1961 24 Hours of Le Mans

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1961 24 Hours of Le Mans
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Index: Races | Winners

The 1961 24 Hours of Le Mans was a motor race for Sports cars and Grand Touring cars staged at the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France on 10 and 11 June 1961. It was the 29th Grand Prix of Endurance and the fourth race of the 1961 World Sportscar Championship. Ferrari and Maserati were the main contenders, with Aston Martin an outside chance.

Contents

Le Mans in 1961 Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe 1932-1967.png
Le Mans in 1961

Ferrari's competition soon wilted in the race – the Maseratis were fast but fragile. The Aston Martins, though reliable, couldn't match the Italian cars’ pace. In the end it was a race between the two works team cars and the North American Racing Team entry driven by the Rodriguez brothers. When the private entry failed with just two hours to go, it was a clear 1-2 result for the Ferrari works team with the Olivier Gendebien, Phil Hill Ferrari 250 TRI/61 winning from the similar car driven by Mike Parkes and Willy Mairesse. A privately entered Ferrari GT 250 was third with an American-run Maserati Tipo 63 fighting it way back up to fourth, a full 22 laps behind the winning car.

Regulations

The second year of the new FIA regulations did not see significant changes. The controversial windscreen rules regarding minimum height and width were also updated with a maximum slope, which closed the loophole that Maserati had cleverly worked around in the previous year. [1]

For its part, race-organisers, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) increased the maximum continuous driving stint up from 52 to 60 laps, given the faster speeds the cars were running at. However, the total driving time remained at 14 hours per driver. The time to complete the final lap time-limit was shortened from 30 to 20 minutes to reduce the incidents of slow or stationary cars out on the circuit trying to run down the clock to finish.

Scrutineering was moved from the Place des Jacobins in Le Mans city to the circuit. Finally, this year the ACO trialled a new IBM race-timing computer system (which had a few teething problems [2] ) and opened the first French automobile museum. [1] [3]

Entries

With the dropping interest in the World Championship, from both manufacturers and fans, there were only 65 entries in total for the race. With two entries rejected, there were 55 starters and 8 reserves. It could be said that the modern Le Mans started in 1961 with the presence of significant mid- and rear-engined cars. [4]

Official ‘works’ entries numbered 26, although Maserati and Aston Martin both gave support to their customer teams. Biggest team presence was the 5-strong Deutsch & Bonnet team, with 4-car entries from the Scuderia Ferrari, Porsche, Abarth and NART teams.

CategoryClassesSports
entries
GT
entries
Total
entries
Large-engines5.0+, 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, 2.5L1110 (+2 reserves)21
Medium-engines2.0, 1.6, 1.3L7 (+1 reserve)11 (+1 reserves)18
Small-engines1.15, 1.0, 0.85L16 (+3 reserves)016
Total Cars34 (+4 reserves)21 (+3 reserves)55 (+7 reserves)

Once again Ferrari dominated the entry list with 11 cars spreads across both the Sport and GT divisions. The racing division of the company was now entitled Societa Esercizio Fabbriche Automobili e Corse (SEFAC) and it arrived with four cars. Two were the latest iteration of the proven Testarossa race-winner, for their best endurance-racing partnership: Phil Hill / Olivier Gendebien as well as Willy Mairesse with Ferrari-debutante Mike Parkes. [5] There was also the new, very fast, mid-engined Ferrari 246 SP which had already impressed in the season to be driven Ferrari's lead F1 drivers Wolfgang von Trips / Richie Ginther. The 2.4-litre V6 engine developed 270 bhp. [6] The final works entry was a prototype of the new GT car being built for the upcoming 1962 rules changes. It still had the 3-litre V12 engine used in the Testarossa and was driven by Giancarlo Baghetti and Fernand Tavano (who had won the GT-division in the 1960 race as a Ferrari privateer). [7] The North American Racing Team (NART) was also entered, with the TR61 car that had won the Sebring race. [5] It would be driven by the very fast, young, Rodriguez brothers, Pedro and Ricardo

Maserati arrived with a new model, the Tipo 63, with a mid-mounted, 3-litre variant of the famous 250F V12 Grand Prix engine. It was said to be capable of 300 kp/h (185 mph) on the Mulsanne Straight. [8] Two were entered by Briggs Cunningham, who had raced it at Sebring and a third for the Scuderia Serenissima, who had run it in the Targa Florio. Camoradi did not send its cars this year. Cunningham himself was entered with Bill Kimberley in a longtail 2-litre T60. [9]

