1956 24 Hours of Le Mans

24th 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race

The 1956 24 Hours of Le Mans was a race for Sports Cars which took place on 28 and 29 July 1956 on the Circuit de la Sarthe. The race was won by Ron Flockhart and Ninian Sanderson driving a Jaguar D Type for the new Ecurie Ecosse team. This race also marked the golden jubilee of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) founded in 1906, however because of the previous year's disaster, celebrations were deferred to 1957 to go along with the imminent 25th anniversary of the race. Following the events of 1955, the front stretch and pit lane were redesigned in order to enhance driver and spectator safety. This involved a change to the layout of the Dunlop curve, shortening the overall length of the track by 31 meters. This race saw the death of French driver Louis Héry when his Monopole was involved in an accident early in the race.

The official enquiry into the 1955 Le Mans disaster found severe deficiencies in the track layout along the main straight and for quite some time there were serious concerns for the future of the race. However, the ACO took all the recommendations on board and was able to convince the French government for continuation. The extensive renovations cost FF300 million, moving 70000 cubic metres of earth and meant the race was delayed 7 weeks to the end of July. The pit straight was redesigned: it was widened by 13m (giving room for a deceleration lane), the small kink removed by straightening the approach, and the Dunlop curve realigned, steepened and eased, moving the Dunlop Bridge. This all had the effect of shortening the lap by 31 metres. The grandstand was demolished and rebuilt with new spectator terraces beyond a ditch between the track. The postwar pits were also torn down and a new 3 storey complex built giving more space for crews and with hospitality suites above (although there was still no barrier out to the racing line). This limited the number of starters to 52, down from 60. Elsewhere on the track, the Indianapolis and Maison Blanche corners were also widened and resurfaced, and a dangerous hump on the road after Arnage was removed. A new “signalling pits” was built just after the Mulsanne corner (in the same place Bentley had used 20 years earlier with a phone link back to the pits) so as to reduce crew congestion and driver distraction on the critical pit straight area. Regarding new regulations, the ACO also set a number of new restrictions with a view to limit maximum speeds. Prototypes were now given a maximum engine size of 2.5L. Production cars had to have 50 units “built, sold or provided for” and were still unrestricted in engine capacity. These new limits put the ACO out of step with the FIA and hence the race was dropped from the 1956 World Sportscar Championship. Full width windscreens, at least 200mm, high were also mandatory further trimming top speed. Other effects to encourage economy limited all fuel tanks to a maximum size of 130 litres, and the liquids replenishment (fuel, oil, water) window was extended again, from 32 to 34 laps (458 km / 284 miles) meaning a minimum practical fuel economy of 10.8mpg would be needed. Finally, drivers were now only allowed to do 72 consecutive laps and 14 hours in total.

Being run a month later, the night was that bit longer and intermittent showers persisted through the night. Just before 10pm on the run from Maison Blanche to the pits Fernand Tavano's Testarossa went off the road, spun and hit the bank. Facing the opposite direction, his headlights blinded ’Helm’ Glöckler whose Porsche Carrera ran straight into the Ferrari. Tavano was thrown clear by the heavy impact as his car was shoved into the roadside ditch, but the Porsche rolled and burst into flames. Glöckler was pulled out by rescuers with minor burns and a broken leg. By midnight Sanderson had retaken the lead, yet as the track got damp again, the experience of the F1 racers showed and Moss & Collins retook the lead by 3am, with Gendebien/Trintignant third, four laps down. Hill/Simon running 4th, had been changing gears with no clutch until they were forced out with rear axle failure just before half time. The remarkable Porsche 550s were running 5th and 6th. Near the end of the night though Maglioli's leading Porsche was slowed and eventually stopped by engine issues. The prototype Aston Martin was surprising many, running in the top 10, and by the early hours of the morning had climbed up to 4th. Sadly for the partisan crowd, both Gordinis had fallen by the wayside with engine problems. In the small hours Cliff Allison’s Lotus, doing 190 km/h, struck a dog chasing a rabbit on the Mulsanne Straight wrecking the radiator.

The rain stopped for a while around dawn and that suited the bigger Jaguar, and they retook the lead and by 8am had built a 3 minute margin. Soon after dawn the last of the 2 litre class was out – the Ferrari of Jean Lucas, having got into the top 10, was disqualified for refuelling two laps too early. Around 7.30, in a sudden downpour, Peter Walker, running 8th, crashed heavily at the Dunlop bridge just after the pits. The car rolled and sat in the middle of the road but the driver was able to get out with just cuts, bruises and a broken finger. Later in the morning Moss and Collins lost their 2nd gear, limiting their chase and they gradually gave up ground. Around noon the Talbot of Behra/Rosier was stopped by a broken rear axle. They had barely kept up with the Aston Martin, Ferraris and Gordinis in its class, but through attrition, had been able to move up to 8th by the time they retired.

