1985 24 Hours of Le Mans

1985 24 Hours of Le Mans

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Le Mans in 1985

The 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 53rd Grand Prix of Endurance as well as the fourth round of the 1985 World Endurance Championship. It took place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, France, on 15 and 16 June 1985.

During Thursday's practice, British driver Dudley Wood in a John Fitzpatrick entered Porsche 962C tangled with the Swiss driver Jean-Pierre Frey in an Alba AR2 on the Mulsanne Straight at 200 mph (320 km/h). They crashed, and they both went over the barriers and into the trees, similar to John Sheldon's crash the year before. The impact was so hard, it even cracked the Porsche's engine. No one was killed. As a result, neither car started the race.

During qualifying, German driver Hans-Joachim Stuck recorded the fastest ever lap of Le Mans for the time - at an average speed of 156.471 mph (251.815 km/h). His record would be held for 32 years, until Kamui Kobayashi broke it in 2017 in a Toyota TS050 Hybrid, averaging a speed of 156.512 mph (251.882 km/h), on a slower and safer variation of the circuit.

Klaus Ludwig took his third overall win, and his second in a row, in the same 956B chassis, 956B-117, which had won the 1984 race.

6-time winner Jacky Ickx finished his final 24 Hours of Le Mans in 10th place.

Official results

Finishers

Results taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACO
Class Winners are in Bold text.