Representing Great Britain was Aston Martin and Cooper. Jaguar was a notable absentee for the first time since 1950. The Border Reivers, the only team to break up the Ferrari monopoly at the previous year's results, returned with their DBR1/300. This year Jim Clark was paired with two-time winner Ron Flockhart. [10] His former team, Ecurie Ecosse, ran the new Cooper T57. Running with the 2.6-litre FPF Climax engine it was underpowered on the straights, but excellent handling kept it competitive. [11]

Porsche arrived with three of their new RS61 cars, each with a different Flat-four engine. The 2-litre variant now developed 185 bhp with a top speed of 155 mph (250 kp/h). It was driven by Masten Gregory and Bob Holbert. The two coupés were driven by the Porsche F1 team drivers Hans Herrmann / Edgar Barth and Jo Bonnier/Dan Gurney. [12]

Completing the 2-litre field, Triumph once again entered three cars in the Sports division, as its TR4 had not been homologated for GT racing as yet. [13]

The smaller-engined classes were well supported once again, with Abarth, Austin Healey and OSCA taking on the dominant Deutsch et Bonnet cars. As well as the standard, reliable HBR-4 cars, DB also introduced its new mid-engined HBR-5 spyder for Vidilles/Moynet. [14]

Six Abarth entries included four works cars. The little 701cc Fiat engine developed a mere 64 bhp. A special 850cc-variant (developing 73 bhp and doing 120 mph on the Mulsanne straight) was in the reserves to be driven by New Zealanders Denis Hulme/Angus Hyslop. [15] OSCA arrived with one of their successful 750 Sport cars as a works entry and an up-engined 988cc entered by NART for the Index prizes.

Once again the GT division was dominated by Ferrari with seven privateer entries. Stirling Moss was back, with Graham Hill, this time in a Ferrari co-entered by Rob Walker and NART. This year, their main competition would come from the Aston Martin DB4s of John Ogier's new Essex Racing Team (who also ran a DBR1/300 in the Sports division) and French privateer Jean Kerguen. Re-styled by Zagato, they were the biggest cars in the field with their 3.7-litre engines.

Otherwise, the mid-range GT classes were rather limited. A pair of French AC Aces were the only entries in the 2-litre class, Lotus had the 1.3-litre category to itself with five Elites entered including two works cars. There was competition in the 1.6-litre class though, with Porsche up against Sunbeam returning to Le Mans after over 30 years away [3]

Curiously, Chris Lawrence's Morgan 4+4 entry was rejected by the ACO because it looked, essentially, too old-fashioned and not meeting the ‘spirit of the race’. [16]

Practice

Over the April test weekend, the Ferrari 246 SP was fastest, three seconds ahead of Hill in the Testarossa and fully nine seconds from the Maserati Tipo 63s. The Ferrari 250 GT was fully 20 seconds faster than its Aston Martin competition. [17] However, Jo Schlesser crashed one of the GTs, breaking his arm and leg, keeping him out of the race. [18]

In official practice, Ginther in the 246 SP was again fastest. Mike Parkes, who had never driven a Testarossa before, was immediately on the pace with 4th fastest time. [5] [16]

Race

Start

The winning Ferrari 250 TRI/61 of Gendebien and Hill 1961 Ferrari 250 TRI-61 at Greenwich 2021, front left.jpg
The winning Ferrari 250 TRI/61 of Gendebien and Hill

The day of the race started with light showers, but by the time 4pm came around the overcast conditions had dried out the circuit. [19] [8] Moss, as always, was quick but by dint of starting further up the grid, Jim Clark's Aston Martin was first car under the Dunlop bridge. Two of the last to get away were Mike Parkes’ Ferrari [5] and Augie Pabst's Maserati. [5] But at the end of the first lap, Ginther in the 246 SP led Hill's Testarossa, Hansgen's Maserati then Pedro Rodriguez in the NART Ferrari, Clark, Moss & Salvadori. [20] Within five laps, Rodriguez had got to the front and together with Ginther and Hill they built a gap from the chasing pack, swapping places often. [19] The first pitstops and driver-changes came after 90 minutes of racing. The 246SP was able to run up to 15 minutes longer before refuelling, therefore building up a bit of a lead.

