1983 24 Hours of Le Mans


The 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 51st Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 18 and 19 June 1983. It was also the fourth round of both the World Endurance Championship and European Endurance Championship.
The win was fought right down to the line between the Rothmans Porsche 956s of Al Holbert and Derek Bell. Bell was able to un-lap himself as the Holbert car was slowed by overheating and finally seized up on the last lap; luckily for Holbert it re-fired and made it to the end with smoke trailing from the exhaust. Holbert crossed the finish line 17 seconds ahead of a fast closing Bell.
Vern Schuppan, after finishing third in 1975, and second in 1977 and 1982, became the first Australian driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans since Bernard Rubin won driving a Bentley 4½ Litre in 1928.

Official results

PosClassNoTeamDriversChassisTyresLaps
PosClassNoTeamDriversEngineTyresLaps
1C3 Rothmans Porsche Vern Schuppan
Hurley Haywood
Al Holbert
Porsche 956370
1C3 Rothmans Porsche Vern Schuppan
Hurley Haywood
Al Holbert
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6370
2C1 Rothmans Porsche Jacky Ickx
Derek Bell
Porsche 956370
2C1 Rothmans Porsche Jacky Ickx
Derek Bell
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6370
3C21 Porsche Kremer Racing Mario Andretti
Michael Andretti
Philippe Alliot
Porsche 956364
3C21 Porsche Kremer Racing Mario Andretti
Michael Andretti
Philippe Alliot
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6364
4C12 Sorga S.A. / Joest Racing Volkert Merl
Clemens Schickentanz
Mauricio de Narváez
Porsche 956361
4C12 Sorga S.A. / Joest Racing Volkert Merl
Clemens Schickentanz
Mauricio de Narváez
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6361
5C16 John Fitzpatrick Racing John Fitzpatrick
Guy Edwards
Rupert Keegan
Porsche 956358
5C16 John Fitzpatrick Racing John Fitzpatrick
Guy Edwards
Rupert Keegan
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6358
6C8 Sorga S.A. / Joest Racing Klaus Ludwig
Stefan Johansson
Bob Wollek
Porsche 956354
6C8 Sorga S.A. / Joest Racing Klaus Ludwig
Stefan Johansson
Bob Wollek
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6354
7C18 Obermaier Racing Axel Plankenhorn
Desiré Wilson
Jürgen Lässig
Porsche 956347
7C18 Obermaier Racing Axel Plankenhorn
Desiré Wilson
Jürgen Lässig
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6347
8C14 Canon Racing
GTi Engineering
Jonathan Palmer
Jan Lammers
Richard Lloyd
Porsche 956339
8C14 Canon Racing
GTi Engineering
Jonathan Palmer
Jan Lammers
Richard Lloyd
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6339
9C46 Sauber Team Switzerland Diego Montoya
Tony Garcia
Albert Naon
Sauber C7338
9C46 Sauber Team Switzerland Diego Montoya
Tony Garcia
Albert Naon
BMW M88 3.5L I6338
10C47 Preston Henn T-Bird Swap Shop
John Fitzpatrick Racing
Preston Henn
Jean-Louis Schlesser
Claude Ballot-Léna
Porsche 956327
10C47 Preston Henn T-Bird Swap Shop
John Fitzpatrick Racing
Preston Henn
Jean-Louis Schlesser
Claude Ballot-Léna
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6327
11B93 Charles Ivey Racing John Cooper
Paul Smith
David Ovey
Porsche 930303
11B93 Charles Ivey Racing John Cooper
Paul Smith
David Ovey
Porsche 3.3L Turbo Flat-6303
12C Jr60 Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd. Takashi Yorino
Yojiro Terada
Yoshimi Katayama
Mazda 717C302
12C Jr60 Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd. Takashi Yorino
Yojiro Terada
Yoshimi Katayama
Mazda 13B 1.3L 2-Rotor302
13B92 Georg Memminger Georg Memminger
Heinz Kuhn-Wiess
Fritz Müller
Porsche 930299
13B92 Georg Memminger Georg Memminger
Heinz Kuhn-Wiess
Fritz Müller
Porsche 3.3L Turbo Flat-6299
14C54 Valentin Bertapelle Bruno Sotty
Gérard Cuynet
URD C81292
