1998 24 Hours of Le Mans


The 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 66th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 6 and 7 June 1998.

Race

1998 saw a significant increase in manufacturer involvement. Porsche and Mercedes-Benz remained, with upgraded cars in both GT1 and LMP. Toyota sent three of their new, extremely fast GT-One racing cars, while BMW, in association with WilliamsF1, launched the new BMW V12 LM. Nissan sent 4 of their new R390 GT1s. The United States was also represented properly with a two car team from Panoz, with Ford powered Esperante GTR-1s, and factory-backed Chrysler Viper GTS-R in the GT2 class entered by Oreca.
Porsche won the race as the faster cars from Mercedes, BMW and Toyota retired with mechanical difficulties and accident damage. The remaining Nissans and outdated McLarens were unable to match the pace of the upgraded 911 GT1s. Following this race, Porsche went into a sabbatical, rumored to be part of a plan to allow Porsche's partner Audi to develop their own sportscar without competition from within the alliance.
Porsche would return to Le Mans in 2014; they would eventually win the 2015 race.
The GT2 class win by the Chrysler Viper GTS-R was the first GT class win for an American made car since the Shelby Daytona Coupe won in 1964.

Official results

PosClassNoTeamDriversChassisTyreLaps
PosClassNoTeamDriversEngineTyreLaps
1LMGT126 Porsche AG Laurent Aïello
Allan McNish
Stéphane Ortelli		Porsche 911 GT1-98351
1LMGT126 Porsche AG Laurent Aïello
Allan McNish
Stéphane Ortelli		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6351
2LMGT125 Porsche AG Jörg Müller
Uwe Alzen
Bob Wollek		Porsche 911 GT1-98350
2LMGT125 Porsche AG Jörg Müller
Uwe Alzen
Bob Wollek		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6350
3LMGT132 Nissan Motorsport Aguri Suzuki
Kazuyoshi Hoshino
Masahiko Kageyama		Nissan R390 GT1347
3LMGT132 Nissan Motorsport Aguri Suzuki
Kazuyoshi Hoshino
Masahiko Kageyama		Nissan VRH35L 3.5 L Turbo V8347
4LMGT140 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren Steve O'Rourke
Tim Sugden
Bill Auberlen		McLaren F1 GTR343
4LMGT140 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren Steve O'Rourke
Tim Sugden
Bill Auberlen		BMW S70 6.0 L V12343
5LMGT130 Nissan Motorsport John Nielsen
Michael Krumm
Franck Lagorce		Nissan R390 GT1342
5LMGT130 Nissan Motorsport John Nielsen
Michael Krumm
Franck Lagorce		Nissan VRH35L 3.5 L Turbo V8342
6LMGT131 Nissan Motorsport Jan Lammers
Érik Comas
Andrea Montermini		Nissan R390 GT1342
6LMGT131 Nissan Motorsport Jan Lammers
Érik Comas
Andrea Montermini		Nissan VRH35L 3.5L Turbo V8342
7LMGT145 Panoz Motor Sports David Brabham
Andy Wallace
Jamie Davies		Panoz GTR-1335
7LMGT145 Panoz Motor Sports David Brabham
Andy Wallace
Jamie Davies		Ford-Roush 6.0 L V8335
8LMP112 Doyle-Risi Racing Wayne Taylor
Eric van de Poele
Fermín Velez		Ferrari 333 SP332
8LMP112 Doyle-Risi Racing Wayne Taylor
Eric van de Poele
Fermín Velez		Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12332
9LMGT127 Toyota Motorsport Ukyo Katayama
Toshio Suzuki
Keiichi Tsuchiya		Toyota GT-One326
9LMGT127 Toyota Motorsport Ukyo Katayama
Toshio Suzuki
Keiichi Tsuchiya		Toyota R36V 3.6 L Turbo V8326
10LMGT133 Nissan Motorsport Satoshi Motoyama
Takuya Kurosawa
Masami Kageyama		Nissan R390 GT1319
10LMGT133 Nissan Motorsport Satoshi Motoyama
Takuya Kurosawa
Masami Kageyama		Nissan VRH35L 3.5 L Turbo V8319
11LMGT253 Viper Team Oreca Justin Bell
David Donohue
Luca Drudi		Chrysler Viper GTS-R317
11LMGT253 Viper Team Oreca Justin Bell
David Donohue
Luca Drudi		Chrysler 8.0 L V10317
12LMP116 Kremer Racing Rocky Agusta
Almo Coppelli
Xavier Pompidou		Kremer K8/2 Spyder314
12LMP116 Kremer Racing Rocky Agusta
Almo Coppelli