The showers returned around 6pm, wet enough to make the track very slippery. [21] Walt Hansgen went off at speed at Tertre Rouge, while running fourth. The impact broke his arm and cracked some vertebrae. [22] Bill Halford, running 7th in the Ecosse Cooper soon after taking the wheel, went off at the Dunlop Curve, hitting the embankment at nearly 200 km/h (120 mph). The car rolled, throwing Halford out but he luckily escaped with just scratches and bruises. [11] Then Bill McKay crashed the Ecosse Sprite at Maison Blanche also breaking his arm.

Stirling Moss & Graham Hill had been putting in incredible lap-times with their Ferrari GT, easily leading the GT division, but also ahead of the Aston Martin and Maserati prototypes. Moss even recorded the 7th fastest racing lap ever on the circuit. [18] By 7pm they were running fifth overall.

At 8pm, after four hours and two pitstops, the race order was the Ferraris of von Trips, P.Rodriguez, P.Hill and Parkes. Salvadori was 5th, the last car on the lead lap. Then came the Ferrari GTs of Moss, Tavano and Noblet with Clark in 9th. The UDT Lotus was leading the Index of Performance, with von Trips in second . [21]

Night

The rain continued into the early evening. Then about 10.30pm Ginther had to pit to have its lights fixed that cost them 10 minutes and several laps. This left Hill/Gendebien ahead of the rival Rodriguez brothers then their teammates Parkes/Mairesse. What prevented the race becoming a dull, repetitive procession was the inter-team rivalry between NART and the works team. Close racing in a damp night meant the lead changed repeatedly through the night. At 1am, after 9 hours, the two leading cars had done 123 laps, Parkes-Mairesse 3 laps back, then Ginther/von Trips, Moss/Hill and Salvadori/Maggs all on 118 laps. Seventh was the Pabst/Thompson Maserati two laps further back. [23]

However, at 1.30am the Walker Ferrari was nobbled by a dislodged fan blade slicing a radiator hose, ending its fine run. [18] The Ferrari GT prototype had been running very well, staying in the top ten, stalking the Walker 250 GT, however in the early hours of Sunday it was retired with engine issues. [7] Not long before that Clark's Aston Martin had blown its engine on the Mulsanne straight while he was running 5th. [10] The Essex Aston Martin of Salvadori/Maggs moved up to fifth place.

At 4am, the Rodriguez brothers led from the three works Ferraris, then the Aston Martin and the recovering Maserati. Noblet's Ferrari GT was 7th, ahead of Tavano's GT prototype, the leading Porsche (Bonnier/Gurney) and Trintignant's GT. The privateer DB of Masson/Armagnac was leading the Index of Performance from the Contrillier/Foitek Abarth. [24]

Morning

The Ferrari 246 SP driven by Ginther/Von Trips, which retired after running out of fuel. 1961 Ferrari 246-196 SP sn0790 paddock at Le Mans 2010.jpg
The Ferrari 246 SP driven by Ginther/Von Trips, which retired after running out of fuel.

By dawn the track was drying again. But at 7.30am, the NART car came into the pits with a bad misfire, and it took half an hour to fix. Von Trips and Ginther had driven hard after their delay and managed to get back up to second place, four laps behind Hill/Gendebien. But then at 8am, another bad miscalculation by the Ferrari team ran von Trips out of fuel in consecutive Le Mans. [25] The Essex Aston Martin had been lapping consistently, moving up to 4th when the Ferrari retired. However it was retired mid-morning with a split, leaking, oil tank. [7]

Another hard pursuit, this time by the NART Ferrari trying to make up their lost half hour, kept the spectators interested. By midday they had overtaken Mairesse and was in second. But the strain finally told on the engine and at 2pm, with just 2 hours to go, the Rodriguez’ Ferrari crawled into the pits with terminal engine issues. Bonnier and Gurney had been running a strong 5th but became the first Porsche retirement when its engine broke after 12.30pm. The French Aston Martin GT had been running well, 3rd in class behind the Ferraris and 9th overall. But with an hour to go, at its last pitstop, a mechanic left a spanner in the engine and it short-circuited the battery. [26]

Finish and post-race

The Ferrari 250 GT which placed third outright and won the GT 3000 class in the hand of Pierre Noblet and Jean Guichet. SEFAC hot rod 3227c (4694288574).jpg
The Ferrari 250 GT which placed third outright and won the GT 3000 class in the hand of Pierre Noblet and Jean Guichet.

