1960 24 Hours of Le Mans

The 24 Heures du Mans was the 28th 24 Hours of Le Mans, Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 25/26 June 1960, on Circuit de la Sarthe. It was the fifth and final round of the F.I.A. World Sports Car Championship. It was also the fifth round of the inaugural FIA GT Cup. Some 200,000 spectators had gathered for Europe’s classic sports car race, around an 8.36-mile course. The prospect of an exciting duel between the title contenders Ferrari and Porsche was enough to draw large crowds to the 24 Hours race.

Le Mans in 1960

Report

Entry

Just 73 racing cars were registered for this event compared to the 97 for 1959, of which only 58 when allowed to practice, trying to qualify for the 55 places for the race. The number of starters increased by one for this race, from the 54 of previous years. ^[1][2]

With last year’s winner Aston Martin having moved onto Formula One, the race should be Scuderia Ferrari’s for the taking, despite being behind Porsche in the championship standings. The Italian outfit, together with a numerous privateer teams would have 13 Ferrari 250s, in different guises and classes, to take the title fight to the Germans. The works squad of drivers included 1958 winners, Phil Hill/Wolfgang von Trips, and they were joined by Willy Mairesse/Richie Ginther and Olivier Gendebien/Paul Frère. Interestingly, prior to this race, Gendebien was raced for Porsche. ^[3]

Ferrari’s main challenge would come from a number of sources. Porsche, Maserati and even Corvette. As championship leader, Porsche should have be consisted among the favourites although their cars ran in a smaller class than their Italian rivals, but with drivers of the calibre of Jo Bonnier and Graham Hill, could they take the spoils. As for the Americans, the Corvettes were entered in the same class as the Ferraris, the cars were much heavier and bulky then the European sportscars, but they would have an advantage – their engines. ^[4][5]

Qualifying

Qualifying was held over two sessions for a total of 540 minutes over the 22 and 23 June, a few days prior to the race. ^[6]

Race

The Ferraris and Maseratis would be fast right from the off, but wouldn’t be matched by reliability, whereas the Corvettes and Porsches would carry on early on within any problems. With the American cars, this went against the opinion of many who though their heavy cars would suffer from brake issues on the tight corners like at the end of the long Mulsanne Straight. ^[7] Not only were the Ferraris fast, they were also much reliable than some of the other marques, although their lead 250 TR 59/60 of Hill and von Trips was the first to retire when it ran out of fuel, on lap 22. Their team-mates, Ludovico Scarfiotti and Pedro Rodríguez would also exit the race on the same lap. ^[8]

With the remaining Ferraris controlling the pace, the Corvettes wouldn’t be that far back. However, the overcast skies the welcomed the start had turned to heavy rain by 6pm and would cause absolute chaos as the circuit began to flood. Around Maison Blanche, William Kimberley would lose control of his Corvette and it would somersault and catch fire. ^[9] Shortly after, his team–mate, Fred Windridge would bounce of the embankment lining the track, again at Maison Blanche. Windridge was able to get the car back to the pits repairs. ^[10]

The Ferraris continued to lead during the worse of the rain, whist there was one car actually making up ground. That was the Corvette of John Fitch. He was driving like mad, and in a span of four hours, he would make his way from 13th up to 7th. ^[11]

By Sunday morning, the rain had cleared and the sun was shining. Ferrari remained in a strong position and would go on to win the race and the world title, while all three works Porsches would be out of the race. ^[12]

The winning partnership of Gendebien and Frère, averaged a speed of 106.201mph, and their winning margin over the second placed crew was four laps, driven by Ricardo Rodríguez and André Pilette. A further four laps adrift was the 1959 winner Roy Salvadori, partnered by a promising young Scottish driver, Jim Clark in an Aston Martin DBR1/30. They were the only non-Ferrari in the top seven. ^[13][14]

Official Classification

Class Winners are in Bold text.