The leading cars remained reliable and reached the finish, except the Aston Martin prototype which, having slipped to 7th with engine problems, broke its rear suspension in the final hour. The Ecosse Jaguar won by a lap from the Aston Martin. The Ferraris were never able to compete with the leaders but Gendebien/Trintignant came home third a further six laps back. Yet again the Belgian Jaguar had a good run, this time finishing 4th, fully 16 laps behind the winner. The leading Porsche of von Trips and von Frankenberg was 5th, just missing out on the Index of Performance, but finishing an enormous 37 laps ahead of the only other class finisher: the privateer Maserati of Bourillot/Perroud in 9th. Having been driving up from the back of the field for 23 hours, Hawthorn and Bueb finished a commendable 6th place, with Hawthorn's determination getting him the race's fastest lap, albeit well down on the previous year. The rivalry between the Climax engined kit cars went the way of Lotus. Jopp and Bicknell had retaken the S 1100 lead around 11am after the Cooper of Americans Hugus and Bentley had held it for 12 hours, and finished just over a lap ahead with the cars finishing 7th and 8th overall. The DB works team did well again with three of their four cars finishing (in 10th, 11th and 12th overall), and taking the valuable Index of Performance prize

A mere 13 finishers were classified (the lowest ratio of the decade), and given the wet conditions it was no surprise that there were 16 major accidents. It was a credit to the preparation and organisation of the fledgling Ecurie Ecosse team to win on its first attempt at Le Mans. Although not one of the event's most exciting races it was, nevertheless, a testament to the dedication and tradition of the ACO that it was able to overcome the disaster of the 1955 race. This was the final race overseen by Charles Faroux, engineer and journalist, who was the co founder of the race; he died the following February aged 74. Closely involved in international motor racing administration he was also the race director for the Monaco Grand Prix.

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps Reason DNF S3.0 14 Aston Martin Ltd. Reg Parnell Tony Brooks Aston Martin DBR1/250 Aston Martin 2.5L S6 246 Transmission (24hr) DNF S3.0 17 Automobiles Talbot Jean Behra Louis Rosier Talbot Lago Sport Maserati 2.5L S6 220 Transmission (21hr) DSQ S5.0 6 R. Walshaw(private entrant) Robert Walshaw Peter Bolton Jaguar XK140 Jaguar 3.5L S6 209 Premature Refuelling(21hr) DNF S3.0 9 Aston Martin Ltd. Peter Walker Roy Salvadori Aston Martin DB3S Aston Martin 2.9L S6 173 Accident (16hr) DNF S1.5 32 Lotus Engineering Colin Chapman Herbert MacKay Fraser Lotus 11 Climax FWB 1459cc S4 172 Engine (21hr) DSQ S2.0 22 Los Amigos François Picard Bob Tappan Howard Hively Ferrari 500 TR Ferrari 1985cc S4 137 Premature refuelling(14hr) DNF S1.5 24 Porsche KG Umberto Maglioli Hans Herrmann Porsche 550A Coupé Porsche 1498cc F4 136 Engine (16hr) DNF S1.1 37 René Breuil Jean Py Yves Dommée RB Sport OSCA 1093cc S4 116 Gearbox (15hr) DNF S3.0 10 Scuderia Ferrari Phil Hill André Simon Ferrari 625 LM Ferrari 2.5L S4 107 Transmission (10hr) DNF S2.0 23 Automobiles Frazer Nash Ltd. Richard ‘Dickie’ Stoop Tony Gaze Frazer Nash Sebring Bristol 1977cc S6 100 Accident (10hr) DNF S3.0 16 Automobiles Gordini Hermano da Silva Ramos André de Guelfi Gordini T23S Gordini 2.5L S6 90 Clutch (12hr) DNF S1.1 35 Lotus Engineering Cliff Allison Keith Hall Lotus 11 Climax FWA 1098cc S4 89 Accident (10hr) DNF S3.0 15 Automobiles Gordini Robert Manzon Jean Guichet Gordini T15S Gordini 2.5L S8 80 Engine (8hr) DNF S3.0 19 J. P. Colas(private entrant) Serge Nersessian Georges Monneret Salmson 2300S Coupé Salmson 2.3L S4 80 Gearbox (10hr) DNF S2.0 20 Equipe Nationale Belge Lucien Bianchi Alain de Changy Ferrari 500 TR Ferrari 1985cc S4 76 Steering (8hr) DNF S1.5 29 Automobiles Gordini André Milhoux Clarence de Clareur Gordini T17S Gordini 1495cc S6 67 Out of fuel (8hr) DNF S750 48 Moretti Automobili Marcel Lauga Jean Michel Durif Moretti 750 Gran Sport Moretti 747cc S4 62 Engine (10hr) DNF S2.0 21 P. Meyrat(private entrant) Pierre Meyrat Fernand Tavano Ferrari 500 TR Ferrari 1985cc S4 61 Accident (8hr) DNF S1.5 26 Porsche KG Max Nathan Helmut ‘Helm’ Glöckler Porsche 356 Carrera Porsche 1498cc F4 61 Accident (8hr) DNF S3.0 7 P. Metternich Fürst Paul von Metternich Winneburg Wittigo von Einsiedel Mercedes Benz 300SL Mercedes Benz 3.0L S6 58 Engine (8hr) DNF S750 49 Automobiles Panhard Jean Hémard Pierre Flahaut Panhard Monopole X89 Panhard 745cc F2 50 Engine (7hr) DNF S1.5 27 W. Seidel(private entrant) Carel Godin de Beaufort Mathieu Hezemans Porsche 550 RS Spyder Porsche 1498cc F4 48 Suspension (8hr) DNF S750 50 Automobiles Panhard Pierre Chancel André Beaulieux Panhard Monopole X88 Panhard 745cc F2 46 Accident (6hr) DNF S1.5 28 G. Olivier(private entrant) Claude Storez Helmut Polensky Porsche 550 RS Spyder Porsche 1498cc F4 45 Electrics (8 hr) DNF S750 52 Automobili Stanguellini René Philippe Faure Gilbert Foury Stanguellini 750 Sport Stanguellini 741cc S4 36 Accident (6hr) DNF S1.5 31 L. Cornet(private entrant) Louis Cornet Robert Mougin Maserati 150S Maserati 1487cc S4 35 Engine (4hr) DNF S3.0 18 Automobiles Talbot Jean Lucas Geoffredo Zehender Talbot Lago Sport Maserati 2.5L S6 32 Accident (7hr) DNF S750 53 Automobili Stanguellini Pierre Duval Georges Guyot Stanguellini 750 Sport Stanguellini 741cc S4 23 Engine (4hr) DNF S750 47 Moretti Automobili Marceau Esculus François Guillaud Moretti 750 Gran Sport Moretti 747cc S4 22 Electrics (7 hr) DNF S750 51 L. Héry(private entrant) Louis Héry Lucien Pailler Monopole X86 Panhard 745cc F2 5 Fatal accident(1 hr) DNF S750 42 Automobili O. S. C. A. Jean Laroche Rémy Radix O. S. C. A. 750 S OSCA 749cc S4 4 Accident (1hr) DNF S5.0 3 Jaguar Cars Ltd. Jack Fairman Ken Wharton Jaguar D Type Jaguar 3.4L S6 3 Accident (1hr) DNF S750 44 AutomobilesDeutsch et Bonnet Fernand Carpentier Pierre Savary DB HBR 5 Coupé Panhard 747cc F2 2 Accident (1hr) DNF S3.0 11 Scuderia Ferrari Alfonso, Marquis de Portago Duncan Hamilton Ferrari 625 LM Ferrari 2.5L I4 2 Accident (1hr) DNF S5.0 2 Jaguar Cars Ltd. Paul Frère Desmond Titterington Jaguar D Type Jaguar 3.4L S6 2 Accident (1hr)