From there on, the team Ferraris held station with the race finishing under soft rain. Hill and Gendebien, the 1958 winners, won again finishing three laps (37.86 km (23.53 mi)) ahead of their teammates Parkes/Mairesse. [27] Third place, and thirteen laps further back, was the privateer Ferrari GT of Noblet/Guichet ahead of the Pabst/Thompson Maserati. Porsche had a better race this year, with the all-American Gregory/Holbert works car finishing an excellent 5th, after consistently running in the top-10 from Saturday night. The Herrmann/Barth car came in 7th, while the Porsche GT of Linge/Pon was 10th, easily winning its class. [12]

Briggs Cunningham had an uncomplicated race in the 2-litre Maserati, never missing a beat as it finished 8th. In fact, it was the car that spent the shortest time in the pits during the race. [9] Triumph again staged a formation finish, however this year its three cars were classified, the best one finishing 9th. In the competitive 850cc class, it was the two ‘Kiwis’ in the Abarth 850 that beat the chasing DBs home by a clear six laps. The Foitek/Condrillier Abarth had the great misfortune to break an oil-pipe on the penultimate lap preventing the Italian marque claiming a 1-2 class finish. [15]

This 5th win for Ferrari put it on equal footing with Bentley and Jaguar for most victories. [28] The win contributed to a significant year for Ferrari. Bandini and Scarfiotti won the final round at the new race at Pescara securing the World Championship. Baghetti went on a purple streak winning his first three F1 races and becoming the only driver to win an F1 World Championship race in his first opportunity, at Reims. Ferrari won the F1 Constructor's Championship and Phil Hill and Wolfgang von Trips were the two contenders for the Driver's title that was sadly decided when von Trips was killed at Monza.

This was also the last Le Mans for Stirling Moss who had a career-ending crash at Goodwood early in the next year. In his ten appearances he never won, but his speed and competitiveness was always a highlight for the spectators.

The Index of Performance again went to a DB, but not the works team. Instead it was the small Equipe Chardonnet which won the prize. The special Sunbeam coupé won the Index of Thermal Efficiiency, and the company promptly produced a short run of the “Harrington Le Mans” model to capitalise on its success. [29]

This was the last year of the Sportscar World Championship (in its current form) as the FIA had decreed that going forward, the Championship would be based around GT cars. [30]

Official results

Finishers

Results taken from Quentin Spurring's book, officially licensed by the ACO [31] Class winners are in Bold text.

PosClassNoTeamDriversChassisEngineLaps
1S
3.0
10 Flag of Italy.svg SEFAC Ferrari Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Olivier Gendebien
Flag of the United States.svg Phil Hill
Ferrari 250 TRI/61 Ferrari 3.0L V12333
2S
3.0
11 Flag of Italy.svg SEFAC Ferrari Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Willy Mairesse
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Parkes
Ferrari 250 TRI/61 Ferrari 3.0L V12330
3GT
3.0
14 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg P. Noblet
(private entrant)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Pierre Noblet
Flag of France.svg Jean Guichet
Ferrari 250 GT SWBFerrari 3.0L V12317
4S
3.0
7 Flag of the United States.svg Briggs Cunningham Flag of the United States.svg Augie Pabst
Flag of the United States.svg Dick Thompson
Maserati Tipo 63 Maserati 3.0L V12311
5S
2.0
33 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche KG Flag of the United States.svg Masten Gregory
Flag of the United States.svg Bob Holbert
Porsche RS61 SpyderPorsche 1967cc F4309
6GT
3.0
20 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Equipe Nationale Belge Flag of the United States.svg Bob Grossman
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg André Pilette
Ferrari 250 GT SWBFerrari 3.0L V12309
7S
2.0
32 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche KG Flag of Germany.svg Edgar Barth
Flag of Germany.svg Hans Herrmann
Porsche RS61 CoupéPorsche 1606cc F4306
8S
2.0
24 Flag of the United States.svg B.S. Cunningham Flag of the United States.svg Briggs Cunningham
Flag of the United States.svg Bill Kimberley
Maserati Tipo 60 Maserati 1989cc S4303
9S
2.0
27 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Standard Triumph Ltd Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Bolton
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Keith Ballisat
Triumph TR4S Triumph 1985cc S4284
10GT
1.6
36 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche KG Flag of Germany.svg Herbert Linge
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ben Pon
Porsche 356 B Carrera GTL Abarth Porsche 1588cc S4284
11S
2.0
26 [32] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Standard Triumph Ltd Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Les Leston
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Rob Slotemaker
Triumph TR4S Triumph 1985cc S4279
12GT
1.3
38 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Team Lotus Engineering Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Trevor Taylor
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bill Allen
Lotus Elite Coventry Climax 1216cc S4268
13GT
1.3
40 Flag of France.svg Ecurie Edger Flag of France.svg Bernard Kosselek
Flag of France.svg Pierre Messenez
Lotus Elite Coventry Climax 1216cc S4267
14S
850
60
(reserve)
Flag of Italy.svg Abarth & Cie Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme
Flag of New Zealand.svg Angus Hyslop
Abarth 850S Fiat 847cc S4263
15S
2.0
25 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Standard Triumph Ltd Flag of France.svg Marcel Becquart
Flag of the United States.svg Mike Rothschild
Triumph TR4S Triumph 1985cc S4262
16GT
1.6
34 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sunbeam Talbot Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Harper
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Procter
Sunbeam Alpine HarringtonSunbeam 1592cc S4261
17GT
2.0
28 Flag of France.svg Equipe Chardonnet Flag of France.svg Jean-Claude Magne
Flag of France.svg Georges Alexandrovitch
AC Ace Bristol 1971cc S6261
18S
850
53 Flag of France.svg Automobiles
Deutsch et Bonnet
Flag of France.svg Gérard Laureau
Flag of France.svg Robert Bouharde
D.B. HBR-4 Spyder Panhard 702cc F2257
19S
850
45 Flag of France.svg Automobiles
Deutsch et Bonnet
Flag of France.svg André Moynet
Flag of France.svg Jean-Claude Vidilles
D.B. HBR-5 Spyder Panhard 848cc F2243
20S
850
48 Flag of France.svg Automobiles
Deutsch et Bonnet
Flag of France.svg André Guilhaudin
Flag of France.svg Jean-François Jaeger
D.B. HBR-4 Panhard 848cc F2243
21S
850
47 Flag of France.svg Automobiles
Deutsch et Bonnet
Flag of France.svg Edgar Rollin
Flag of France.svg René Bartholoni
D.B. HBR-4 Panhard 848cc F2239
22S
850
52 Flag of France.svg Automobiles
Deutsch et Bonnet
Flag of France.svg Jean-Claude Caillaud
Flag of France.svg Robert Mougin
D.B. HBR-4 Rallye Panhard 848cc F2237

