1951 24 Hours of Le Mans

19th 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race

The 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 19th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 23 and 24 June 1951. It was won by Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead in their works entered Jaguar C type, the first Le Mans win for the marque. The arrival of Jaguar's and Cunningham's first purpose built racers in direct competition with Ferrari, and the first showing for Porsche and Lancia, marked the beginning of an era of intense competition between manufacturers of sports cars. The more powerful new sport racers would develop rapidly and put a final end to luxury touring cars and their derivatives as top contenders at Le Mans. It was the final outing for Delahaye and Bentley (for 50 years) and the sports prototype tide would overwhelm Talbot Lago in the next couple of years. The race was marred by the death of French driver Jean Larivière within the opening laps of the race.

This year there were no significant changes to the regulations, by either the CSI or the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), except to create a Reserve list as a back up to the basic sixty entrants.

The Jaguars immediately showed their pace, although Peter Walker complained that the lights were insufficient in the night practice. When it was pointed out he had his tinted glasses on, he took them off and went out and immediately did an unofficial lap of 4:46. But it was Phil Walters’ Cunningham that set the fastest official practice lap at 5:03. The later practice sessions were compromised by very wet weather. Rudolf Sauerwein suffered severe leg injuries when his new Porsche crashed and rolled, almost collecting Moss's Jaguar and Morris Goodall's Aston Martin following close behind. A number of cars had engine problems in practice that were traced to the fuel supplied by the ACO – nominally 80 octane, but that was suspect. Many teams needed to do last minute engine modifications.

After all the rain in practice, race day also started wet but it was dry for the start. Tom Cole's Allard was first away, but at the end of the first lap, it was the Talbot of González ahead of Moss and Cole. After three laps the young, very fast, Stirling Moss dashed into the lead and took on the role that was to become his signature the hare sent out to break the pursuing hounds, running to an assigned pace. However tragedy struck on the sixth lap: French driver Jean Larivière crashed his Ferrari 212 heavily into a sandbank at Tertre Rouge, getting airborne. He was killed instantly when virtually decapitated by a wire fence. The race continued though, and Moss set a blistering pace, repeatedly lowering Rosier's 1950 lap record (eventually, over 6 seconds quicker). After an hour, Moss led González, ahead of the Jaguars of Biondetti and Walker, then the Talbots of Chaboud and Rosier. By the end of the second hour, Moss had put a lap on the whole field. At the four hour mark Moss & Fairman had a lead of over 2 laps, with the Jaguar team running 1 2 3, ahead of the Talbots of González and Fangio. Soon afterward, the rain returned and stayed for the rest of the night. The pace was starting to take its toll: Both Allards had gone off track, and repairing the damage put them well down. Chaboud's Talbot was out with radiator problems, and a loss of oil pressure caused a similar problem stopping the Biondetti Jaguar. Louis Chiron, running in the top 10, ran his Ferrari out of gas on track, but when the officials found out a mechanic had driven out to him with a tank of fuel to top up he was disqualified. In the smaller classes, the 1500cc Gordinis were comfortably ahead of their English competition (the Jowetts and MG) – at times 40 seconds a lap faster Manzon and Trintignant running as high as 15th and 16th respectively, mixing it with the bigger cars until both were put out with engine problems after only 4 hours.

Just before midnight, after his car had held the lead for more than 7 hours, Moss’ impressive run came to an end – a conrod broke due, like Biondetti, due to a major loss of oil pressure. Soon after, Rosier was stopped by a split oil tank. The remaining works Jaguar of Walker/Whitehead inherited the lead, a lap ahead of González/Marimón. The Britons extended the lead to 7 laps, easily matching the Talbot's pace through the night until the latter car retired with a blown head gasket at the halfway mark. The Ferrari challenge never really materialised, although wealthy Englishman Eddie Hall, who had driven solo the previous year to 2nd place, had his Ferrari 340 up to as high as 3rd during the night. The big heavy Cunninghams suffered in the greasy wet conditions; two had been held up in the first couple of hours and were well down the order. Huntoon, co driving the boss’ car, slid off at Indianapolis wrecking the steering, then soon afterward Rand spun his car in traffic at the Dunlop curve. He missed the other cars but slammed into the roadside bank. The third car though, of Fitch/Walters, had been in the top 10 throughout, steadily picking up places as others fell out, and was up to 2nd when the Talbot retired. The Allard/Cole car had charged through the field up to 4th after its initial delay, but was finally stopped at the end of the night by a broken gearbox. Back in the junior classes, with only the reserve entry Jowett left, the Gordinis were making good progress, with a 9 lap lead, when disaster struck – both remaining Gordinis were retired late in the night with yet more engine problems.