Pos	Class	No.	Team	Drivers	Chassis	Engine	Tyre	Laps
1	Gr.C1	7	NewMan Joest Racing	Klaus Ludwig Paolo Barilla "John Winter" (Louis Krages)	Porsche 956B	Porsche 935/79 2.6L F6 twin turbo	D	374
2	Gr.C1	14	Canon Racing Richard Lloyd Racing GTi Engineering	Jonathan Palmer James Weaver Richard Lloyd	Porsche 956 GTi	Porsche 935/79 2.6L F6 twin turbo	G	371
3	Gr.C1	2	Rothmans Porsche	Derek Bell Hans-Joachim Stuck	Porsche 962C	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	D	367
4	Gr.C1	33	Fitzpatrick Porsche Team	Jo Gartner David Hobbs Guy Edwards	Porsche 956B	Porsche 935/79 2.6L F6 twin turbo	Y	366
5	Gr.C1	10	Barclay Kremer Racing	George Fouché Sarel van der Merwe / Mario Hytten	Porsche 956B	Porsche 935/79 2.6L F6 twin turbo	G	361
6	Gr.C1	4	Lancia Martini	Bob Wollek Alessandro Nannini Lucio Cesario	Lancia LC2	Ferrari 308C 3.0L V8 twin turbo	M	360
7	Gr.C1	5	Lancia Martini	Henri Pescarolo Mauro Baldi	Lancia LC2	Ferrari 308C 3.0L V8 twin turbo	M	358
8	Gr.C1	26	Ducados Obermaier Racing	Jürgen Lässig Jesús Pareja Hervé Regout	Porsche 956	Porsche 935/79 2.6L F6 twin turbo	G	357
9	Gr.C1	11	Kenwood Kremer Racing	Jean-Pierre Jarier Mike Thackwell Franz Konrad	Porsche 962C	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	G	356
10	Gr.C1	1	Rothmans Porsche	Jacky Ickx Jochen Mass	Porsche 962C	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	D	348
11	Gr.C1	66	EMKA Productions	Steve O'Rourke Tiff Needell Nick Faure	EMKA C83B	Aston Martin DP1229 5.3L V8	D	338
12	Gr.C1	36	TOM'S	Satoru Nakajima Masanori Sekiya Kaoru Hoshino	Dome RC85C-L	Toyota 4T-GT 2.1L S4 turbo	B	330
13	IMSA GTP	44	Group 44 Racing	Bob Tullius Claude Ballot-Léna Chip Robinson	Jaguar XJR-5	Jaguar 6.0L V12	G	324
14	Gr.C2	70	Spice Engineering	Gordon Spice Ray Bellm Mark Galvin	Spice-Tiga GC85	Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8	A	312
15	Gr.B	151	H. Gall (private entrant)	Edgar Dören Martin Birrane Jean-Paul Libert	BMW M1	BMW M88 3.5L S6	D	312
16	Gr.C2	75	ADA Engineering	Ian Harrower Steve Earle John Sheldon	Gebhardt JC843	Cosworth DFL 3.3 L V8	A	299
17	Gr.C1	42	WM Secateva	Michel Pignard Jean-Daniel Raulet Jean Rondeau	WM P83B	Peugeot PRV ZNS4 2.8L V6 twin-turbo	M	299
18	Gr.C1	39	Bussi Racing (private entrant)	Bruno Sotty Jean-Claude Justice Patrick Oudet	Rondeau M382	Cosworth DFL 3.3 L V8	D	291
19	Gr.C2	86	Mazdaspeed	David Kennedy Jean-Michel Martin Philippe Martin	Mazda 737C	Mazda 13B 1308cc twin-rotary	D	283
20	Gr.C1	13	Courage Compétition Compagnie Primagaz	Yves Courage Alain de Cadenet Jean-François Yvon	Cougar C12	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	M	279
21	Gr.C2	99	Roy Baker Promotions (private entrant)	Paul Smith Will Hoy Nick Nicholson	Tiga GC285	Cosworth BDT 1778cc S4 turbo	A	274
22	Gr.C1	34	Kreepy Krauly Racing	Christian Danner Almo Coppelli flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Graham Duxbury	March 84G	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	Y	270
23	Gr.C2	95	Bellanger-Bassaler (private entrant)	Roland Bassaler Dominique Lacaud Yvon Tapy	Sauber SHS C6	BMW M88 3.5L S6	A	268
24	Gr.C2	85	Mazdaspeed	Yojiro Terada Takashi Yorino Yoshimi Katayama	Mazda 737C	Mazda 13B 1308cc twin-rotary	D	264
N/C*	Gr.C2	77	Spice Engineering	Tim Lee-Davey Neil Crang Tony Lanfranchi	Tiga GC84	Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	D	226
N/C*	Gr.C2	74	Gebhardt Engineering Team Labatt	Frank Jelinski John Graham Nick Adams	Gebhardt JC853	Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	A	224
N/C*	Gr.C2	98	Roy Baker Promotions	François Duret David Andrews Duncan Bain	Tiga GC284	Cosworth BDT 1778cc S4 turbo	A	150
N/C*	Gr.C2	93	Automobiles Louis Descartes (private entrant)	Louis Descartes Jacques Heuclin Daniel Hubert	ALD 01	BMW M88 3.5L S6	A	141

• Note *: Not Classified because did not cover sufficient distance (70% of the winner) by the race's end.

