1978 24 Hours of Le Mans


The 1978 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 46th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 10 and 11 June 1978.

Race

In 1978, the Renault V6 turbo, which had lost in 1976 and 1977 to the Porsche 936, finally managed to beat the German cars. Each company had brought no less than four cars, which after qualifying shared the first four rows. After Renault's hare, the brand new A443, holed a piston late on Sunday morning, the modified A442B with its bubble roof was able to hold off Jacky Ickx and the remaining factory Porsches in the closing stages. Mission accomplished at Le Mans, Renault concentrated their efforts on Formula One.

Official results

PosClassNoTeamDriversChassisLaps
PosClassNoTeamDriversEngineLaps
1S
+2.0
2 Renault Sport Didier Pironi
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
Renault Alpine A442B369
1S
+2.0
2 Renault Sport Didier Pironi
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6369
2S
+2.0
6 Martini Racing Porsche System Bob Wollek
Jürgen Barth
Jacky Ickx
Porsche 936/78364
2S
+2.0
6 Martini Racing Porsche System Bob Wollek
Jürgen Barth
Jacky Ickx
Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6364
3S
+2.0
7 Martini Racing Porsche System Hurley Haywood
Peter Gregg
Reinhold Joest
Porsche 936/77362
3S
+2.0
7 Martini Racing Porsche System Hurley Haywood
Peter Gregg
Reinhold Joest
Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6362
4S
+2.0
4 Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson Guy Fréquelin
Jean Ragnotti
José Dolhem
Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Renault Alpine A442A358
4S
+2.0
4 Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson Guy Fréquelin
Jean Ragnotti
José Dolhem
Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6358
5IMSA
+2.5
90 Dick Barbour Racing Brian Redman
Dick Barbour
John Paul Sr.
Porsche 935/77337
5IMSA
+2.5
90 Dick Barbour Racing Brian Redman
Dick Barbour
John Paul Sr.
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6337
6Gr.5
+2.0
44 Porsche Kremer Racing Jim Busby
Chris Cord
Rick Knoop
Porsche 935/77336
6Gr.5
+2.0
44 Porsche Kremer Racing Jim Busby
Chris Cord
Rick Knoop
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6336
7Gr.5
+2.0
41 Mondelo ASA Cachia
Team Pace
Alfredo Guaraná
Paulo Gomes
Mário Amaral
Porsche 935/77329
7Gr.5
+2.0
41 Mondelo ASA Cachia
Team Pace
Alfredo Guaraná
Paulo Gomes
Mário Amaral
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6329
8Gr.5
+2.0
43 Martini Racing Porsche System Manfred Schurti
Rolf Stommelen
Porsche 935/78326
8Gr.5
+2.0
43 Martini Racing Porsche System Manfred Schurti
Rolf Stommelen
Porsche 3.2L Turbo Flat-6326
9GTP
3.0
72 Jean Rondeau Jean Rondeau
Bernard Darniche
Jacky Haran
Rondeau M378294
9GTP
3.0
72 Jean Rondeau Jean Rondeau
Bernard Darniche
Jacky Haran
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8294
10S
+2.0
10 Grand Touring Cars Inc. Vern Schuppan
Jacques Laffite
Sam Posey
Mirage M9293
10S
+2.0
10 Grand Touring Cars Inc. Vern Schuppan
Jacques Laffite
Sam Posey
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6293
11S
2.0
31 ROC La Pierre du Nord Michel Pignard
Lucien Roussiaud
Laurent Ferrier
Chevron B36284
11S
2.0
31 ROC La Pierre du Nord Michel Pignard
Lucien Roussiaud
Laurent Ferrier
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4284
12GT
3.0
66 BP Racing / Anne-Charlotte Verney Anne-Charlotte Verney
Xavier Lapeyre
François Servanin
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR279
12GT
3.0
66 BP Racing / Anne-Charlotte Verney Anne-Charlotte Verney
Xavier Lapeyre
François Servanin