14C54 Valentin Bertapelle Bruno Sotty
Gérard Cuynet
BMW M88 3.5L I6292
15B95 Equipe Alméras Fréres Jacques Alméras
Jean-Marie Alméras
Jacques Guillot
Porsche 930279
15B95 Equipe Alméras Fréres Jacques Alméras
Jean-Marie Alméras
Jacques Guillot
Porsche 3.3L Turbo Flat-6279
16C10 WM Secateva Roger Dorchy
Alain Courdec
Pascal Fabre
WM P83278
16C10 WM Secateva Roger Dorchy
Alain Courdec
Pascal Fabre
Peugeot PRV 2.8L Turbo V6278
17C41 EMKA Productions Ltd. Tiff Needell
Steve O'Rourke
Nick Faure
EMKA C83/1275
17C41 EMKA Productions Ltd. Tiff Needell
Steve O'Rourke
Nick Faure
Aston Martin-Tickford 5.3L V8275
18C Jr61 Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd. Steve Soper
Jeff Allam
James Weaver
Mazda 717C267
18C Jr61 Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd. Steve Soper
Jeff Allam
James Weaver
Mazda 13B 1.3L 2-Rotor267
19C29 Christian Bussi Daniel Herregods
Jean-Paul Libert
Pascal Witmeur
Rondeau M382265
19C29 Christian Bussi Daniel Herregods
Jean-Paul Libert
Pascal Witmeur
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8265
20B96 Michel Lateste Raymond Touroul
Michel Lateste
Michel Bienvault
Porsche 930264
20B96 Michel Lateste Raymond Touroul
Michel Lateste
Michel Bienvault
Porsche 3.3L Turbo Flat-6264
21
NC
B97 Raymond Boutinaud Raymond Boutinaud
Patrick Gonin
Alain le Page
Porsche 928S234
21
NC
B97 Raymond Boutinaud Raymond Boutinaud
Patrick Gonin
Alain le Page
Porsche 4.7L V8234
22
NC
C53 A.S. École Supérieure de Tourisme François Hesnault
Thierry Perrier
Bernard Salam
Lancia LC1232
22
NC
C53 A.S. École Supérieure de Tourisme François Hesnault
Thierry Perrier
Bernard Salam
Lancia 1.4L Turbo I4232
23
NC
C51 Scuderia Sivama Motor Oscar Larrauri
Massimo Sigala
Max Cohen-Olivar
Lancia LC1217
23
NC
C51 Scuderia Sivama Motor Oscar Larrauri
Massimo Sigala
Max Cohen-Olivar
Lancia 1.4L Turbo I4217
24
NC
C Jr65 François Duret John Sheldon
François Duret
Ian Harrower
De Cadenet-Lola LM214
24
NC
C Jr65 François Duret John Sheldon
François Duret
Ian Harrower
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8214
25
DSQ
C30 Primagaz Lucien Guitteny
Pierre Yver
Bernard de Dryver
Rondeau M382266
25
DSQ
C30 Primagaz Lucien Guitteny
Pierre Yver
Bernard de Dryver
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8266
26
DNF
B94 Claude Haldi Claude Haldi
Günther Steckkönig
Bernd Schiller
Porsche 930217
26
DNF
B94 Claude Haldi Claude Haldi
Günther Steckkönig
Bernd Schiller
Porsche 3.3L Turbo Flat-6217
27
DNF
C2 Rothmans Porsche Jochen Mass
Stefan Bellof
Porsche 956281
27
DNF
C2 Rothmans Porsche Jochen Mass
Stefan Bellof
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6281
28
DNF
C39 Viscount Downe - Pace Petroleum Ray Mallock
Mike Salmon
Steve Earle
Nimrod NRA/C2B218
28
DNF
C39 Viscount Downe - Pace Petroleum Ray Mallock
Mike Salmon
Steve Earle
Aston Martin-Tickford DP1229 5.3L V8218
29
DNF
C24 Ford France Thierry Boutsen
Henri Pescarolo
Rondeau M482174
29
DNF
C24 Ford France Thierry Boutsen
Henri Pescarolo
Ford Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8174
30
DNF
C20 Cooke Racing Ralph Kent-Cooke
Jim Adams
François Sérvanin
Lola T610165
30
DNF
C20 Cooke Racing Ralph Kent-Cooke
Jim Adams
François Sérvanin
Ford Cosworth DFL 4.0L V8165
31
DNF
B90 Angelo Pallavicini
Brun Motorsport
Prince Leopold von Bayern
Angelo Pallavicini
Jens Winther
BMW M1160
31
DNF
B90 Angelo Pallavicini
Brun Motorsport
Prince Leopold von Bayern
Angelo Pallavicini
Jens Winther
BMW M88 3.5L I6160
32
DNF
C Jr63 Scuderia Jolly Club Carlo Facetti
Martino Finotto
Marco Vanoli
Alba AR2158
32
DNF
C Jr63 Scuderia Jolly Club Carlo Facetti
Martino Finotto
Marco Vanoli
Giannini Carma FF 1.9L Turbo I4158
33
DNF
C28 Jean Rondeau
Ford France
Vic Elford
Joël Gouhier
Anne-Charlotte Verney
Rondeau M379136
33
DNF
C28 Jean Rondeau
Ford France