Did Not Finish

Pos	Class	No	Team	Drivers	Chassis	Engine	Tyre	Laps	Reason
DNF	Gr.C1	18	Brun Motorsport	Massimo Sigala Oscar Larrauri Gabriele Tarquini	Porsche 956	Porsche 935/79 2.6L F6 twin turbo	D	323	Engine (24hr)
DNF	Gr.C1	19	Brun Motorsport	Walter Brun Joël Gouhier Didier Theys	Porsche 962C	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	D	304	Accident (22hr)
DNF	Gr.C1	3	Rothmans Porsche	Al Holbert Vern Schuppan John Watson	Porsche 962C	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	D	299	Engine (21hr)
DNF	Gr.C1	31	Rondeau-Primagaz P. Yver (private entrant)	Pierre Yver Pierre-François Rousselot François Sérvanin	Rondeau M382	Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8	D	286	Engine (23hr)
DNF	Gr.C1	8	NewMan Joest Racing	Paul Belmondo Mauricio De Narváez Kenper Miller	Porsche 956	Porsche 935/79 2.6L F6 twin turbo	D	277	Accident (19hr)
DSQ	Gr.C1	41	WM Secateva	Pascal Pessiot Dominique Fornage “Panic” (Jacques Barberot)	WM P83B	Peugeot PRV ZNS4 2.8L V6 twin-turbo	M	267	Found to be underweight to post-race scrutineering (24hr)
DNF	Gr.C2	80	Carma FF	Martino Finotto Aldo Bertuzzi Guido Daccò	Alba AR6	Carma FF 1915cc S4 turbo	A	228	Electrics (19hr)
DNF	IMSA GTP	40	Group 44 Racing	Brian Redman Hurley Haywood Jim Adams	Jaguar XJR-5	Jaguar 6.0L V12	G	151	Transmission (13hr)
DNF	Gr.C1	67	Graff Racing J.-P. Grand (private entrant)	Patrick Gonin Pascal Witmeur Pierre de Thoisy	Rondeau M482	Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8	M	143	Engine (12hr)
DNF	Gr.C1	38	Dome Company	Eje Elgh Geoff Lees Toshio Suzuki	Dome 85C-L	Toyota 4T-GT 2.1L S4 turbo	D	141	Transmission (13hr)
DNF	Gr.C2	90	Jens Winther Denmark (private entrant)	Jens Winther David Mercer Margie Smith-Haas	URD C83	BMW M88 3.5L S6	A	141	Engine (12hr)
DNF	Gr.B	157	A. Pallavicini (private entrant)	Angelo Pallavicini Enzo Calderari Marco Vanoli	BMW M1	BMW M88 3.5L S6	A	116	Engine (11hr)
DNF	Gr.B	156	R. Touroul (private entrant)	Raymond Touroul Thierry Perrier Philippe Dermagne	Porsche 911 SC	Porsche 3.0L F6	P	107	Engine (10hr)
DNF	Gr.C1	43 reserve	WM Secateva	Roger Dorchy Jean-Claude Andruet Claude Haldi	WM P83B	Peugeot PRV ZNS4 2.8L V6 twin-turbo	M	73	Accident (8hr)
DNF	Gr.C2	104 reserve	Écurie Blanchet-Locatop (private entrant)	Michel Dubois Hubert Striebig Noël del Bello	Rondeau M379C	Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	A	65	Suspension (7hr)
DNF	Gr.C1	24	Cheetah Automobiles Switzerland	Claude Bourgoignie John Cooper	Cheetah G604	Aston Martin 5.3L V8	D	53	Accident (7hr)
DNF	Gr.C2	79	Ecurie Ecosse	David Leslie Mike Wilds Ray Mallock	Ecosse C285	Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8	A	45	Oil pump (4hr)
DNF	Gr.C1	46 reserve	Bussi Racing R. Bassaler (private entrant)	Christian Bussi Jack Griffin Marion Speer	Rondeau M482	Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8	M	36	Suspension (4hr)
DNF	Gr.B	152	Vogelsang Automobile (private entrant)	Harald Grohs Altfrid Heger Kurt König	BMW M1	BMW M88 3.5L S6	D	32	Transmission (4hr)
DNF	Gr.C2	100	Bartlett Chevron Racing (private entrant) Goodmans Sound	Max Cohen-Olivar Richard Jones Robin Smith	Chevron B62	Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8	A	19	Engine (3hr)
DNF	Gr.C2	82	Grifo Autoracing (private entrant)	Paolo Giangrossi Pasquale Barberio Mario Radicella	Alba AR3	Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8	D	5	Electrics (9hr)