Porsche 3.0L Flat-6279
13GTP
3.0
71 André Chevalley Racing André Chevalley
François Trisconi
Inaltera LM279
13GTP
3.0
71 André Chevalley Racing André Chevalley
François Trisconi
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8279
14IMSA
+2.5
97 Charles Ivey Racing Larry Perkins
Gordon Spice
John Rulon-Miller
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR278
14IMSA
+2.5
97 Charles Ivey Racing Larry Perkins
Gordon Spice
John Rulon-Miller
Porsche 3.0L Flat-6278
15S
+2.0
8 Alain de Cadenet Alain de Cadenet
Chris Craft
De Cadenet-Lola LM273
15S
+2.0
8 Alain de Cadenet Alain de Cadenet
Chris Craft
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8273
16IMSA
+2.5
86 Écurie Grand Competition Cars
North American Racing Team
François Migault
Lucien Guitteny
Ferrari 365 GT4/BB262
16IMSA
+2.5
86 Écurie Grand Competition Cars
North American Racing Team
François Migault
Lucien Guitteny
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12262
17GT
+3.0
62 "Ségolen" Christian Bussi
Jean-Claude Briavoine
"Ségolen"
Porsche 934259
17GT
+3.0
62 "Ségolen" Christian Bussi
Jean-Claude Briavoine
"Ségolen"
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6259
18
NC
S
2.0
23 Artos Francy Sauber PP AG Marc Surer
Eugen Strähl
Harry Blumer
Sauber C5257
18
NC
S
2.0
23 Artos Francy Sauber PP AG Marc Surer
Eugen Strähl
Harry Blumer
BMW 2.0L I4257
19
NC
S
2.0
20 C.H. Graeminger Sandro Plastina
Mario Luini
Jean-Daniel Grandjean
Cheetah G601250
19
NC
S
2.0
20 C.H. Graeminger Sandro Plastina
Mario Luini
Jean-Daniel Grandjean
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4250
20
NC
GT
3.0
64 Georges Bourdillat Georges Bourdillat
Alain-Michel Bernhard
Jean-Luc Favresse
Porsche 911 Carrera RSR241
20
NC
GT
3.0
64 Georges Bourdillat Georges Bourdillat
Alain-Michel Bernhard
Jean-Luc Favresse
Porsche 3.0L Flat-6241
21
NC
S
2.0
25 Team Pronuptia Bruno Sotty
Gérard Cuynet
Jean-Claude Dufrey
Lola T294/6238
21
NC
S
2.0
25 Team Pronuptia Bruno Sotty
Gérard Cuynet
Jean-Claude Dufrey
Ford Cosworth FVC 1.9L I4238
22
NC
S
2.0
24 Team Pronuptia Michel Elkoubi
Pierre Yver
Philippe Streiff
Lola T296232
22
NC
S
2.0
24 Team Pronuptia Michel Elkoubi
Pierre Yver
Philippe Streiff
Ford Cosworth FVC 1.9L I4232
23
NC
S
2.0
28 Dominique Lacaud Michel Lateste
Jean-François Auboiron
Dominique Lacaud
Lola T297217
23
NC
S
2.0
28 Dominique Lacaud Michel Lateste
Jean-François Auboiron
Dominique Lacaud
BMW 2.0L I4217
24
NC
Gr.5
+2.0
45 Porsche Kremer Racing Louis Krages
Dieter Schornstein
Philippe Gurdjian
Porsche 935/77182
24
NC
Gr.5
+2.0
45 Porsche Kremer Racing Louis Krages
Dieter Schornstein
Philippe Gurdjian
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6182
25
NC
S
2.0
27 Mogil Motors Ltd. with Kores Racing Tony Charnell
Robin Smith
Fréderic Alliot
Richard Jones
Chevron B31180
25
NC
S
2.0
27 Mogil Motors Ltd. with Kores Racing Tony Charnell
Robin Smith
Fréderic Alliot
Richard Jones
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4180
26
DNF
S
+2.0
1 Renault Sport Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Patrick Depailler
Renault Alpine A443279
26
DNF
S
+2.0
1 Renault Sport Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Patrick Depailler
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6279
27
DNF
S
+2.0
5 Martini Racing Porsche System Jacky Ickx
Henri Pescarolo
Jochen Mass
Porsche 936/78255
27
DNF
S
+2.0
5 Martini Racing Porsche System Jacky Ickx
Henri Pescarolo
Jochen Mass
Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6255
28
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
88 Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing Jean-Claude Andruet
