1981 24 Hours of Le Mans

1981 24 Hours of Le Mans
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Index: Races \| Winners

The 1981 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 49th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 13 and 14 June 1981. It was also the eighth round of the 1981 World Endurance Championship of Drivers and the fifth round of the 1981 World Endurance Championship of Makes.

Pre-race

The circuit had been widened at the approach to the Esses, adding grass runoff after the Dunlop Curve.

Porsche had a new program for the future Group C regulations in 1982, and had persuaded Jacky Ickx out of retirement. The main reason for entering Le Mans was to test a new engine for the upcoming new car. This 2.6L engine was derived from an Indianapolis 500 engine which never raced. The new engines were fitted in a pair of 936 chassis. Ickx shared one of the updated 936s with Derek Bell; Jochen Mass, Vern Schuppan and Hurley Haywood drove the other.

Shortly after going into semi-retirement, NASCAR legend Cale Yarborough made his only start. This made Yarborough one of the few drivers in history to participate in the Daytona 500, Indianapolis 500, and 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Race

The race was run in very hot weather, but the engine test was successful: after the first hour, Ickx and Bell had built a large advance and remained at lead for the rest of the race. They won by an even greater margin than in 1976- 14 laps. Ickx had won Le Mans for the 5th time- surpassing a record set by fellow Belgian Olivier Gendebien in 1962.

The race was marred by the death of Jean-Louis Lafosse, who violently crashed his Rondeau in the early stages on the Hunaudieres while following the Lola T600 of de Villota/Edwards/Fernández. No cause has ever been determined although a piece of debris is seen flying away from the car just before the Rondeau suddenly steers to the right, along with pre-crash photographs showing evidence of damage from an off-track excursion, suggesting suspension failure as a possible cause.

Thierry Boutsen, who would go on to drive in Formula One, had earlier escaped a large accident in the second hour, destroying his WM-Peugeot but without causing injury to himself; race marshal Thierry Mabillat was fatally injured in the accident; and 2 of his colleagues, Claude Hertault and Serge David, were seriously injured but survived; the latter lost an arm.

