1989 24 Hours of Le Mans
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Circuit_de_la_Sarthe_Le_Mans_1987-1989.png/350px-Circuit_de_la_Sarthe_Le_Mans_1987-1989.png)
The 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 57th Grand Prix of Endurance, taking place at the Circuit de la Sarthe, France, on the 10 and 11 June 1989. This year it was not included as a round of the 1989 World Sports-Prototype Championship. The entry list promised a strong contest between five manufacturers. Jaguar had won in 1988 and went on to win the championship; while Sauber had finished second and was now matching Jaguar on the track. New regulations were coming in 1991, and the first examples of the 3.5-litre normally-aspirated formula were entered by Spice Engineering.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/24_Hours_of_Le_Mans_1989_winner%27s_trophy_Mercedes-Benz_Museum.jpg/200px-24_Hours_of_Le_Mans_1989_winner%27s_trophy_Mercedes-Benz_Museum.jpg)
Although the Saubers started on the front row, it was the Jaguar of Davy Jones that led for the first three hours until the car suddenly came to a stop on the back straight, dropping them well down the field. With the Saubers running to a designated race-pace, it was the Joest Porsche of Wollek and Stuck that took the lead, keeping it for six hours, and into the night. The Jaguar team kept having niggly problems that left them constantly playing catch-up. As night fell, it was the Joest Porsches running a surprising 1-2. However, at 1.20am, Stuck brought his car in with overheating problems, losing the 3-lap lead they had built up. This moved the Lammers Jaguar to the front for the rest of the night, chased by two of the Saubers. It all came apart for Jaguar as dawn arrived as their three remaining cars were waylaid, two of them needing full gearbox changes. This left the Saubers racing each other on the same lap. But when Baldi ran out of brakes and ended up in the Dunlop gravel-trap, Dickens went through to take a lead he would not relinquish. Baldi's Sauber lost its chance to force the issue when the gearbox gave up leaving co-driver Acheson to run home stuck in fifth gear. Third was the Wollek/Stuck Porsche, seven laps behind the winners fighting clutch problems, with the best of the Jaguars – that of Lammers/Tambay/Gilbert-Scott – in fourth.
In the C2 class, it had been a race of attrition with every car suffering some kind of delay and only five of the fourteen entries finishing. In the end, the class win went to the Cougar of Philippe Farjon and Courage Compétition. Mazda again had the GTP class to themselves, and again, they were pleased to have all three finish – the best coming home seventh overall, 21 laps behind the winner. The event was also notable for the unusual number of cars catching fire - with six of them afflicted either in practice or during the race. Despite the alarming spectacles, the drivers were all able to stop and get out without suffering injury.
Regulations
At the end of 1988, the FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) announced an overhaul of the Group C regulations. From 1991, the fuel restrictions would be removed, and the cars would have a weight-limit of 750 kg and be powered by 3.5-litre non-turbo engines. The formula was proposed by Bernie Ecclestone, the FIA officer in charge of promotion. These engines were coming into Formula 1 this year, and it was an undisguised attempt to bring the major Sports Car manufacturers (Porsche, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Nissan, Mazda) into that series at a reduced cost of two series for one engine. Races would be 350 km (with co-drivers optional), aside from the only endurance race in the schedule- at Le Mans.[1][2][3]
At a stroke, Group C would be consigned to history, with 1989 and 1990 now designated as transitional seasons to allow the new models to be phased in. Group C2 would be ended at the close of this year.[4] Group C cars would still run to the fuel restrictions, with an additional 50 kg of minimum weight added and manual control of the turbo-boost now banned.[1] In contrast, the new 3.5-litre engines were not under these restrictions.[3] This year's championship would be 9 rounds, with teams required to enter every round or face a US$250,000 fine per race missed.[1][2][3] The only exception was for Japanese teams who could miss one European round. The ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) was allowed to take entries from non-Championship cars if the number of official entries was less than 50. Ecclestone also stated that the FIA had control over TV rights and had also signed contracts for race-timing with Longines and Olivetti.[1][2]
All of these were at odds with the contracts the ACO already had in place. When it was still unresolved by May, the ACO had no option but to withdraw the race from the World Championship. This did not go down well with many teams – particularly the Japanese ones – who had committed to the costly full season to be able to compete at Le Mans, which they could now do anyway.[1][5] This year, the ACO modified the formula for the Indice Energétique, to become the Challenge Econergie.[6]
Entries
Despite the FIA regulations, the entry-list was one of the strongest of the Group C era, with five different manufacturers now with genuine race-winning aspirations. There were 25 factory cars – with the notable exception of Porsche. However, it was supporting a flotilla of 17 customer entries, easily the strongest marque present. Joining them this year was Aston Martin, late to the party, and Spice, who were the first to introduce a design to the new 3.5-litre specifications. The C2 class of 17 was dominated by Spice, with 8 entries reflecting its current dominance in racing series around the world. Once again, Mazda entered its cars in the IMSA-GTP class, and again the three of them had the class to themselves. For the first time since 1982 (the inaugural year of the Group C era), a full grid of 55 cars took the start.[7]
Class | Quantity | Turbo+Rotary engines |
---|---|---|
Group C1 | 41 / 38 | 33 / 30 |
IMSA-GTP | 3 / 3 | 3 / 3 |
Group C2 | 18 / 14 | 2 / 2 |
Total Entries | 62 / 55 | 38 / 35 |
- Note: The first number is the number accepted, the second the number who started.
Race
The race was the last time the 24 Hours of Le Mans ran without the two chicanes on the Mulsanne Straight; for the interest of safety to reduce speeds from reaching 250 mph (402 km/h) in the previous years and this race, these chicanes were installed the next year and remains in use.
The speeds on the Mulsanne Straight were so high that many of the drivers were concerned if their cars would stay on the ground over the humps and bumps of the straight. There were no serious accidents, something Le Mans in the 1980s had many of.
Having run his cars at Le Mans for a decade, Peter Sauber was aided by Mercedes in winning the 1989 race. His "Silver Arrows" Sauber C9s finished 1st, 2nd and 5th, with Porsches and Jaguars finishing behind.
Official results
Finishers
Results taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACO[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Class Winners are in Bold text.
Pos | Class | No. | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Engine | Tyre | Laps |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gr.C1 | 63 | ![]() |
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Sauber C9 | Mercedes-Benz M119 5.0L V8 twin turbo |
M | 390 |
2 | Gr.C1 | 61 | ![]() |
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Sauber C9 | Mercedes-Benz M119 5.0L V8 twin turbo |
M | 385 |
3 | Gr.C1 | 9 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
G | 383 |
4 | Gr.C1 | 1 | ![]() ![]() |
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Jaguar XJR-9LM | Jaguar 7.0L V12 | D | 381 |
5 | Gr.C1 | 62 | ![]() |
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Sauber C9 | Mercedes-Benz M119 5.0L V8 twin turbo |
M | 379 |
6 | Gr.C1 | 8 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
G | 372 |
7 | IMSA GTP |
201 | ![]() |
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Mazda 767B | Mazda 13J-M 2.6L quad-rotary |
D | 369 |
8 | Gr.C1 | 4 | ![]() ![]() |
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Jaguar XJR-9LM | Jaguar 7.0L V12 | D | 369 |
9 | IMSA GTP |
202 | ![]() |
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Mazda 767B | Mazda 13J-M 2.6L quad-rotary |
D | 366 |
10 | Gr.C1 | 16 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
Y | 352 |
11 | Gr.C1 | 18 | ![]() ![]() |
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Aston Martin AMR1 | Aston Martin RDP87 6.0L V8 | G | 340 |
12 | IMSA GTP |
203 | ![]() |
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Mazda 767 | Mazda 13J-4M 2.6L quad-rotary |
D | 340 |
13 | Gr.C1 | 55 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
D | 322 |
14 | Gr.C2 | 113 | ![]() |
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Cougar C20B | Porsche 935 2.8L F6 turbo |
G | 313 |
15 | Gr.C1 | 20 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
D | 309 |
16 | Gr.C2 | 171 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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Spice-Fiero SE88C | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 307 |
17 | Gr.C2 | 108 | ![]() ![]() |
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Spice-Fiero SE87C | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 304 |
18 | Gr.C2 | 126 | ![]() ![]() (private entrant) |
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Argo JM19C | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 298 |
19 | Gr.C2 | 104 | ![]() Spice Engineering |
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Spice SE89C | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 292 |
Did not finish
Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Engine | Tyre | Laps | Reason |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DNF | Gr.C1 | 14 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C GTi | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
G | 339 | Fire (23hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 10 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C-K6 | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
Y | 303 | Fire (21hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 25 | ![]() International |
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Nissan R89C | Nissan VRH35Z 3.5L V8 twin turbo |
D | 250 | Engine (17hr) |
DNF | Gr.C2 | 101 | ![]() |
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Spice SE89C | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 244 | Engine (17hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 17 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
Y | 242 | Engine (16hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 21 | ![]() |
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Spice SE89C | Cosworth DFZ 3.5L V8 | G | 229 | Engine (16hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 15 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C GTi | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
G | 228 | Engine (16hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 32 | ![]() ![]() |
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March 88S (“Cougar R89V”) |
Nissan VG30 3.0L V6 twin turbo |
Y | 221 | Engine (16hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 2 | ![]() ![]() |
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Jaguar XJR-9LM | Jaguar 7.0L V12 | D | 215 | Engine (15hr) |
DNF | Gr.C2 | 106 | ![]() |
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Tiga GC288/9 | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 194 | Electrics (17hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 34 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
G | 188 | Accident (14hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 12 | ![]() |
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Cougar C22 | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
G | 168 | Electronics (14hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 23 | ![]() International |
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Nissan R89C | Nissan VRH35Z 3.5L V8 twin turbo |
D | 167 | Engine (11hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 19 | ![]() ![]() |
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Aston Martin AMR1 | Aston Martin RDP87 6.0L V8 | G | 153 | Electrics (11hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 22 | ![]() |
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Spice SE89C | Cosworth DFZ 3.5L V8 | G | 150 | Engine (16hr) |
DNF | Gr.C2 | 103 | ![]() |
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Spice-Fiero SE88C | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 133 | Chassis (13hr) |
DNF | Gr.C2 | 107 | ![]() |
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Tiga GC289 | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 126 | Transmission (14hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 7 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
G | 124 | Water leak (8hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 13 | ![]() |
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Cougar C22 | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
G | 110 | Engine (10hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 52 | ![]() |
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WM P489 | Peugeot PRV ZNS4 3.0L V6 twin-turbo |
M | 110 | Fire (21hr) |
DNF | Gr.C2 | 102 | ![]() |
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Spice-Fiero SE86C | Hart 418T 1873cc S4 turbo | G | 86 | Oil leak (10hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 3 | ![]() ![]() |
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Jaguar XJR-9LM | Jaguar 7.0L V12 | D | 85 | Engine (6hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 27 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
Y | 81 | Engine (6hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 5 | ![]() ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
Y | 78 | Gearbox (7hr) |
DNF | Gr.C2 | 177 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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ALD C289 | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 75 | Radiator (10hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 33 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
D | 69 | Fire (5hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 72 | ![]() ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/79 2.8L F6 twin turbo |
G | 61 | Accident (5hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 37 | ![]() |
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Toyota 89C-V | Toyota R32V 3.2L V8 twin turbo |
B | 58 | Accident (6hr) |
DNF | Gr.C2 | 151 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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Spice-Fiero SE86C | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 58 | Suspension (5hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 6 | ![]() ![]() |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
Y | 58 | Suspension (4hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 36 | ![]() |
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Toyota 89C-V | Toyota R32V 3.2L V8 twin turbo |
B | 45 | Engine (4hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 11 | ![]() |
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Porsche 962C-K6 | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
Y | 42 | Accident (4hr) |
DNF | Gr.C2 | 105 | ![]() |
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Tiga GC288/9 | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 36 | Engine (5hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 38 | ![]() |
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Toyota 88C | Toyota 3S-GTM 2.1L S4 turbo | B | 20 | Accident (3hr) |
DNF | Gr.C2 | 175 | ![]() |
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ADA 02B | Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8 | G | 14 | Electrics (7hr) |
DNF | Gr.C1 | 24 | ![]() International |
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Nissan R89C | Nissan VRH35Z 3.5L V8 twin turbo |
D | 5 | Accident (1hr) |
Did not start
Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Engine | Tyre | Reason |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DNS | Gr.C1 | 51 | ![]() |
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WM P489 | Peugeot PRV ZNS4 3.0L V6 twin-turbo |
M | Fire |
DNQ | Gr.C1 | 29 | ![]() |
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Lancia LC2 | Ferrari 308C 3.1L V8 twin turbo |
D | Fire |
DNQ | Gr.C2 | 176 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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ALD 04 | BMW M88 3.5L S6 | G | Did not qualify |
DNQ | Gr.C2 | 178 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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ALD 05 | BMW M88 3.5L S6 | A | Did not qualify |
DNQ | Gr.C2 | 179 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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ALD 06 | BMW M88 3.5L S6 | G | Did not qualify |
DNA | Gr.C1 | 17 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche ... L F6 twin turbo |
Did not arrive | |
DNA | Gr.C1 | 40 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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Porsche 962C | Porsche 935/82 3.0L F6 twin turbo |
Did not arrive | |
DNA | Gr.C2 | 111 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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Spice-Fiero SE88C | Cosworth DFL 3.3 L V8 | G | Did not arrive |
Res | Gr.C1 | ![]() (private entrant) |
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Sauber C8 | Mercedes-Benz M117 5.0L V8 twin turbo |
Not required | ||
Res | Gr.C2 | ![]() |
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Tiga GC289 | Cosworth DFL 3.3 L V8 | Not required |
Class winners
Class | Winning Car | Winning Drivers |
---|---|---|
Group C1 | #63 Sauber C9 | Mass / Reuter / Dickens |
Group C2 | #113 Cougar C20LM | Andruet / Farjon / Kasuya |
IMSA-GTP | #201 Mazda 757B | Dieudonné / Kennedy / Hodgetts * |
Note *: setting a new class distance record. |
Challenge Econergie
Statistics
Taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACO
- Pole Position – J.-L. Schlesser, #62 Sauber C9 - 3:15.0secs; 249.9 km/h (155.3 mph)
- Fastest Lap – A. Ferté, #4 Jaguar XJR-9LM– 3:21.1secs; 242.1 km/h (150.4 mph)
- Winning Distance – 5,265.12 km (3,271.59 mi)
- Winner's Average Speed – 220.0 km/h (136.7 mph)
- Attendance – 230,000[1]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f Spurring 2012, p.336
- ^ a b c Williams 2023, p.320
- ^ a b c Wimpffen 2008, p.294
- ^ Wimpffen 2008, p.297
- ^ Wimpffen 2008, p.295
- ^ a b Spurring 2012, p.8
- ^ Spurring 2012, p.378
- ^ Spurring 2012, p.2
- ^ Spurring 2012, p.334
- ^ Spurring 2012, p.364
- ^ "Racing Sports Cars". RacingSportsCars.com. Retrieved 26 Nov 2023.
- ^ "Le Mans History". lemans-history.com. Retrieved 26 Nov 2023.
- ^ "World Sports Racing Prototypes". www.wsrp.cz. Retrieved 26 Nov 2023.
- ^ Spurring 2012, p.365
References
- Bernard, Davoine, Holtz & Holtz (2023) 100 Years of legends Sherborne, Dorset: Evro Publishing ISBN 978-1-910505-75-5
- 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
- Spurring, Quentin (2012) Le Mans 1980-89 Yeovil, Somerset: Haynes Publishing ISBN 978-0-85733-128-1
- Williams, Richard (2023) 24 Hours – 100 Years of Le Mans London: Simon & Schuster ISBN 978-1-3985-1722-6
- 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 26 Nov 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 26 Nov 2023
- World Sports Racing Prototypes – results, reserve entries & chassis numbers. Retrieved 26 Nov 2023
- Team Dan – results & reserve entries, explaining driver listings. Retrieved 26 Nov 2023
- Unique Cars & Parts – results & reserve entries. Retrieved 26 Nov 2023
- Formula 2 – Le Mans results & reserve entries. Retrieved 26 Nov 2023
- Speedfreaks – Results table for the World Challenge for Endurance Drivers. Retrieved 26 Nov 2023
- Motorsport Memorial – motor-racing deaths by year. Retrieved 26 Nov 2023
- YouTube – race coverage with some focus on the WM, just engine and track sounds (15min). Retrieved 10 Jan 2024
- YouTube – start and first lap, English commentary (6min). Retrieved 10 Jan 2024
- YouTube – compilation of race-incidents (20min). Retrieved 10 Jan 2024
- YouTube – Autosport documentary about the Sauber C9 (6min). Retrieved 10 Jan 2024
- YouTube – Project Dream documentary about the Sauber C9 (9min). Retrieved 10 Jan 2024