Spartaco Dini
Ferrari 512BB251
28
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
88 Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing Jean-Claude Andruet
Spartaco Dini
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12251
29
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
87 Luigi Chinetti Sr. Jacques Guérin
Jean-Pierre Delauney
Gregg Young
Ferrari 512BB232
29
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
87 Luigi Chinetti Sr. Jacques Guérin
Jean-Pierre Delauney
Gregg Young
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12232
30
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
89 Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing Claude Ballot-Léna
Jean-Louis Lafosse
Ferrari 512BB218
30
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
89 Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing Claude Ballot-Léna
Jean-Louis Lafosse
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12218
31
DNF
S
+2.0
19 IBEC Racing Developments, Ltd. Guy Edwards
Ian Grob
Ibec-Hesketh 308LM195
31
DNF
S
+2.0
19 IBEC Racing Developments, Ltd. Guy Edwards
Ian Grob
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8195
32
DNF
S
2.0
30 ROC La Pierre du Nord Jacques Henry
Albert Dufrene
Max Cohen-Olivar
Chevron B36195
32
DNF
S
2.0
30 ROC La Pierre du Nord Jacques Henry
Albert Dufrene
Max Cohen-Olivar
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4195
33
DNF
GTP
+3.0
78 WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl Christian Debias
Xavier Mathiot
Marc Sourd
WM P78186
33
DNF
GTP
+3.0
78 WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl Christian Debias
Xavier Mathiot
Marc Sourd
Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6186
34
DNF
GTP
3.0
76 WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl Christine Dacremont
Marianne Hoepfner
WM P76171
34
DNF
GTP
3.0
76 WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl Christine Dacremont
Marianne Hoepfner
Peugeot PRV 2.7L V6171
35
DNF
GT
+3.0
68 Hervé Poulain Edgar Dören
Gerhard Holup
Hervé Poulain
Roman Feitler
Porsche 934167
35
DNF
GT
+3.0
68 Hervé Poulain Edgar Dören
Gerhard Holup
Hervé Poulain
Roman Feitler
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6167
36
DNF
S
+2.0
3 Renault Sport Derek Bell
Jean-Pierre Jarier
Renault Alpine A442A162
36
DNF
S
+2.0
3 Renault Sport Derek Bell
Jean-Pierre Jarier
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6162
37
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
91 Dick Barbour Racing Bob Garretson
Steve Earle
Robert Akin
Porsche 935/77159
37
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
91 Dick Barbour Racing Bob Garretson
Steve Earle
Robert Akin
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6159
38
DNF
S
2.0
29 ROC Modylook Michel Dubois
Daniel Gache
Julien Sanchez
Chevron B36142
38
DNF
S
2.0
29 ROC Modylook Michel Dubois
Daniel Gache
Julien Sanchez
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4142
39
DNF
Gr.5
+2.0
48 Haberthur
Mecarillos-Cégécol Racing Team
Herbert Müller
Claude Haldi
"Nico"
Porsche 935/76140
39
DNF
Gr.5
+2.0
48 Haberthur
Mecarillos-Cégécol Racing Team
Herbert Müller
Claude Haldi
"Nico"
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6140
40
DNF
S
2.0
26 G.V.E.A. Georges Morand
Eric Vaugnat
Christian Blanc
Lola T296130
40
DNF
S
2.0
26 G.V.E.A. Georges Morand
Eric Vaugnat
Christian Blanc
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4130
41
DNF
S
2.0
21 Jean-Marie Lemerle Jean-Marie Lemerle
Alain Levié
Pierre-François Rousselot
Lola T294126
41
DNF
S
2.0
21 Jean-Marie Lemerle Jean-Marie Lemerle
Alain Levié
Pierre-François Rousselot