As dawn broke, the Jaguar had a comfortable 8 lap lead over the Cunningham, the Macklin/Thompson Aston Martin and the Rolt/Hamilton Nash Healey. Hall's Ferrari gave up with a flat battery and would not restart. The two Talbots of Mairesse/Meyrat and Bouillin/Marchand followed, trying to stage a fightback, split by the Abecassis/Shawe Taylor Aston Martin. This order stayed fairly constant through the morning, until midday when the Cunningham hit the pits with engine problems. The crew made repairs and it crawled around doing occasional slow laps, waiting for the race end. By pushing hard, Mairesse and Meyrat picked off the Nash Healey in the early morning, then passed the Aston Martin into 3rd about 11am, which became 2nd when the Cunningham stopped. Meanwhile, even being the sole survivor of the S1500 class, it still took the Jowett over an hour to overtake the leading Gordini on distance – they eventually cruised home to finish 21st.

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps 1 S5.0 20 Jaguar Cars Ltd Peter Walker Peter Whitehead Jaguar XK 120C Jaguar 3.4L S6 267 2 S5.0 9 Pierre Meyrat(private entrant) Pierre Meyrat Guy Mairesse Talbot Lago T26 GS Biplace Talbot Lago 4.5L S6 258 3 S3.0 26 Aston Martin Ltd. Lance Macklin Eric Thompson Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin 2.6L S6 257 4 S5.0 10 Pierre ”Levegh” (private entrant) Pierre "Levegh" René Marchand Talbot Lago T26 Monoplace Décalée Talbot Lago 4.5L S6 256 5 S3.0 25 Aston Martin Ltd. George Abecassis Brian Shawe Taylor Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin 2.6L S6 255 6 S5.0 19 Donald Healey Motor Company Tony Rolt Duncan Hamilton Nash Healey Sport Coupé Nash 3.8L S6 255 7 S3.0 24 Aston Martin Ltd. Reg Parnell David Hampshire Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin 2.6L S6 252 8 S5.0 15 Luigi Chinetti Luigi Chinetti Jean Lucas Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Ferrari 4.1L V12 246 9 S3.0 29 N. J. Mahé(private entrant) Norbert Jean Mahé Jacques Péron Ferrari 212 Export Coupé Ferrari 2.6L V12 244 10 S3.0 28 N. H. Mann(private entrant) Nigel Mann Mortimer Morris Goodall Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin 2.6L S6 236 11 S5.0 21 R. Lawrie(private entrant) Rob Lawrie Ivan Waller Jaguar XK 120S Jaguar 3.4L S6 236 12 S2.0 33 Scuderia Ambrosiana Comte Giovanni Lurani Giovanni Bracco Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Lancia 2.0L V6 235 13 S3.0 27 P. T. C. Clark(private entrant) Peter Clark James Scott Douglas Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin 2.6L S6 233 14 S2.0 35 Automobiles Frazer Nash Ltd. Eric Winterbottom John Marshall Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica Bristol 2.0L S6 232 15 S2.0 32 Luigi Chinetti Yvonne Simon Betty Haig Ferrari 166 MM Berlinetta Ferrari 2.0L V12 231 16 S3.0 31 Charles Moran Jr. (private entrant) Charles Moran Jr. Franco Cornacchia Ferrari 212 Export Spyder Ferrari 2.6L V12 227 17 S5.0 11 A. Chambas(private entrant) André Chambas André Morel Talbot Lago SS Spyder Talbot Lago 4.5L S6 226 18 S2.0 34 Mrs P. Trevelyan(private entrant) Richard "Dickie" Stoop Peter Wilson Frazer Nash Mille Miglia Bristol 2.0L S6 217 19 S1.1 46 Porsche K. G. Auguste Veuillet Edmond Mouche Porsche 356 SL Coupe Porsche 1086cc Flat 4 210 20 S1.1 48 Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet René Bonnet Élie Bayol DB Sport Panhard 851cc Flat 2 206 21 S1.5 66 M. Becquart(private entrant) Marcel Becquart Gordon Wilkins Jowett Jupiter Jowett 1486cc Flat 4 203 22 S750 50 Régie Renault Francois Landon André Briat Renault 4CV 1063 Renault 747cc S4 197 23 S750 60 Établissements Monopole Jean de Montrémy Jean Hémard Monopole X84 Panhard 614cc FLat 2 194 24 S750 61 R. Gaillard(private entrant) Raymond Gaillard Pierre Chancel Panhard Dyna X84 Panhard 611cc Flat 2 190 25 S750 54 Régie Renault Jacques Lecat Henri Senftleben Renault 4CV 1063 Renault 747cc S4 184 26 S750 58 Auguste Lachaize(private entrant) Jean Paul Colas Robert Schollmann Callista RAN D120 Panhard 611cc Flat 2 183 27 S750 53 Régie Renault Just Emile Vernet Jean Pairard Renault 4CV 1063 Renault 747cc S4 181 28 S750 56 Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet Michel Arnaud Louis Pons DB Sport Panhard 745cc Flat 2 179