Did Not Start

Pos	Class	No	Team	Drivers	Chassis	Engine	Tyre	Reason
DNS	Gr.C1	61	Sauber Racing	John Nielsen Dieter Quester Max Welti	Sauber C8	Mercedes-Benz M117 5.0L V8 turbo	D	Practice Accident
DNS	Gr.C2	81	Carma FF	Loris Kessel Ruggero Melgrati Jean-Pierre Frey	Alba AR2	Carma FF 1915cc S4 turbo	A	Practice Accident
DNS	Gr.C2	97	B. Strandell (private entrant)	Stanley Dickens Targeir Kleppe	Strandell 85	Porsche 930/60 3.3L F6 turbo	A	Engine
DNQ	Gr.C1	55	Fitzpatrick Porsche Team	Kenny Acheson Dudley Wood Jean-Louis Schlesser	Porsche 962C	Porsche 935/76 2.6L F6 twin turbo	Y	Practice Accident
DNQ	Gr.C2	106 reserve	B. Sotty (private entrant)	Martin Wagenstätter Kurt Hild	Lotec C302	Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8	D	Did not qualify
DNA	Gr.C1	6	Lancia Martini		Lancia LC2	Ferrari 308C 3.0L V8 twin turbo	M	Withdrawn
DNA	Gr.C1	16	Canon Racing Richard Lloyd Racing GTi Engineering	Jonathan Palmer Jan Lammers	Porsche 956	Porsche 935/79 2.6L F6 twin turbo	G	Withdrawn
DNA	Gr.C1	23	Cheetah Automobiles Switzerland		Cheetah G604	Aston Martin 5.3L V8	D	Withdrawn
DNA	Gr.C1	32	Dorset Racing Associates	Martin Birrane Tony Birchenhough	Dome RC82i	Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8		Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C1	51	Tom Walkinshaw Racing Silk Cut Jaguar	Thierry Tassin Hans Heyer	Jaguar XJR-6	Jaguar 6.0L V12		Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C1	52	Tom Walkinshaw Racing Silk Cut Jaguar	David Hobbs Jean-Louis Schlesser	Jaguar XJR-6	Jaguar 6.0L V12		Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C1	53	Tom Walkinshaw Racing Silk Cut Jaguar		Jaguar XJR-6	Jaguar 6.0L V12		Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C1	54	Sauber Racing		Sauber C8	Mercedes-Benz M117 5.0L V8 turbo	D	Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C1	62	Sauber Racing		Sauber C8	Mercedes-Benz M117 5.0L V8 turbo	D	Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C1	63	Team Harrier (private entrant)		Harrier RX83C	Chevrolet 5.7L V8		Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C1	68	Bussi Racing (private entrant)		Rondeau M382	Cosworth DFL 3.3 L V8	D	Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C1	69	Graff Racing J.-P. Grand (private entrant)		Rondeau M382	Cosworth DFL 3.3 L V8	D	Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C2	72	Gebhardt Engineering	Jan Thoelke	Gebhardt JC853	Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	A	Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C2	76	Spice Engineering		Tiga GC84	Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8	D	Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C2	91	Lyncar Motorsport	Emilio de Villota Costas Los Mikael Nabrink	Lyncar MS83B	Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8		Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C2	94	Lanx Engineering	Glenn Loxton Dudley Wood David Sears	Argo JM16	Cosworth DFV 3.0 L V8		Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.C2	102	A. Bellanger (private entrant)		Sauber SHS C6	BMW M88 3.5L S6		Did not arrive
DNA	Gr.B	152	C. Haldi (private entrant)	Claude Haldi	Porsche 930	Porsche 930/60 3.3L F6 turbo	M	Did not arrive
DNA	IMSA GTO	170	Road Circuit Technology	Tommy Riggins Les Delano	Pontiac Firebird	Pontiac 5.9L V8		Did not arrive
DNA	IMSA GTO	171	Road Circuit Technology	Patty Moise Andy Petery	Pontiac Firebird	Pontiac 5.9L V8		Did not arrive
DNA	IMSA GTO	171	Roush-Protolab Racing	Harry "Doc" Bundy Wally Dallenbach Jr. John Jones	Ford Mustang]]	Ford 6.1L V8		Did not arrive

Class Winners

Class	Winning Car	Winning Drivers
Group C1	#7 Porsche 956B	Ludwig / Barilla / "Winter" *
IMSA-GTP	#44 Jaguar XJR-5	Tullius / Ballot-Léna / Robinson *
Group C2	#75 Tiga GC85	Spice / Bellm / Galvin
Group B	#151 BMW M1	Dören / Birrane / Libert *

• Note: setting a new class distance record.