Official results

Le Mans in 1981

Pos	Class	No	Team	Drivers	Chassis	Tyres	Laps
Pos	Class	No	Team	Drivers	Engine	Tyres	Laps
1	S +2.0	11	Porsche System	Jacky Ickx Derek Bell	Porsche 936	D	354
1	S +2.0	11	Porsche System	Jacky Ickx Derek Bell	Porsche Type-935 2.6 L Turbo Flat-6	D	354
2	GTP 3.0	8	Jean Rondeau	Jacky Haran Jean-Louis Schlesser Philippe Streiff	Rondeau M379	G	340
2	GTP 3.0	8	Jean Rondeau	Jacky Haran Jean-Louis Schlesser Philippe Streiff	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	G	340
3	GTP 3.0	7	Otis Jean Rondeau	Gordon Spice François Migault	Rondeau M379	G	335
3	GTP 3.0	7	Otis Jean Rondeau	Gordon Spice François Migault	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	G	335
4	Gr.5	55	Claude Bourgoignie Charles Ivey Racing	Claude Bourgoignie John Cooper Dudley Wood	Porsche 935 K3	D	330
4	Gr.5	55	Claude Bourgoignie Charles Ivey Racing	Claude Bourgoignie John Cooper Dudley Wood	Porsche Type-935 3.1 L Turbo Flat-6	D	330
5	IMSA GTX	47	Charles Pozzi S.A.	Jean-Claude Andruet Claude Ballot-Léna Hervé Regout	Ferrari 512BB/LM	M	328
5	IMSA GTX	47	Charles Pozzi S.A.	Jean-Claude Andruet Claude Ballot-Léna Hervé Regout	Ferrari 4.9 L Flat-12	M	328
6	IMSA GTX	42	Cooke-Woods Racing	Anne-Charlotte Verney Bob Garretson Ralph Kent-Cooke	Porsche 935 K3	G	327
6	IMSA GTX	42	Cooke-Woods Racing	Anne-Charlotte Verney Bob Garretson Ralph Kent-Cooke	Porsche Type-935 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6	G	327
7	GTP +3.0	1	Porsche System	Jürgen Barth Walter Röhrl	Porsche 944 LM	D	323
7	GTP +3.0	1	Porsche System	Jürgen Barth Walter Röhrl	Porsche 2.5 L Turbo I4	D	323
8	Gr.5	65	Martini Racing	Michele Alboreto Eddie Cheever Carlo Facetti	Lancia Beta Monte Carlo	P	322
8	Gr.5	65	Martini Racing	Michele Alboreto Eddie Cheever Carlo Facetti	Lancia 1.4 L Turbo I4	P	322
9	IMSA GTX	46	Rennod Racing	Pierre Dieudonné Jean Xhenceval Jean-Paul Libert	Ferrari 512BB/LM	G	320
9	IMSA GTX	46	Rennod Racing	Pierre Dieudonné Jean Xhenceval Jean-Paul Libert	Ferrari 4.9 L Flat-12	G	320
10	Gr.5	60	Vegla Racing Team	Dieter Schornstein Harald Grohs Götz von Tschirnhaus	Porsche 935J	D	320
10	Gr.5	60	Vegla Racing Team	Dieter Schornstein Harald Grohs Götz von Tschirnhaus	Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6	D	320
11	IMSA GTO	36	Porsche System	Manfred Schurti Andy Rouse	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR	D	315
11	IMSA GTO	36	Porsche System	Manfred Schurti Andy Rouse	Porsche 2.0 L Turbo I4	D	315
12	S +2.0	12	Porsche System	Jochen Mass Vern Schuppan Hurley Haywood	Porsche 936	D	312
12	S +2.0	12	Porsche System	Jochen Mass Vern Schuppan Hurley Haywood	Porsche Type-935 2.6 L Turbo Flat-6	D	312
13	GTP +3.0	4	WM A.E.R.E.M.	Denis Morin Charles Mendez Xavier Mathiot	WM P79/80	M	307
13	GTP +3.0	4	WM A.E.R.E.M.	Denis Morin Charles Mendez Xavier Mathiot	Peugeot PRV 2.7 L Turbo V6	M	307
14	Gr.5	68	Jolly Club	Martino Finotto Giorgio Pianta Giorgio Schön	Lancia Beta Monte Carlo	P	292
14	Gr.5	68	Jolly Club	Martino Finotto Giorgio Pianta Giorgio Schön	Lancia 1.4 L Turbo I4	P	292
15	S +2.0	18	Team Lola	Emilio de Villota Guy Edwards Juan Fernández	Lola T600	G	287