Did not finish

PosClassNoTeamDriversChassisEngineLapsReason
DNFS
3.0
17 Flag of the United States.svg North American Racing Team Flag of Mexico.svg Pedro Rodríguez
Flag of Mexico.svg Ricardo Rodríguez
Ferrari 250 TRI/61 Ferrari 3.0L V12305engine
(23hr)
DNFGT
4.0
1 Flag of France.svg J. Kerguen
(private entrant)
Flag of France.svg Jean Kerguen
Flag of France.svg "Franc" (Jacques Dewez)
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Aston Martin 3.7L S6286battery
(24hr)
DNFS
2.0
30 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche KG Flag of Sweden.svg Joakim ‘Jo’ Bonnier
Flag of the United States.svg Dan Gurney
Porsche RS61 CoupéPorsche 1679cc F4262engine
(23hr)
DNFGT
1.6
37 Flag of France.svg A. Veuillet
(private entrant)
Flag of France.svg Pierre Monneret
Flag of France.svg Robert Buchet
Porsche 356 B Carrera GTL Abarth Porsche 1588cc S4261engine
(23hr)
DNFS
850
55 Flag of Italy.svg Abarth & Cie Flag of France.svg Paul Condrillier
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Karl Foitek
Abarth 700S Fiat 701cc S4255oil pipe
(24hr)
DNFGT
3.0
21 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ecurie Chiltern Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Bekaert
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Richard “Dickie” Stoop
Austin-Healey 3000 BMC 2.9L S6254engine
(23hr)
DNFS
3.0
4 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Essex Racing Team Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Roy Salvadori
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Tony Maggs
Aston Martin DBR1/300 Aston Martin 3.0L S6243split oil tank
(19hr)
DNFS
2.5
23 Flag of Italy.svg SEFAC Ferrari Flag of Germany.svg Wolfgang von Trips
Flag of the United States.svg Richie Ginther
Ferrari 246 SP Ferrari 2.4L V6231out of fuel
(17hr)
DNFS
850
54 Flag of France.svg R. Masson
(private entrant)
Flag of France.svg Roger Masson
Flag of France.svg Paul Armagnac
D.B. HBR-4 Panhard 702cc F2208engine
(20hr)
DNFGT
1.3
39 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Team Lotus Engineering Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John ‘Mac’ Wyllie
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Buxton
Lotus Elite Coventry Climax 1216cc S4193overheating
(20hr)
DNFS
3.0
12 Flag of Italy.svg SEFAC Ferrari Flag of France.svg Fernand Tavano
Flag of Italy.svg Giancarlo Baghetti
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Ferrari 3.0L V12163engine
(13hr)
DNFGT
3.0
16 Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Serenissima Flag of France.svg Maurice Trintignant
Flag of Italy.svg Carlo Maria Abate
Ferrari 250 GT SWBFerrari 3.0L V12162transmission
(13hr)
DNFS
3.0
5 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Border Reivers Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Clark
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ron Flockhart
Aston Martin DBR1/300 Aston Martin 3.0L S6132clutch
(11hr)
DSQGT
1.6
35 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sunbeam Talbot Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Jopp
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Paddy Hopkirk
Sunbeam Alpine Sunbeam 1592cc S4130premature refill
(12hr)
DNFS
1.0
43 Flag of the United States.svg North American Racing Team Flag of the United States.svg Ed Hugus
Flag of the United States.svg David Cunningham
O.S.C.A. Sport 1000OSCA 988c S4125clutch
(13hr)
DNFS
850
8 Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Serenissima Flag of France.svg Piero Frescobaldi
Flag of Italy.svg Raffaele Cammarota
Abarth 700 S Spider Fiat 701cc S4124suspension
(12hr)
DNFGT
3.0
18 Flag of the United States.svg North American Racing Team
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Rob Walker Racing Team
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Stirling Moss
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Graham Hill