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps Reason 29 S8.0 2 S. H. Allard Peter Reece Alfred Hitchings Allard J2 Cadillac 5.4L V8 230 not classifiedlast lap too slow 30 S8.0 4 Briggs Cunningham John Fitch Phil Walters Cunningham C 2R Chrysler 5.5L V8 223 not classifiedlast lap too slow 31 S5.0 14 H. S. F. Hay(private entrant) Jack ‘Zoltan’ Hay Tom Clarke Bentley 4¼ Paulin Bentley 4.3L S6 204 not classifiedinsufficient distance 32 S750 51 Régie Renault Jean Louis Rosier Jean Estager Renault 4CV 1063 Renault 0.7L I4 194 accident (24h) 33 S750 57 L. Eggen(private entrant) Louis Eggen André Beaulieux DB Sport Panhard 745cc Flat 2 184 Disqualified (23h)outside assistance 34 S750 52 Régie Renault Jean Sandt Paul Moser Renault 4CV 1063 Renault 747cc S4 177 fire (21h) 35 S8.0 1 S. H. Allard Sydney Allard Tom Cole Jr. Allard J2 Cadillac 5.4L V8 134 gearbox (13h) 36 S1.1 45 R. Caron(private entrant) Roger Caron André Guillard Simca Huit Sport Simca 1090cc S4 133 engine (19h) 37 S5.0 17 William Spear(private entrant) William "Bill" Spear Johnny Claes Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Ferrari 4.1L V12 132 clutch (17h) 38 S1.5 37 Equipe Gordini Pierre Veyron Georges Monneret Gordini T15S Simca 1495cc S4 130 engine (13h) 39 S5.0 7 Henri Louveau (private entrant) José Froilán González Onofre Marimón Talbot Lago T26 GS Biplace Talbot Lago 4.5L S6 128 radiator (13h) 40 S5.0 18 E. R. Hall (private entrant) Eddie Hall Giuseppe Navone Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Ferrari 4.1L V12 125 battery (13h) 41 S8.0 5 Briggs Cunningham George Rand Fred Wacker, Jr. Cunningham C 2R Chrysler 5.5L V8 98 accident (11h) 42 S5.0 6 Louis Rosier (private entrant) Louis Rosier Juan Manuel Fangio Talbot Lago T26 GS Biplace Talbot Lago 4.5L S6 92 oil tank (9h) 43 S5.0 22 Jaguar Cars Ltd Stirling Moss Stirling Moss Jack Fairman Jaguar XK 120C Jaguar 3.4L S6 92 engine (9h) 44 S5.0 62 H. Leblanc(private entrant) Henry Leblanc Robert Bertrand Delahaye 135CS Delahaye 3.6L S6 88 brakes (11h) 45 S1.5 43 G. E. Phillips(private entrant) George Phillips Alan Rippon MG TD EX.172 MG 1250cc S4 80 engine (9h) 46 S1.5 40 Equipe Gordini José Scaron Aldo Gordini Gordini T15S Simca 1495cc S4 77 fuel pump (13h) 47 S8.0 3 Briggs Cunningham Briggs Cunningham George Huntoon Cunningham C 2R Chrysler 5.5L V8 76 accident (9h) 48 S2.0 64 René Bouchard(private entrant) Robert Bouchard Lucien Farnaud Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta Ferrari 2.0L V12 75 engine (13h) 49 S5.0 23 Jaguar Cars Ltd Clemente Biondetti Clemente Biondetti Leslie Johnson Jaguar XK 120C Jaguar 3.4L S6 50 oil pump (5h) 50 S1.5 39 Equipe Gordini Maurice Trintignant Jean Behra Gordini T15S Simca 1495cc S4 49 ignition (5h) 51 S1.5 41 Jowett Cars Ltd. Tommy Wisdom Tommy Wise Jowett Jupiter R1 Jowett 1486cc Flat 4 48 engine (5h) 52 S750 59 Crosley Motors George Schrafft Phil Stiles Crosley Hotshot Super Sport Crosley 726cc S4 40 alternator (5h) 53 S750 49 J. Poch(private entrant) Jacques Poch Maurice Vaselle Aero Minor Aero 749cc S2(2 Stroke) 40 ignition (9h) 54 S750 55 Satecmo Georges Claude Pierre Clause Renault 4CV 1063 Renault 747cc S4 38 ignition (9h) 55 S5.0 8 E. Chaboud(private entrant) Eugène Chaboud Lucien Vincent Talbot Lago T26 GS Biplace Talbot Lago 4.5L S6 33 radiator (4h) 56 S5.0 16 Luigi Chinetti Louis Chiron Pierre Louis Dreyfus ("Heldé") Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Ferrari 4.1L V12 29 Disqualified (3h)premature refuelling 57 S1.5 38 Equipe Gordini Robert Manzon André Simon Gordini T15S Simca 1495cc S4 26 engine (5h) 58 S5.0 12 Etablissements Delettrez Jean Delettrez Jacques Delettrez Delettrez Diesel Delettrez 4.5L S6(Diesel) 24 ignition (5h) 59 S1.5 42 Jowett Cars Ltd. Bert Hadley Charles Goodacre Jowett Jupiter Jowett 1486cc Flat 4 19 electrics (3h) 60 S3.0 30 Johnny Claes(private entrant) Jean Larivière André Guelfi Ferrari 212 Export C Ferrari 2.6L V12 5 fatal accident (1h)

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Reason 61 S1.1 47 Porsche K. G. Rudolf Sauerwein Robert Brunet Porsche 356 SL Coupe Porsche 1086cc Flat 4 Accident in practice

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Score 1 S750 60 Établissements Monopole Jean de Montrémy Jean Hémard Monopole X84 1.376 2 S750 61 R. Gaillard(private entrant) Raymond Gaillard Pierre Chancel Panhard Dyna X84 1.351 3 S5.0 20 Jaguar Cars Ltd Peter Walker Peter Whitehead Jaguar XK 120C 1.326 4 S1.1 48 Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet René Bonnet Élie Bayol DB Sport 1.308 5 S3.0 25 Aston Martin Ltd. George Abecassis Brian Shawe Taylor Aston Martin DB2 1.306 6 S750 58 Auguste Lachaize(private entrant) Jean Paul Colas Robert Schollmann Callista RAN D120 1.297 7 S3.0 24 Aston Martin Ltd. Reg Parnell David Hampshire Aston Martin DB2 1.288 8 S5.0 19 Donald Healey Motor Company Tony Rolt Duncan Hamilton Nash Healey Sport Coupé 1.254