijs Van Lennep) won with their 917 K and John Wyer (Automotive), finishing 2nd . As well as winning the overall classification, Porsche took the Performance Index and smashed the distance record with 5,335.313 km completed in twenty-four hours. It wasn't until 2010 that the record was beaten, by Audi!

Porsche's 16th victory at Le Mans was achieved by Allan McNish, Laurent Aiello and Stéphane Ortelli driving the 911 GT1-98 entered by Porsche in 1998. © IXO Collections SAS - Tous droits réservés. Crédits photo © Porsche / D.R.

The extraordinary decade

Following Matra's victories from 1972 to 1974, Porsche won ten races between then and 1987, first with the Type 936s of Martini Racing in 1976 and 1977, then in 1979 with the Type 935 K3 of the Kremer team. This was followed by a string of seven consecutive victories from 1981 onwards, all down to the formidable racing machines designed by engineer Norbert Singer. Like the Porsche 917, which was the car to beat in the early 1970s, the 956 and 962 C dominated the 1980s in the hands of experienced drivers such as Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell, who each took four Porsche victories, including two together (1981 and 1982). It was not until 1994 that Porsche enjoyed another success, with the 962 GT-LM prepared by Dauer for Joest Racing in the GT1 category. This private team, established by Reinhold Joest in 1978, provided the German brand with two further victories in 1996 and 1997 with the WSC-95s designed by Tom Walkinshaw. For the following year, Porsche AG made a radical change with a 911 GT1, which secured its 16th victory at Le Mans. Sixteen years later, Porsche Team shattered Audi's long-standing supremacy with its new 919 Hybrid in LMP1, winning the top three positions in the classification. This victory was repeated with the same car in the following two years.

19 VICTORIES AT LE MANS

• 1970 Porsche 917 K : Richard Attwood / Hans Herrmann

• 1971 Porsche 917 K : Helmut Marko / Gijs van Lennep

• 1976 Porsche 936 : Jacky Ickx / Gijs van Lennep

• 1977 Porsche 936 : Jürgen Barth / Hurley Haywood / Jacky Ickx

• 1979 Porsche 935 K3 : Klaus Ludwig / Bill Whittington / Don Whittington

• 1981 Porsche 936/81 : Jacky Ickx / Derek Bell

• 1982 Porsche 956 : Jacky Ickx / Derek Bell

• 1983 Porsche 956 : Al Holbert / Hurley Haywood / Vern Schuppan

• 1984 Porsche 956 : Henri Pescarolo / Klaus Ludwig

• 1985 Porsche 956 B : Klaus Ludwig / Paolo Barilla / John Winter

• 1986 Porsche 962 C : Derek Bell / Hans-Joachim Stuck / Al Holbert

• 1987 Porsche 962 C : Derek Bell / Hans-Joachim Stuck / Al Holbert

• 1994 Dauer-Porsche 962 LM : Mauro Baldi / Yannick Dalmas / Hurley Haywood

• 1996 TWR-Porsche WSC-95 : Davy Jones / Manuel Reuter / Alexander Wurz

• 1997 TWR Porsche WSC-95 : Michele Alboreto / Tom Kristensen / Stefan Johansson

• 1998 Porsche 911 GT1-98 : Allan McNish / Laurent Aiello / Stéphane Ortelli

• 2015 Porsche 919 Hybrid : Nico Hülkenberg / Earl Bamber / Nick Tandy

• 2016 Porsche 919 Hybrid : Romain Dumas / Neel Jani / Marc Lieb

• 2017 Porsche 919 Hybrid : Timo Bernhard / Earl Bamber / Brendon Hartley

An unequalled record

The Stuttgart-based manufacturer was responsible for some of the most memorable moments in the history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and with the event set to celebrate its centenary in 2023, Porsche has an impressive record of achievements that puts it at the top of the statistics. In its 71 appearances, from 1951 to 2022, Porsche lined up no less than 837 cars at the start, with a record entry of 33 cars in 1971, out of 49 competitors in total that year. Porsche took 19 victories (including 7 in a row from 1981 to 1987), 18 second positions and 17 third placings, with a record 8 hat-tricks (1970, 1979, 1982 to 1986 and 1996). Porsche also took 18 pole positions (including 6 in a row from 1978 to 1983) and clocked a record of 14 fastest laps during the races.