Ferrari 250 GT SWBFerrari 3.0L V12121water hose
(10hr)
DNFGT
2.0
29 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Ecurie Lausannoise Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg André Wicky
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Edgar Berney
AC Ace Bristol 1971cc S6115overheating
(11hr)
DNFS
850
56 Flag of Italy.svg Abarth & Cie Flag of Italy.svg Giancarlo Sala
Flag of Italy.svg Giancarlo Rigamonti
Abarth 700S Fiat 701cc S4111dynamo
(13hr)
DNFS
850
51 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UDT Laystall Racing Team Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Cliff Allison
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike McKee
Lotus Elite Coventry Climax FWMC 742cc S4102engine
(11hr)
DNFGT
1.3
41 Flag of France.svg Ecurie Los Amigos Flag of France.svg Jean-François Malle
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Robin Carnegie
Lotus Elite Coventry Climax 1216cc S486out of fuel
(10hr)
DNFS
850
50 Flag of Italy.svg Automobili OSCA Flag of France.svg Jean Laroche
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Colin Davis
O.S.C.A. Sport 750OSCA 746cc S485overheating
(10hr)
DNFGT
3.0
19 Flag of the United States.svg North American Racing Team Flag of the United States.svg George Arents
Flag of the United States.svg George Reed
Ferrari 250 GT SWBFerrari 3.0L V1276electrical
(7hr)
DNFS
1.0
42 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Donald Healey Motor Company Flag of the United States.svg John K. Colgate Jr.
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Hawkins
Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite BMC 994cc S464engine
(8hr)
DNFGT
3.0
15 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Ecurie Francorchamps Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Lucien Bianchi
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Georges Berger
Ferrari 250 GT SWBFerrari 3.0L V1260clutch
(7hr)
DNFS
3.0
9 Flag of Italy.svg Scuderia Serenissima Flag of Italy.svg Ludovico Scarfiotti
Flag of Italy.svg Nino Vaccarella
Maserati Tipo 63 Maserati 3.0L V1253engine
(7hr)
DNFS
1.0
46 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ecurie Ecosse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ninian Sanderson
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alan McKay
Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite BMC 994cc S440accident
(4hr)
DNFS
3.0
22 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ecurie Ecosse Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tommy Dickson
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Bruce Halford
Cooper T57 ‘Monaco’ Coventry Climax 2.6L S432accident
(3hr)
DNFS
3.0
6 Flag of the United States.svg B.S. Cunningham Flag of the United States.svg Walt Hansgen
Flag of New Zealand.svg Bruce McLaren
Maserati Tipo 63 Maserati 3.0L V1231accident
(3hr)
DNFGT
4.0
3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Essex Racing Team Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lex Davison
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bib Stillwell
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Aston Martin 3.7L S625engine
(3hr)
DNFGT
4.0
2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Essex Racing Team Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jack Fairman
Flag of France.svg Bernard Consten
Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato Aston Martin 3.7L S622engine
(3hr)
DNFS
850
49 Flag of Italy.svg Abarth & Cie Flag of Italy.svg Teodoro Zeccoli
Flag of France.svg Jean Vinatier
Abarth 700 S Spider Fiat 701cc S415accident
(2hr)
DNFS
2.0
58
(reserve)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg T. Lund
(private entrant)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ted Lund
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg Bob Olthoff
MG MGA Twin CamMG 1762cc S414engine
(2hr)

