1959 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 27th 24 -hour Le Mans race, the Grand Prix d' Endurance les 27e 24 Heures du Mans, took place from 20 to June 21, 1959 held at the Circuit des 24 Heures.

The race

The 24 -hour race in 1959 brought the first overall victory for an Aston Martin, a brand that in 1928 was the first time in this long-distance race at the start. Of the 53 vehicles were launched only 13 to the finish of the 31 sports prototypes ever only three.

The six Testa Rossa Ferrari was 50 kg lighter than the previous models, and the new Ferrari Dino 196S had a 2-liter V6 engine. In addition to the Lotus Elite was also the Swedish brand Saab their Le Mans debut. In addition to the Jaguar D -Type used by the Scottish Ecurie Ecosse also designed by Frank Costin Trojeiro and Lister had a Jaguar engine. A debacle there was for Porsche - none of the vehicles in reaching the goal.

Stirling Moss had taken with his factory Aston -Martin the task of rushing the Ferrari by a high initial speed in defects. One tactic that worked only partially, because in addition to three Ferrari and Moss himself fell out with defect. Even the leadership of Roy Salvadori was short-lived, as race director Reginald Parnell let go on the Aston Martin seven rounds with a slipping clutch to save an extra pit stop. Thus, the last year's winner Olivier Gendebien and Phil Hill took the lead in the race. However, Sunday at noon came the Ferrari in unexpected stay in the box. The engine was running hot, and the mechanic tried to cool the unit. In vain: after the car went back into the race, he stayed in the same round with heißgelaufenem cylinder stand and had to be disqualified.

The way was clear for the DBR1/300 of Salvadori and Carroll Shelby, who drove to victory under the leadership of John Wyer and Reginald Parnell.

Results

Pilot after Nations

  • Oldest Driver: United Kingdom Jack Fairman (46 years )
  • Youngest Driver: Ricardo Rodriguez Mexico in 1934 (17 years)

Final ranking

1 not started

Only in the message list

Here are the teams, drivers and vehicles that were originally registered for the competition, but it did not participate for various reasons.

Class winner

Race data

  • Reported: 100
  • Starter: 53
  • Weather during the race weekend: warm and dry
  • Distance: 13.461 km
  • Honorary starter of the race: Maurice Herzog, Minister of Youth and Sports
  • Distance of the winning team: 4347.900 km
  • Winners section: 181.163 km / h
  • Fastest race lap: Jean Behra - Ferrari 250TR59 (# 12) - 4.00.900 = 201.161 km / h
  • Race series: 4th round of the World Sportscar Championship
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