Le Mans Legend
Encyclopedia
The Le Mans Legend is a vintage sports car
race held during the 24 Hours of Le Mans
festivities. Created in 2001, it was created by the Motor Racing Legends group, and supported by the ACO
, organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Unlike other vintage events, these races only allow cars which previously ran at Le Mans. Specific eras of cars are run each year, with the era changing each year as deemed by the organizers. Cars run the full Circuit de la Sarthe
just as they had originally done when they first raced, and are fully timed and scored based on their classes.
Famous Le Mans drivers have often driven in the event, driving cars they had previously run. Stirling Moss
was among the notables in recent years, while amateur drivers mostly make up the rest of the field. Dr. Ulrich Bez
, current president of Aston Martin
, has also raced in the event, driving the winning DBR1
in 2007. A record 61 cars were seen in the event in 2007.
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
race held during the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
festivities. Created in 2001, it was created by the Motor Racing Legends group, and supported by the ACO
Automobile Club de l'Ouest
The Automobile Club de l'Ouest , sometimes abbreviated to ACO, is the largest automotive group in France. It was founded in 1906 by car building and racing enthusiasts, and is most famous for being the organising entity behind the annual Le Mans 24 Hours race...
, organizers of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Unlike other vintage events, these races only allow cars which previously ran at Le Mans. Specific eras of cars are run each year, with the era changing each year as deemed by the organizers. Cars run the full Circuit de la Sarthe
Circuit de la Sarthe
The Circuit des 24 Heures, also known as Circuit de la Sarthe, located near Le Mans, France, is a semi-permanent race course most famous as the venue for the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race. The track uses local roads that remain open to the public most of the year...
just as they had originally done when they first raced, and are fully timed and scored based on their classes.
Famous Le Mans drivers have often driven in the event, driving cars they had previously run. Stirling Moss
Stirling Moss
Sir Stirling Craufurd Moss, OBE FIE is a former racing driver from England...
was among the notables in recent years, while amateur drivers mostly make up the rest of the field. Dr. Ulrich Bez
Ulrich Bez
Dr. Ulrich Bez is a German-businessman and currently CEO of Aston Martin motorcars.-Life:He holds a doctorate in engineering from the University of Stuttgart...
, current president of Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
, has also raced in the event, driving the winning DBR1
Aston Martin DBR1
The Aston Martin DBR1 was a sports racing car built by Aston Martin starting in 1956, intended for the World Sportscar Championship as well as non-championship sportscar races at the time...
in 2007. A record 61 cars were seen in the event in 2007.
Previous winners
| Year | Driver | Car | Year built | Period of Cars Built & Raced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Carlos Monteverde | Ferrari 250 LM | 1964 | Cars from 1949–1965 |
| 2010 | Justin Law | Jaguar XJR-9 Jaguar XJR-9 The Jaguar XJR-9 is a sports-prototype race car built by Jaguar for both Group C and IMSA Camel GTP, debuting in at the 1988 24 Hours of Daytona.... |
1988 | Group C/GTP 1982-1993 |
| 2009 | Carlos Monteverde | Ferrari 250 LM | 1964 | Cars from 1949–1965 |
| 2008 | Justin Law | Jaguar XJR-12 Jaguar XJR-12 The Jaguar XJR-12 is a sports-prototype race car built by Jaguar for both Group C and IMSA Camel GTP. The car is famous for winning the 1990 24 Hours of Le Mans.... |
1990 | Group C/GTP 1982-1993 |
| 2007 | Shaun Lynn | Ford GT40 Ford GT40 The Ford GT40 was a high performance sports car and winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans four times in a row, from 1966 to 1969... |
1965 | Cars from 1956–1968 |
| 2006 | Gareth Burnett | Talbot 105 Alpine | 1934 | Pre-War Cars 1923-1939 |
| 2006 | Gary Pearson | Jaguar C-Type Jaguar C-Type The Jaguar C-Type is a racing sports car built by Jaguar and sold from 1951 to 1953. The "C" designation stood for "competition".... |
1952 | Post-War Cars 1949-1954 |
| 2005 | Johnny Herbert Johnny Herbert John Paul Herbert is a British racing driver from England. He competed in Formula One, winning three races, and also in sports cars winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991 driving a Mazda 787B... |
Jaguar D-Type Jaguar D-type The Jaguar D-Type, like its predecessor the C-Type, was a factory-built race car. Although it shared the basic straight-6 XK engine design with the C-Type, the majority of the car was radically different... |
1955 | Cars from 1935–1955 |
| 2004 | Charlie Agg | Nissan R90C Nissan R90C The Nissan R90C was either of two Group C racing cars built in 1990 for Nissan Motors for competition in World Sportscar Championship based in Europe and the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship . The cars based on the basic R90C platform would compete until 1993 before Nissan chose to... K |
1990 | Group C/GTP 1982-1993 |
| 2003 | Willie Green | Ligier JS2 Ford Cosworth | 1971 | Cars from 1959–1971 |
| 2001 | David Piper David Piper -References:... |
Ferrari 250 LM | 1965 | Cars from 1949–1965 |
External links
- Motor Racing Legends - Le Mans Legend organizers