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4126
42
DNF
GT
3.0
65 Joël Laplacette Antoine Salamin
Gerard Vial
Yves Courage
Joël Laplacette
Porsche 930116
42
DNF
GT
3.0
65 Joël Laplacette Antoine Salamin
Gerard Vial
Yves Courage
Joël Laplacette
Porsche 3.3L Turbo Flat-6116
43
DNF
S
2.0
34 BMW Great Britain
Toleman Delivery
Dieter Quester
Tom Walkinshaw
Rad Dougall
Osella PA6113
43
DNF
S
2.0
34 BMW Great Britain
Toleman Delivery
Dieter Quester
Tom Walkinshaw
Rad Dougall
BMW 2.0L I4113
44
DNF
S
2.0
32 Dorset Racing Associates with Kelly Girl Ian Harrower
Tony Birchenhough
Miss Juliette Slaughter
Brian Joscelyn
Lola T29461
44
DNF
S
2.0
32 Dorset Racing Associates with Kelly Girl Ian Harrower
Tony Birchenhough
Miss Juliette Slaughter
Brian Joscelyn
Ford Cosworth FVC 2.0L I461
45
DNF
GT
+3.0
61 Auto Daniel Urcun Guy Chasseuil
Jean-Claude Lefévre
Marcel Mignot
Porsche 93461
45
DNF
GT
+3.0
61 Auto Daniel Urcun Guy Chasseuil
Jean-Claude Lefévre
Marcel Mignot
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-661
46
DNF
GTP
+3.0
77 WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl Jean-Daniel Raulet
Marcel Mamers
WM P7744
46
DNF
GTP
+3.0
77 WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl Jean-Daniel Raulet
Marcel Mamers
Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V644
47
DNF
Gr.5
+2.0
94 Whittington Bros. Racing Don Whittington
Bill Whittington
Franz Konrad
Porsche 935/7741
47
DNF
Gr.5
+2.0
94 Whittington Bros. Racing Don Whittington
Bill Whittington
Franz Konrad
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-641
48
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
85 Ecurie Francorchamps Teddy Pilette
Jean Blaton
Raymond Touroul
Ferrari 512BB39
48
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
85 Ecurie Francorchamps Teddy Pilette
Jean Blaton
Raymond Touroul
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-1239
49
DNF
GT
+3.0
69 Ravenel Frères Willy Braillard
Philippe Dagoreau
Jean-Louis Ravenel
Jean Ravenel
Porsche 93435
49
DNF
GT
+3.0
69 Ravenel Frères Willy Braillard
Philippe Dagoreau
Jean-Louis Ravenel
Jean Ravenel
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-635
50
DNF
Gr.5
+2.0
46 Porsche Kremer Racing Martin Raymond
"Steve"
Mike Franey
Porsche 935/7734
50
DNF
Gr.5
+2.0
46 Porsche Kremer Racing Martin Raymond
"Steve"
Mike Franey
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-634
51
DNF
S
+2.0
11 Grand Touring Cars Inc. Sam Posey
Michel Leclère
Mirage M933
51
DNF
S
+2.0
11 Grand Touring Cars Inc. Sam Posey
Michel Leclère
Renault 2.0L Turbo V633
52
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
84 Brad Frisselle Racing
Wynn's Belgium
Brad Frisselle
Robert Kirby
John Hotchkis
Chevrolet Monza30
52
DNF
IMSA
+2.5
84 Brad Frisselle Racing
Wynn's Belgium
Brad Frisselle
Robert Kirby
John Hotchkis
Chevrolet 5.7L V830
53
DNF
S
2.0
33 Dorset Racing Associates
Cloud Engineering
Bob Evans
Martin Birrane
Richard Down
Richard Bond
Lola T29423
53
DNF
S
2.0
33 Dorset Racing Associates
Cloud Engineering
Bob Evans
Martin Birrane
Richard Down
Richard Bond
Ford Cosworth FVC 2.0L I423
54
DNF
Gr.5
+2.0
47 Weisberg Gelo Team John Fitzpatrick
Toine Hezemans
Porsche 935/7719
54
DNF
Gr.5
+2.0
47 Weisberg Gelo Team John Fitzpatrick
Toine Hezemans
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-619
DQS
+2.0
12 Simon Phillips Racing
BATCO France
Nick Faure
John Beasley
Simon Phillips
Martin Raymond
De Cadenet-Lola T38099
DQS
+2.0
12 Simon Phillips Racing
BATCO France
Nick Faure
John Beasley
Simon Phillips
Martin Raymond
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V899

Statistics