Xavier Pompidou		Porsche Type-935 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6314
13LMGT251 Viper Team Oreca Olivier Beretta
Pedro Lamy
Tommy Archer		Chrysler Viper GTS-R312
13LMGT251 Viper Team Oreca Olivier Beretta
Pedro Lamy
Tommy Archer		Chrysler 8.0 L V10312
14LMP13 Moretti Racing Inc. Gianpiero Moretti
Mauro Baldi
Didier Theys		Ferrari 333 SP311
14LMP13 Moretti Racing Inc. Gianpiero Moretti
Mauro Baldi
Didier Theys		Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12311
15LMP124 Courage Compétition Yojiro Terada
Franck Fréon
Olivier Thévenin		Courage C41304
15LMP124 Courage Compétition Yojiro Terada
Franck Fréon
Olivier Thévenin		Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6304
16LMP115 La Filière Henri Pescarolo
Olivier Grouillard
Franck Montagny		Courage C36300
16LMP115 La Filière Henri Pescarolo
Olivier Grouillard
Franck Montagny		Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6300
17LMGT264 Roock Racing Motorsport Claudia Hürtgen
Michel Ligonnet
Robert Nearn		Porsche 911 GT2285
17LMGT264 Roock Racing Motorsport Claudia Hürtgen
Michel Ligonnet
Robert Nearn		Porsche 3.8 L Turbo Flat-6285
18LMGT269 Michel Nourry Michel Nourry
Thierry Perrier
Jean-Louis Ricci		Porsche 911 GT2276
18LMGT269 Michel Nourry Michel Nourry
Thierry Perrier
Jean-Louis Ricci		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6276
19GT256 Chamberlain Engineering Gary Ayles
Matt Turner
Hans Hugenholtz		Chrysler Viper GTS-R270
19GT256 Chamberlain Engineering Gary Ayles
Matt Turner
Hans Hugenholtz		Chrysler 8.0 L V10270
20LMGT268 Elf Haberthur Racing Éric Graham
Hervé Poulain
Jean-Luc Maury-Laribière		Porsche 911 GT2268
20LMGT268 Elf Haberthur Racing Éric Graham
Hervé Poulain
Jean-Luc Maury-Laribière		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6268
21LMGT255 Chamberlain Engineering Ni Amorim
Gonçalo Gomes
Manuel Mello-Breyner		Chrysler Viper GTS-R264
21LMGT255 Chamberlain Engineering Ni Amorim
Gonçalo Gomes
Manuel Mello-Breyner		Chrysler 8.0 L V10264
22LMGT265 Roock Racing Motorsport Rob Schirle
André Ahrlé
David Warnock		Porsche 911 GT2247
22LMGT265 Roock Racing Motorsport Rob Schirle
André Ahrlé
David Warnock		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6247
23LMGT272 Larbre Compétition Patrice Goueslard
Jean-Luc Chéreau
Pierre Yver		Porsche 911 GT2240
23LMGT272 Larbre Compétition Patrice Goueslard
Jean-Luc Chéreau
Pierre Yver		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6240
DNFLMGT129 Toyota Motorsport Thierry Boutsen
Ralf Kelleners
Geoff Lees		Toyota GT-One330
DNFLMGT129 Toyota Motorsport Thierry Boutsen
Ralf Kelleners
Geoff Lees		Toyota R36V 3.6 L Turbo V8330
DNFLMGT271 Estoril Racing Michel Maisonneuve
Manuel Monteiro
Michel Monteiro		Porsche 911 GT2277
DNFLMGT271 Estoril Racing Michel Maisonneuve
Manuel Monteiro
Michel Monteiro		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6277
DNFLMGT144 Panoz Motor Sports Éric Bernard
Christophe Tinseau
Johnny O'Connell		Panoz GTR-1236
DNFLMGT144 Panoz Motor Sports Éric Bernard
Christophe Tinseau
Johnny O'Connell		Ford-Roush 6.0 L V8236
DNFLMP113 Courage Compétition Didier Cottaz
Marc Goossens
Jean-Philippe Belloc		Courage C51232
DNFLMP113 Courage Compétition Didier Cottaz
Marc Goossens
Jean-Philippe Belloc		Nissan VRH35Z 3.0 L Turbo V8232
DNFLMGT141 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren Dr. Thomas Bscher
Emanuele Pirro
Rinaldo Capello		McLaren F1 GTR228
DNFLMGT141 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren Dr. Thomas Bscher
Emanuele Pirro
Rinaldo Capello		BMW S70 6.0 L V12228
DNFLMP18 Porsche AG Pierre-Henri Raphanel
David Murry
James Weaver		Porsche LMP1-98218
DNFLMP18 Porsche AG Pierre-Henri Raphanel
David Murry
James Weaver		Porsche Type-935 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6218
DNFLMP110 Pilot Racing Michel Ferté
Pascal Fabre
François Migault		Ferrari 333 SP203
DNFLMP110 Pilot Racing Michel Ferté
Pascal Fabre
François Migault		Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12203
DNFLMGT267 Elf Haberthur Racing Michel Neugarten
Jean-Claude Lagniez
David Smadja		Porsche 911 GT2198
DNFLMGT267 Elf Haberthur Racing Michel Neugarten
Jean-Claude Lagniez
David Smadja		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6198
DNFLMGT128 Toyota Motorsport Martin Brundle
Emmanuel Collard
Éric Hélary		Toyota GT-One191
DNFLMGT128 Toyota Motorsport Martin Brundle
Emmanuel Collard
Éric Hélary		Toyota R36V 3.6 L Turbo V8191
DNFLMP15 Jabouille-Boursche Vincenzo Sospiri
Jean-Christophe Boullion
Jérôme Policand		Ferrari 333 SP187
DNFLMP15 Jabouille-Boursche Vincenzo Sospiri
Jean-Christophe Boullion
Jérôme Policand		Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12187
DNFLMGT260 Société Chereau Jean-Pierre Jarier
Carl Rosenblad
Robin Donovan		Porsche 911 GT2164
DNFLMGT260 Société Chereau Jean-Pierre Jarier
Carl Rosenblad
Robin Donovan		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6164
DNFLMGT262 CJ Motorsport John Morton
John Graham
Harald Grohs		Porsche 911 GT2164
DNFLMGT262 CJ Motorsport John Morton
John Graham
Harald Grohs		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6164
DNFLMP121 Philippe Gache Philippe Gache
Wayne Gardner
Didier de Radiguès		Riley & Scott Mk III155
DNFLMP121 Philippe Gache Philippe Gache
Wayne Gardner
Didier de Radiguès		Ford 5.1 L V8155
DNFLMP114 Courage Compétition Fredrik Ekblom
Patrice Gay
Takeshi Tsuchiya		Courage C51126
DNFLMP114 Courage Compétition Fredrik Ekblom
Patrice Gay
Takeshi Tsuchiya		Nissan VRH35Z 3.5 L Turbo V8126
DNFLMP17 Porsche AG Michele Alboreto
Stefan Johansson
Yannick Dalmas		Porsche LMP1-98107
DNFLMP17 Porsche AG Michele Alboreto
Stefan Johansson
Yannick Dalmas		Porsche Type-935 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6107
DNFLMP222 Didier Bonnet Lionel Robert
Édouard Sezionale
Pierre Bruneau		Debora LMP296106
DNFLMP222 Didier Bonnet Lionel Robert
Édouard Sezionale
Pierre Bruneau		BMW S50 3.2 L I6106
DNFLMGT261 Krauss Race Sports International Bernhard Müller
Michael Trunk
Ernst Palmberger		Porsche 911 GT271
DNFLMGT261 Krauss Race Sports International Bernhard Müller
Michael Trunk
Ernst Palmberger		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-671
DNFLMP11 Team BMW Motorsport Hans-Joachim Stuck
Steve Soper
Tom Kristensen		BMW V12 LM60
DNFLMP11 Team BMW Motorsport Hans-Joachim Stuck
Steve Soper
Tom Kristensen		BMW S70 6.0 L V1260
DNFLMP12 Team BMW Motorsport Pierluigi Martini
Joachim Winkelhock
Johnny Cecotto		BMW V12 LM43
DNFLMP12 Team BMW Motorsport Pierluigi Martini
Joachim Winkelhock
Johnny Cecotto		BMW S70 6.0 L V1243
DNFLMGT136 AMG-Mercedes Jean-Marc Gounon
Ricardo Zonta
Christophe Bouchut		Mercedes-Benz CLK-LM31
DNFLMGT136 AMG-Mercedes Jean-Marc Gounon
Ricardo Zonta
Christophe Bouchut		Mercedes-Benz GT108B 5.0 L V831
DNFLMGT250 Viper Team Oreca Karl Wendlinger
Marc Duez
Patrick Huisman		Chrysler Viper GTS-R28
DNFLMGT250 Viper Team Oreca Karl Wendlinger
Marc Duez
Patrick Huisman		Chrysler 8.0 L V1028
DNFLMGT270 Konrad Motorsport Franz Konrad
Larry Schumacher
Nick Ham		Porsche 911 GT224
DNFLMGT270 Konrad Motorsport Franz Konrad
Larry Schumacher
Nick Ham		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-624
DNFLMGT135 AMG-Mercedes Bernd Schneider
Mark Webber
Klaus Ludwig		Mercedes-Benz CLK-LM19
DNFLMGT135 AMG-Mercedes Bernd Schneider
Mark Webber
Klaus Ludwig		Mercedes-Benz GT108B 5.0 L V819
DNFLMGT273 Konrad Motorsport Toni Seiler
Peter Kitchak
Angelo Zadra		Porsche 911 GT22
DNFLMGT273 Konrad Motorsport Toni Seiler
Peter Kitchak
Angelo Zadra		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-62

Statistics