15	S +2.0	18	Team Lola	Emilio de Villota Guy Edwards Juan Fernández	Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3 L V8	G	287
16	Gr.5	51	BMW Italie-France	Philippe Alliot Bernard Darniche Johnny Cecotto	BMW M1 Gr.5	D	277
16	Gr.5	51	BMW Italie-France	Philippe Alliot Bernard Darniche Johnny Cecotto	BMW M88 3.5 L I6	D	277
17	GT	70	Thierry Perrier	Thierry Perrier Valentin Bertapelle Bernard Salam	Porsche 934	M	274
17	GT	70	Thierry Perrier	Thierry Perrier Valentin Bertapelle Bernard Salam	Porsche 2.9 L Turbo Flat-6	M	274
18	S 2.0	31	Jean-Philippe Grand	Jean-Philippe Grand Yves Courage	Lola T298	G	272
18	S 2.0	31	Jean-Philippe Grand	Jean-Philippe Grand Yves Courage	BMW 2.0 L I4	G	272
19 NC	S 2.0	33	Compagnie Primagaz	Pierre Yver Michel Dubois Jacques Heuclin	Lola T298	G	203
19 NC	S 2.0	33	Compagnie Primagaz	Pierre Yver Michel Dubois Jacques Heuclin	BMW 2.0 L I4	G	203
20 NC	S 2.0	32	Écurie Renard-Delmas	Louis Descartes Hervé Bayard	Renard-Delmas D1	G	187
20 NC	S 2.0	32	Écurie Renard-Delmas	Louis Descartes Hervé Bayard	ROC-Simca 2.0 L I4	G	187
21 DNF	IMSA GTX	43	Bob Akin Motor Racing	Bob Akin Paul Miller Craig Siebert	Porsche 935 K3	G	320
21 DNF	IMSA GTX	43	Bob Akin Motor Racing	Bob Akin Paul Miller Craig Siebert	Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6	G	320
22 DNF	Gr.5	57	Claude Haldi Charles Ivey Racing	Claude Haldi Mark Thatcher Hervé Poulain	Porsche 935	D	260
22 DNF	Gr.5	57	Claude Haldi Charles Ivey Racing	Claude Haldi Mark Thatcher Hervé Poulain	Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6	D	260
23 DNF	IMSA GTX	49	NART	Alain Cudini Philippe Gurdjian John Morton	Ferrari 512BB/LM	M	247
23 DNF	IMSA GTX	49	NART	Alain Cudini Philippe Gurdjian John Morton	Ferrari 4.9 L Flat-12	M	247
24 DNF	Gr.5	53	EMKA Productions Limited	David Hobbs Eddie Jordan Steve O'Rourke	BMW M1 Gr.5	D	236
24 DNF	Gr.5	53	EMKA Productions Limited	David Hobbs Eddie Jordan Steve O'Rourke	BMW M88 3.5 L I6	D	236
25 DNF	GT	72	BMW Zol'Auto	Jean-François Rousselot François Sérvanin Laurent Ferrier	BMW M1	D	212
25 DNF	GT	72	BMW Zol'Auto	Jean-François Rousselot François Sérvanin Laurent Ferrier	BMW M88 3.5 L I6	D	212
26 DNF	S +2.0	20	Alain de Cadenet Belga	Alain de Cadenet Jean-Michel Martin Philippe Martin	De Cadenet-Lola LM	D	210
26 DNF	S +2.0	20	Alain de Cadenet Belga	Alain de Cadenet Jean-Michel Martin Philippe Martin	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	D	210
27 DNF	Gr.5	52	Würth-Lubrifilm Team Sauber	Dieter Quester Marc Surer David Deacon	BMW M1 Gr.5	D	207
27 DNF	Gr.5	52	Würth-Lubrifilm Team Sauber	Dieter Quester Marc Surer David Deacon	BMW M88 3.5 L I6	D	207
28 DNF	Gr.5	66	Martini Racing	Riccardo Patrese Hans Heyer Piercarlo Ghinzani	Lancia Beta Monte Carlo	P	186
28 DNF	Gr.5	66	Martini Racing	Riccardo Patrese Hans Heyer Piercarlo Ghinzani	Lancia 1.4 L Turbo I4	P	186
29 DNF	S +2.0	21	Alain de Cadenet Dorset Racing Associates	Martin Birrane Nick Faure Vivian Candy	De Cadenet-Lola LM	D	171
29 DNF	S +2.0	21	Alain de Cadenet Dorset Racing Associates	Martin Birrane Nick Faure Vivian Candy	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	D	171
30 DNF	S +2.0	23	Dome Co. Ltd.	Chris Craft Bob Evans	Dome RL81	D	154