Did not start

PosClassNoTeamDriversChassisEngineReason
DNSGT
1.3
31 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Team Lotus Engineering Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Trevor Taylor
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Arundell
Lotus 19 Coventry Climax 1964cc S4Withdrawn
DNSS
1.0
44 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Equipe Nationale Belge Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Claude Dubois
Flag of France.svg Gerhard Langlois van Ophem
Abarth 1000S Fiat 982cc S4Withdrawn
DNSGT
3.0
57
(reserve)
Flag of France.svg R. de Lageneste
(private entrant)
Flag of France.svg Roger de Lageneste
Flag of France.svg “Loustel” (Pierre Dumay)
Ferrari 250 GT SWBFerrari 3.0L V12Not
required
DNSS
850
59
(reserve)
Flag of France.svg M. Martin
(private entrant)
Flag of France.svg Maurice Martin
Flag of France.svg Jean-François Jaeger
D.B. HBR Panhard 851cc F2Not
required
DNSGT
3.0
61
(reserve)
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Cambridge Racing Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jim Clark
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Trevor Taylor
Austin-Healey 3000 BMC 2.9L S6Not
required
DNSGT
1.3
62
(reserve)
Flag of France.svg M. Porthault
(private entrant)
Flag of France.svg Maurice Porthault
Flag of France.svg Jean Devos
Lotus Elite Coventry Climax 1216cc S4Not
required
DNSS
850
63
(reserve)
Flag of France.svg C. Faucher
(private entrant)
Flag of Italy.svg Christian Faucher
Flag of France.svg J-J Petit
BMW 700S BMW 700cc S4Not
required
The winner of the Sports 2000 class, a works Porsche 718 RS61 Spyder driven by Gregory and Holbert Retromobile 2016 - Porsche 718 X-RS Spyder - 1961 - 002.jpg
The winner of the Sports 2000 class, a works Porsche 718 RS61 Spyder driven by Gregory and Holbert

Class winners

ClassWinners!
Sports 4000not eligibleGrand Touring 4000no finishers
Sports 3000#10 Ferrari 250 TRI/61Gendebien / HillGrand Touring 3000#14 Ferrari 250 GT SWBNoblet / Guichet
Sports 2500no finishersGrand Touring 2500no entrants
Sports 2000#33 Porsche RS61 SpyderGregory / HolbertGrand Touring 2000#28 AC AceMagne / Alexandrovitch
Sports 1600no entrantsGrand Touring 1600#36 Porsche 356 B Carrera GTL AbarthLinge / Pon
Sports 1300no entrantsGrand Touring 1300#38 Lotus EliteTaylor / Allen
Sports 1150no entrantsGrand Touring 1150no entrants
Sports 1000no finishersGrand Touring 1000no entrants
Sports 850#60 Abarth 850SHulme / HyslopGrand Touring 850not eligible

Index of Thermal Efficiency

PosClassNoTeamDriversChassisScore
1GT
1.6
34 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sunbeam Talbot Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Harper
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Peter Procter
Sunbeam Alpine Harrington1.07
2=GT
1.3
40 Flag of France.svg Ecurie Edger Flag of France.svg Bernard Kosselek
Flag of France.svg Pierre Messenez
Lotus Elite1.03
2=S
850
48 Flag of France.svg Automobiles
Deutsch et Bonnet
Flag of France.svg André Guilhaudin
Flag of France.svg Jean-François Jaeger
D.B. HBR-41.03
4S
2.0
32 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche KG Flag of Germany.svg Edgar Barth
Flag of Germany.svg Hans Herrmann
Porsche RS61 Coupé1.02
5=S
850
47 Flag of France.svg Automobiles
Deutsch et Bonnet
Flag of France.svg Edgar Rollin
Flag of France.svg René Bartholoni
D.B. HBR-40.99
5=GT
1.6
36 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche KG Flag of Germany.svg Herbert Linge
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ben Pon
Porsche 356 B Carrera GTL Abarth0.99
7=S
850
60 Flag of Italy.svg Abarth & Cie Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme
Flag of New Zealand.svg Angus Hyslop
Abarth 850S0.98
7=S
2.0
33 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche KG Flag of the United States.svg Masten Gregory
Flag of the United States.svg Bob Holbert
Porsche RS61 Spyder0.98
9S
3.0
10 Flag of Italy.svg SEFAC Ferrari Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Olivier Gendebien
Flag of the United States.svg Phil Hill
Ferrari 250 TRI/610.93
Winner of the Index of Performance, a DB Panhard HBR4 driven by Laureau/Bouharde. 1959 DB Panhard HBR4 Barquette prototype 2cyl 744cc 60hp 190kmh photo 4.JPG
Winner of the Index of Performance, a DB Panhard HBR4 driven by Laureau/Bouharde.