Vic Elford
Joël Gouhier
Anne-Charlotte Verney
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8136
34
DNF
C6 Martini Lancia Paolo Barilla
Alessandro Nannini
Jean-Claude Andruet
Lancia LC2135
34
DNF
C6 Martini Lancia Paolo Barilla
Alessandro Nannini
Jean-Claude Andruet
Ferrari 268C 2.6L Turbo V8135
35
DNF
C5 Martini Lancia Piercarlo Ghinzani
Hans Heyer
Michele Alboreto
Lancia LC2121
35
DNF
C5 Martini Lancia Piercarlo Ghinzani
Hans Heyer
Michele Alboreto
Ferrari 268C 2.6L Turbo V8121
36
DNF
C9 WM Secateva Jean-Daniel Raulet
Michel Pignard
Didier Theys
WM P83102
36
DNF
C9 WM Secateva Jean-Daniel Raulet
Michel Pignard
Didier Theys
Peugeot PRV 2.8L Turbo V6102
37
DNF
C26 Ford France Alain Ferté
Jean Rondeau
Michel Ferté
Rondeau M48290
37
DNF
C26 Ford France Alain Ferté
Jean Rondeau
Michel Ferté
Ford Cosworth DFL 4.0L V890
38
DNF
C11 John Fitzpatrick Racing John Fitzpatrick
David Hobbs
Dieter Quester
Porsche 956135
38
DNF
C11 John Fitzpatrick Racing John Fitzpatrick
David Hobbs
Dieter Quester
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6135
39
DNF
C13 Primagaz Alain de Cadenet
Yves Courage
Michel Dubois
Cougar C01B86
39
DNF
C13 Primagaz Alain de Cadenet
Yves Courage
Michel Dubois
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V886
40
DNF
C22 Porsche Kremer Racing Derek Warwick
Patrick Gaillard
Frank Jelinski
Porsche-Kremer CK576
40
DNF
C22 Porsche Kremer Racing Derek Warwick
Patrick Gaillard
Frank Jelinski
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-676
41
DNF
C38 Dome Racing
Colin Bennett
Eliseo Salazar
Chris Craft
Nick Mason
Dome RC8275
41
DNF
C38 Dome Racing
Colin Bennett
Eliseo Salazar
Chris Craft
Nick Mason
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V875
42
DNF
C Jr64 Hubert Striebig Hubert Striebig
Noël del Bello
Jacques Heuclin
Sthemo SM0171
42
DNF
C Jr64 Hubert Striebig Hubert Striebig
Noël del Bello
Jacques Heuclin
BMW 2.2L I471
43
DNF
C49 Grid Motor Racing Ltd. Fred Stiff
Dudley Wood
Ray Ratcliff
Grid Plaza S169
43
DNF
C49 Grid Motor Racing Ltd. Fred Stiff
Dudley Wood
Ray Ratcliff
Ford Cosworth DFL 4.0L V869
44
DNF
C36 Brun Motorsport Jacques Villeneuve
Ludwig Heimrath
David Deacon
Sehcar SH C668
44
DNF
C36 Brun Motorsport Jacques Villeneuve
Ludwig Heimrath
David Deacon
Ford Cosworth DFL 4.0L V868
45
DNF
C72 Jean Rondeau Dany Snobeck
Xavier Lapeyre
Alain Cudini
Rondeau M38231
45
DNF
C72 Jean Rondeau Dany Snobeck
Xavier Lapeyre
Alain Cudini
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V831
46
DNF
C4 Martini Lancia Michele Alboreto
Teo Fabi
Alessandro Nannini
Lancia LC227
46
DNF
C4 Martini Lancia Michele Alboreto
Teo Fabi
Alessandro Nannini
Ferrari 268C 2.6L Turbo V827
47
DNF
C43 Peer Racing François Migault
David Kennedy
Martin Birrane
Ford C10016
47
DNF
C43 Peer Racing François Migault
David Kennedy
Martin Birrane
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V816
48
DNF
C25 Ford France Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
Philippe Streiff
Rondeau M48212
48
DNF
C25 Ford France Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
Philippe Streiff
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V812
49
DNF
C15 Belga Team Joest Racing Jean-Michel Martin
Marc Duez
Philippe Martin
Porsche 936C9
49
DNF
C15 Belga Team Joest Racing Jean-Michel Martin
Marc Duez
Philippe Martin
Porsche Type-935 2.7L Turbo Flat-69
50
DNF
C42 Richard Cleare Racing Tony Dron
Richard Cleare
Richard Jones
Porsche-Kremer CK58
50
DNF
C42 Richard Cleare Racing Tony Dron
Richard Cleare
Richard Jones
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-68
51
DNF
B91 Edgar Dören Alain Yvon
Jean-Marie Lemerle
Michael Krankenberg
Porsche 9307
51
DNF
B91 Edgar Dören Alain Yvon
Jean-Marie Lemerle
Michael Krankenberg
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-67

Statistics