30 DNF	S +2.0	23	Dome Co. Ltd.	Chris Craft Bob Evans	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	D	154
31 DNF	IMSA GTX	40	Joest Racing	Mauricio de Narváez Kenper Miller Günther Steckkönig	Porsche 935J	D	152
31 DNF	IMSA GTX	40	Joest Racing	Mauricio de Narváez Kenper Miller Günther Steckkönig	Porsche Type-935 2.8 L Turbo Flat-6	D	152
32 DNF	IMSA GTX	48	Simon Phillips	Simon Phillips Mike Salmon Steve Earle	Ferrari 512BB/LM	M	140
32 DNF	IMSA GTX	48	Simon Phillips	Simon Phillips Mike Salmon Steve Earle	Ferrari 4.9 L Flat-12	M	140
33 DNF	IMSA GTX	45	Scuderia Supercar Bellancauto SRL	Fabrizio Violati Maurizio Flammini Duilio Truffo	Ferrari 512BB/LM	M	118
33 DNF	IMSA GTX	45	Scuderia Supercar Bellancauto SRL	Fabrizio Violati Maurizio Flammini Duilio Truffo	Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12	M	118
34 DNF	S +2.0	22	André Chevalley Racing	Patrick Gaillard André Chevalley Bruno Sotty	ACR 80B	G	114
34 DNF	S +2.0	22	André Chevalley Racing	Patrick Gaillard André Chevalley Bruno Sotty	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	G	114
35 DNF	IMSA GTO	37	Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd.	Tetsu Ikuzawa Tom Walkinshaw Peter Lovett	Mazda RX-7	D	107
35 DNF	IMSA GTO	37	Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd.	Tetsu Ikuzawa Tom Walkinshaw Peter Lovett	Mazda 13B 1.3 L 2-Rotor	D	107
36 DNF	S 2.0	30	Jean-Marie Lemerle	Jean-Marie Lemerle Max Cohen-Olivar Alain Levié	Lola T298	G	104
36 DNF	S 2.0	30	Jean-Marie Lemerle	Jean-Marie Lemerle Max Cohen-Olivar Alain Levié	BMW 2.0 L I4	G	104
37 DNF	S +2.0	27	Ian Bracey	Tiff Needell Tony Trimmer	Ibec-Hesketh 308LM	D	95
37 DNF	S +2.0	27	Ian Bracey	Tiff Needell Tony Trimmer	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	D	95
38 DNF	S +2.0	10	Porsche Kremer Racing	Bob Wollek Xavier Lapeyre Guy Chasseuil	Porsche 917K/81	D	82
38 DNF	S +2.0	10	Porsche Kremer Racing	Bob Wollek Xavier Lapeyre Guy Chasseuil	Porsche 4.9 L Flat-12	D	82
39 DNF	S +2.0	14	Joest Racing	Reinhold Joest Dale Whittington Klaus Niedzwiedz	Porsche 908/80	D	80
39 DNF	S +2.0	14	Joest Racing	Reinhold Joest Dale Whittington Klaus Niedzwiedz	Porsche 2.1 L Turbo Flat-6	D	80
40 DNF	S +2.0	24	Otis Jean Rondeau	Jean Rondeau Jean-Pierre Jaussaud	Rondeau M379	G	58
40 DNF	S +2.0	24	Otis Jean Rondeau	Jean Rondeau Jean-Pierre Jaussaud	Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3 L V8	G	58
41 DNF	Gr.5	59	Porsche Kremer Racing	Ted Field Bill Whittington Don Whittington	Porsche 935 K3	G	57
41 DNF	Gr.5	59	Porsche Kremer Racing	Ted Field Bill Whittington Don Whittington	Porsche Type-935 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6	G	57
42 DNF	IMSA GTX	50	BASF Cassetten Team GS Sport	Hans Joachim Stuck Jean-Pierre Jarier Helmut Henzler	BMW M1 Gr.5	D	57
42 DNF	IMSA GTX	50	BASF Cassetten Team GS Sport	Hans Joachim Stuck Jean-Pierre Jarier Helmut Henzler	BMW M88 3.5 L I6	D	57
43 DNF	C	83	WM A.E.R.E.M.	Jean-Daniel Raulet Marcel Mamers	WM P81	M	50
43 DNF	C	83	WM A.E.R.E.M.	Jean-Daniel Raulet Marcel Mamers	Peugeot PRV 2.7 L Turbo V6	M	50
44 DNF	Gr.5	69	Tuff-Kote Dinol Racing	Jan Lundgårdh Axel Plankenhorn Mike Wilds	Porsche 935 L1 "Baby"	D	49
44 DNF	Gr.5	69	Tuff-Kote Dinol Racing	Jan Lundgårdh Axel Plankenhorn Mike Wilds	Porsche 1.4 L Turbo Flat-6	D	49
45 DNF	GT	71	Helmut Marko RSM	Christian Danner Peter Oberndofer Prince Leopold von Bayern	BMW M1	D	49
45 DNF	GT	71	Helmut Marko RSM	Christian Danner Peter Oberndofer Prince Leopold von Bayern	BMW M88 3.5 L I6	D	49
46 DNF	Gr.5	61	Weralit Racing Team	Edgar Dören Jürgen Lässig Gerhard Holup	Porsche 935 K3	D	48
46 DNF	Gr.5	61	Weralit Racing Team	Edgar Dören Jürgen Lässig Gerhard Holup	Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6	D	48
47 DNF	Gr.5	67	Martini Racing	Beppe Gabbiani Emanuele Pirro	Lancia Beta Monte Carlo	P	47
47 DNF	Gr.5	67	Martini Racing	Beppe Gabbiani Emanuele Pirro	Lancia 1.4 L Turbo I4	P	47
48 DNF	GTP +3.0	5	WM A.E.R.E.M.	Guy Fréquelin Roger Dorchy Xavier Mathiot	WM P79/80	M	46
48 DNF	GTP +3.0	5	WM A.E.R.E.M.	Guy Fréquelin Roger Dorchy Xavier Mathiot	Peugeot PRV 2.7vL Turbo V6	M	46
49 DNF	IMSA GTX	41	Preston Henn Racing	Preston Henn Mike Chandler Marcel Mignot	Porsche 935 K3	D	45
49 DNF	IMSA GTX	41	Preston Henn Racing	Preston Henn Mike Chandler Marcel Mignot	Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6	D	45
50 DNF	S +2.0	26	Oceanic Jean Rondeau	Henri Pescarolo Patrick Tambay	Rondeau M379	G	41
50 DNF	S +2.0	26	Oceanic Jean Rondeau	Henri Pescarolo Patrick Tambay	Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3 L V8	G	41
51 DNF	GT	73	Eminence Racing Team	Jean-Marie Alméras Jacques Alméras	Porsche 924 Carrera GTR	M	30
51 DNF	GT	73	Eminence Racing Team	Jean-Marie Alméras Jacques Alméras	Porsche 2.0 L Turbo I4	M	30
52 DNF	S +2.0	25	Calberson Jean Rondeau	Jean Ragnotti Jean-Louis Lafosse	Rondeau M379	G	28
52 DNF	S +2.0	25	Calberson Jean Rondeau	Jean Ragnotti Jean-Louis Lafosse	Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	G	28
53 DNF	IMSA GTO	38	Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd.	Yojiro Terada Hiroshi Fushida Win Percy	Mazda RX-7	D	25
53 DNF	IMSA GTO	38	Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd.	Yojiro Terada Hiroshi Fushida Win Percy	Mazda 13B 1.3 L 2-Rotor	D	25
54 DNF	C	82	WM A.E.R.E.M.	Thierry Boutsen Serge Saulnier Michel Pignard	WM P81	M	15
54 DNF	C	82	WM A.E.R.E.M.	Thierry Boutsen Serge Saulnier Michel Pignard	Peugeot PRV 2.7 L Turbo V6	M	15
55 DNF	IMSA GTO	35	Stratagraph Inc.	Cale Yarborough Billy Hagan Bill Cooper	Chevrolet Camaro	G	13
55 DNF	IMSA GTO	35	Stratagraph Inc.	Cale Yarborough Billy Hagan Bill Cooper	Chevrolet 6.4 L V8	G	13

Statistics

Pole Position - #11 Porsche System - 3:29.44
Fastest Lap - #12 Porsche System - 3:34.00
Distance - 4825.348 km
Average Speed - 201.056 km/h

Trophy Winners

Index of Thermal Efficiency - #31 Jean-Philippe Grand

24 Hours of Le Mans

Main topics	Automobile Club de l'Ouest Circuit de la Sarthe Le Mans Sarthe List of winners List of records List of female partipicants Le Mans Prototype list Triple Crown of Motorsport Fatal accidents 24 Heures Moto (FIM motorcycle endurance) Le Mans Classic Le Mans Legend Le Mans start Dunlop Bridge Mulsanne Straight

In media	Le Mans (film) Michel Vaillant (film) 24 heures d'amant "The Race" (The Goodies) Truth in 24 Radio Le Mans

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