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Score 1 S750 40 AutomobilesDeutsch et Bonnet Gérard Laureau Paul Armagnac DB HBR 5 Spyder 1.166 2 S1.5 25 Porsche KG Graf Wolfgang von Trips Richard von Frankenberg Porsche 550A Coupe 1.159 3 S750 45 AutomobilesDeutsch et Bonnet Jean Claude Vidilles Jean Thépenier DB HBR 5 Coupé 1.135 4 S1.1 36 Lotus Engineering Reg Bicknell Peter Jopp Lotus 11 1.118 5 S1.1 33 Cooper Car Company Ed Hugus John Bentley Cooper T39 1.114 6 S3.0 8 Aston Martin Ltd. Stirling Moss Peter Collins Aston Martin DB3S 1.113 7 S3.0 12 Scuderia Ferrari Olivier Gendebien Maurice Trintignant Ferrari 625 LM 1.110 8 S750 46 AutomobilesDeutsch et Bonnet André Héchard Roger Masson DB HBR 4 Spyder 1.110 9 S5.0 4 Ecurie Ecosse Ninian Sanderson Ron Flockhart Jaguar D Type 1.101 10 S5.0 5 Equipe Nationale Belge Jacques Swaters ‘Freddy’ Rousselle Jaguar D Type 1.041
Note: Only the top ten positions are included in this set of standings. A score of 1.00 means meeting the minimum distance for the car, and a higher score is exceeding the nominal target distance.

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Score 1 S750 40 AutomobilesDeutsch et Bonnet Gérard Laureau Paul Armagnac DB HBR 5 Spyder 1.166 2 S1.5 25 Porsche KG Graf Wolfgang von Trips Richard von Frankenberg Porsche 550A Coupe 1.159 3 S3.0 8 Aston Martin Ltd. Stirling Moss Peter Collins Aston Martin DB3S 1.113
Note: Only the top three positions are included in this set of standings.