Index of Energy Efficiency

Pos	Class	No	Team	Drivers	Chassis	Score
1	Gr.C1	7	NewMan Joest Racing	Klaus Ludwig Paolo Barilla "John Winter" (Louis Krages)	Porsche 956B	1.225
2	Gr.C1	14	Canon Racing Richard Lloyd Racing GTi Engineering	Jonathan Palmer James Weaver Richard Lloyd	Porsche 956 GTi	1.196
3	Gr.C1	1	Rothmans Porsche	Jacky Ickx Jochen Mass	Porsche 962C	1.152
4	Gr.C1	2	Rothmans Porsche	Derek Bell Hans-Joachim Stuck	Porsche 962C	1.107
5	Gr.C1	33	Fitzpatrick Porsche Team	Jo Gartner David Hobbs Guy Edwards	Porsche 956B	1.088
6	Gr.C1	10	Barclay Kremer Racing	George Fouché Sarel van der Merwe / Mario Hytten	Porsche 956B	1.040
7	Gr.C1	4	Lancia Martini	Bob Wollek Alessandro Nannini Lucio Cesario	Lancia LC2	1.026
8	Gr.C2	70	Spice Engineering	Gordon Spice Ray Bellm Mark Galvin	Spice-Tiga GC85	0.816
9	Gr.C1	11	Kenwood Kremer Racing	Jean-Pierre Jarier Mike Thackwell Franz Konrad	Porsche 962C	0.949
10	IMSA GTP	44	Group 44 Racing	Bob Tullius Claude Ballot-Léna Chip Robinson	Jaguar XJR-5	0.938

• Note: Only the top ten positions are included in this set of standings.

Statistics

Taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACO

• Pole Position –H.-J. Stuck, #2 Porsche 962C– 3:14.8secs; 251.2 km/h (156.1 mph)
• Fastest Lap – J. Ickx, #1 Porsche 962C – 3:25.1secs; 239.2 km/h (148.6 mph)
• Winning Distance – 5,088.51 km (3,161.85 mi)
• Winner's Average Speed – 212.02 km/h (131.74 mph)
• Attendance – 80,000 / 160,000.

References

• Clarke, R.M. - editor (1999) Le Mans 'The Porsche & Jaguar Years 1983-1991' Cobham, Surrey: Brooklands Books ISBN 1-85520-483-5
• Laban, Brian (2001) Le Mans 24 Hours London: Virgin Books ISBN 1-85227-971-0
• Hamilton, Maurice – editor (1985) Autocourse #31 1985/86 Richmond, Surrey: Hazleton Publishing ISBN 0-9051-3838-4
• Spurring, Quentin (2012) Le Mans 1980-89 Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing ISBN 978-0-85733-128-1
• Wimpffen, János (2008) Monocoques and Ground Effects Hong Kong: David Bull Publishing ISBN 1-893618-97-8

External links

• Racing Sports Cars – Le Mans 24 Hours 1983 with entries, results, technical detail and photos of every car. Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• Le Mans History – Le Mans entry-list and hour-by-hour placings (incl. pictures of every car, quotes, highest speeds per car, YouTube links). Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• World Sports Racing Prototypes – results, reserve entries & chassis numbers. Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• Team Dan – results & reserve entries, explaining driver listings. Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• Unique Cars & Parts – results & reserve entries. Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• Formula 2 – Le Mans results & reserve entries. Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• Speedfreaks – Results table for the World Challenge for Endurance Drivers. Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• Motorsport Memorial – motor-racing deaths by year. Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• YouTube – race coverage, with race sounds, English commentary, music cut out (20min). Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• YouTube – compilation of assorted footage, with race sounds but no commentary (60min). Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• YouTube – race coverage, with race sounds, Japanese commentary & rock music?! (40min). Retrieved 24 Apr 2023
• YouTube – series of 5 photographs showing the Sauber of John Nielsen getting airborne during practice (1min). Retrieved 24 Apr 2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpofHeih574