The ACO has always sought a set of regulations that would ensure the most fascinating sports and racing cars take to the starting grid. From 1995 onwards, but particularly from 1998 onwards with the ‘75th anniversary’ of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, a renewed wave of enthusiasm amongst fans for the classic race at La Sarthe took hold. The McLaren F1 and the Dodge Viper, the Porsche GT1, as well as many other sports car models that could be bought on the Monday after the race, breathed new life into the spirit of Le Mans. A loophole in the regulations once again transformed road-legal supercars into pure GT1 prototypes – the sort that were not really wanted – but which were then renamed LMP1 from 2000 onwards, setting motorsport hearts racing and proving most welcome. Thus, 1998 marked a high point for the 75th anniversary, with more than ten major brands on the starting grid and an exquisite line-up of drivers. The Mercedes versus Toyota duel was won by Porsche in 1998 and by BMW in 1999. After 1999, Audi remained and triumphed year after year – even against the noisy Panoz Esperante. The Pescarolo LMP1s fought like lions to snatch victory from Audi; Bentley triumphed in 2003, but Audi won almost without interruption between 2000 and 2014 – with only Peugeot breaking their winning streak in 2009. A GT class is established within this, initially known as GT2, then GT, and later GTE. It is celebrated at least as much as the top class. The battles between the Ferrari 550 and the Corvette C5, and the Aston Martin DB9 and the Corvette C6 – these are breathtaking 24-hour battles, sometimes wheel-to-wheel. The Porsche 911 RSR and the Ferrari 458 and 488 are, of course, in the mix – and how. The GTE series comes to an end in 2019 with the Ford GT – which, 50 years after the legendary victory in 1966, is back at the very top of GT racing for the first time.
#0325 1998 Le Mans 24 Hours
Oreca’s unbeatable Chrysler Viper team secured three consecutive GT2/GTS class victories at Le Mans from 1998 to 2000. Here you can see Justin Bell on his way to the first of these victories in his American ‘muscle car’ with its massive 8-litre engine, braking into the Mulsanne Corner.
#0392 Le Mans 2004
Brave British privateers came up against overwhelming American works drivers at Le Mans 2004. None of the TVR Tuscan 400Rs fielded by Team Chamberlain-Synergy were ever in a position to challenge the works Corvettes. Nevertheless, whilst the C5-R driven by Gavin, Beretta and Magnussen clinched the GTS class victory with an eleven-lap lead, both TVRs saw the chequered flag – which in itself is already a triumph at Le Mans.
1995 und 1996 sind es die Dodge Viper und der McLaren F1, die das neue Reglement des ACO perfekt interpretieren. Chevrolet und Ferrari werden auf die Verkaufszahlen der Viper und des McLaren F1 aufmerksam und bringen mit der Corvette C4R und dem Ferrari 550 die richtigen Antworten. Die GT-Klasse bekommt ihre Höhepunkte in den 2005er Jahren, als Aston Martin mit dem schönen wie schnellen DBR9 zum Duell Italien-Amerika hinzustößt. Natürlich sind die 993 und 996-Baureihen von Porsche auch immer Salz in der GT-Suppe. Exoten wie die Saleen, der Spyker oder die TVR bringen zusätzliche Faszination in die GT-Kategorie.
Aus keinem weltweiten Event erhält die Zuffenhausener Marke so viel Publicity, wie aus den 24 Stunden von Le Mans. Phasenweise sind in den 90er Jahren mehr Porsche als andere Rennwagen am Start. Der 911 ist seit den 60er Jahren überhaupt nicht aus dem Feld der rennwagen wegzudenken. Oft rettet er die Show des ACO mit seinen vielen Privatteams. Alle Baureihen des 911 treten in Le Mans an - alle mit Erfolg. Die Dauerbelastbarkeit und der Speed der 911 geht der Konkurrenz in vielen Jahren "mächtig auf den Senkel". Rennfahrerlegenden fahren den 911, Schauspieler und große Gentlemandriver setzen auf seine Zuverlässigkeit.
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