Index of Performance

PosClassNoTeamDriversChassisScore
1S
850
53 Flag of France.svg Automobiles
Deutsch et Bonnet
Flag of France.svg Gérard Laureau
Flag of France.svg Robert Bouharde
D.B. HBR-4 Spyder1.265
2S
3.0
10 Flag of Italy.svg SEFAC Ferrari Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Olivier Gendebien
Flag of the United States.svg Phil Hill
Ferrari 250 TRI/611.228
3=S
850
60 Flag of Italy.svg Abarth & Cie Flag of New Zealand.svg Denny Hulme
Flag of New Zealand.svg Angus Hyslop
Abarth 850S1.219
3=S
2.0
32 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche KG Flag of Germany.svg Edgar Barth
Flag of Germany.svg Hans Herrmann
Porsche RS61 Coupé1.219
5S
3.0
11 Flag of Italy.svg SEFAC Ferrari Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Willy Mairesse
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Mike Parkes
Ferrari 250 TRI/611.218
6S
2.0
33 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche KG Flag of the United States.svg Masten Gregory
Flag of the United States.svg Bob Holbert
Porsche RS61 Spyder1.194
7=GT
3.0
14 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg P. Noblet
(private entrant)
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Pierre Noblet
Flag of France.svg Jean Guichet
Ferrari 250 GT SWB1.168
7=S
2.0
24 Flag of the United States.svg B.S. Cunningham Flag of the United States.svg Briggs Cunningham
Flag of the United States.svg Bill Kimberley
Maserati Tipo 601.168
9S
3.0
7 Flag of the United States.svg B.S. Cunningham Flag of the United States.svg Augie Pabst
Flag of the United States.svg Dick Thompson
Maserati Tipo 631.146
10GT
3.0
20 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Equipe Nationale Belge Flag of the United States.svg Bob Grossman
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg André Pilette
Ferrari 250 GT SWB1.138

Statistics

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

FIA World Sportscar Championship: post-race standings

PosChampionshipPoints
1 Flag of Italy.svg Ferrari 24 (30)
2 Flag of Italy.svg Maserati 14
3 Flag of Germany.svg Porsche 11
Citations
  1. 1 2 Spurring 2011, p.51
  2. Clarke 2009, p.79: Autocar Jun16 1961
  3. 1 2 Moity 1974, p.82
  4. Clausager 1982, p.111
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Spurring 2010, p.53
  6. Spurring 2010, p.54
  7. 1 2 3 Spurring 2010, p.55
  8. 1 2 Clarke 2009, p.73: Autocar Jun16 1961
  9. 1 2 Spurring 2010, p.60
  10. 1 2 Spurring 2010, p.64
  11. 1 2 Spurring 2010, p.67
  12. 1 2 Spurring 2010, p.62
  13. Spurring 2010, p.65
  14. Spurring 2010, p.56
  15. 1 2 Spurring 2010, p.61
  16. 1 2 Clarke 2009, p.72: Autocar Jun16 1961
  17. Spurring 2010, p.73
  18. 1 2 3 Spurring 2010, p.59
  19. 1 2 Spurring 2010, p.49
  20. Clarke 2009, p.74: Autocar Jun16 1961
  21. 1 2 Clarke 2009, p.76: Autocar Jun16 1961
  22. Spurring 2010, p.50
  23. Clarke 2009, p.77: Autocar Jun16 1961
  24. Clarke 2009, p.78: Autocar Jun16 1961
  25. Spurring 2010, p.51
  26. Spurring 2010, p.66
  27. Spurring 2010, p.344
  28. Clausager 1982, p.115
  29. Spurring 2010, p.58
  30. Spurring 2011, p.78
  31. Spurring 2010, p.2
  32. le mans results

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References