Pos	Class	No	Team	Drivers	Chassis	Engine	Laps
1st	S3.0	11	Scuderia Ferrari	Olivier Gendebien Paul Frère	Ferrari 250 TR59/60	Ferrari 3.0L V12	314
2nd	S3.0	17	N.A.R.T.	André Pilette Ricardo Rodríguez	Ferrari 250 TR59	Ferrari 3.0L V12	310
3rd	S3.0	7	Border Reivers	Jim Clark Roy Salvadori	Aston Martin DBR1/300	Aston Martin 3.0L I6	306
4th	GT3.0	16	F. Tavano	Fernand Tavano Pierre Dumay	Ferrari 250 GT SWB	Ferrari 3.0L V12	302
5th	GT3.0	18	N.A.R.T.	George Arents Alan Connell, Jr.	Ferrari 250 GT SWB	Ferrari 3.0L V12	300
6th	GT3.0	22	Ecurie Francorchamps	”Eldé” Pierre Noblet	Ferrari 250 GT SWB	Ferrari 3.0L V12	300
7th	GT3.0	19	N.A.R.T.	Ed Hugus Augie Pabst	Ferrari 250 GT SWB	Ferrari 3.0L V12	299
8th	GT5.0	3	B. S. Cunningham	John Fitch Bob Grossman	Chevrolet Corvette C1	Chevrolet 4.6L V8	281
9th	S3.0	8	Major Ian B. Baillie	Ian B. Baillie Jack Fairman	Aston Martin DBR1/300	Aston Martin 3.0L I6	281
10th	GT1.6	35	Porsche	Herbert Linge Hans Walter	Porsche 356B Carrera Abarth GTL	Porsche 1.6L Flat-4	269
11th	S1.6	39	Porsche	Edgar Barth Wolfgang Seidel	Porsche 718 RS 60	Porsche 1.5L Flat-4	264
12th	S2.0	32	Enr. Lund	Ted Lund Colin Escott	MG A Twin Cam	BMC 1.8L I4	262
13th	GT1.3	44	Roger Masson	Roger Masson Claude Laurent	Lotus Elite	Climax 1.2L I4	261
14th	GT1.3	41	Team Lotus	John Wagstaff Tony Marsh	Lotus Elite	Climax 1.2L I4	257
15th	S850	48	D. B.	Gérard Laureau Paul Armagnac	DB Barquette	Panhard 0.7L Flat-2	253
16th	S1.0	46	Donald Healey	John Dalton John Colgate	Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite	BMC 1.0L I4	246
17th	S1.0	47	D. B.	Pierre Lelong Maurice van der Bruwaene	D.B. HBR4	Panhard 0.9L Flat-2	244
18th	S850	54	Ed. Hugus	John Bentley John Gordon	Osca Sport 750	Osca 0.7L I4	237
19th	S1.0	56	D. B.	Robert Bourharde Jacques Grelley	DB Coupé	Panhard 0.9L Flat-2	228
20th	S1.0	52	D. B.	René Bartholoni Bernard de Saint-Auban	DB Coupé	Panhard 0.9L Flat-2	223

Not Classified

Failed to complete final lap under own power.

Pos	Class	No	Team	Drivers	Chassis	Engine	Laps	Reason
21st	GT5.0	4	Camoradi U.S.A. RT	Leon Lilley Fred Gamble	Chevrolet Corvette C1	Chevrolet 4.6L V8	275	Insufficient distance
22nd	S2.0	28	Standard Triumph	Keith Ballisat Marcel Becquart	Triumph TRS	Triumph 2.0L I4	256	Insufficient distance
23rd	S2.0	59	Standard Triumph	Les Leston Mike Rotschild	Triumph TRS	Triumph 2.0L I4	252	Insufficient distance
24th	S2.0	29	Standard Triumph	Peter Bolton Ninian Sanderson	Triumph TRS	Triumph 2.0L I4	249	Insufficient distance
25th	GT2.0	30	Ecurie Lausannoise	Georges Gachnang André Wicky Jean Gretener	AC Ace-Aigle	Bristol 2.0L I6	239	Insufficient distance

Did Not Finish

Pos	Class	No	Team	Drivers	Chassis	Engine	Laps	Reason
26th	GT3.0	15	A.G. Whitehead	Graham Whitehead Henry Taylor	Ferrari 250 GT SWB	Ferrari 3.0L V12	258	Engine
27th	GT3.0	20	N.A.R.T	William Sturgis Jo Schlesser	Ferrari 250 GT California SWB	Ferrari 3.0L V12	253	Engine
28th	GT5.0	2	B. S. Cunningham	Dick Thompson Fred Windridge	Chevrolet Corvette C1	Chevrolet 4.6L V8	207	Engine => Fire
29th	S3.0	10	Scuderia Ferrari	Willy Mairesse Richie Ginther	Ferrari 250 TRI/60	Ferrari 3.0L V12	204	Gearbox
30th	S2.0	33	Porsche	Jo Bonnier Graham Hill	Porsche 718 RS 60	Porsche 1.6L Flat-4	191	Piston
31st	S1.6	38	G. de Beaufort	Carel Godin de Beaufort Dickie Stoop	Porsche 718 RS 60	Porsche 1.6L Flat-4	180	Engine
32nd	S850	50	Abarth & Cie	Paul Condriller Jean Guichet	Fiat-Abarth 850S	Fiat 0.8L I4	174	Clutch
33rd	GT1.3	43	S. G. Baillie	Mike Parkes Gawaine Baillie	Lotus Elite	Climax 1.2L I4	169	Gearbox
34th	S3.0	5	Ecurie Ecosse	Ron Flockhart Bruce Halford	Jaguar D-Type	Jaguar 3.0L I6	168	Crankshaft
35th	GT1.3	42	Team Lotus	David Buxton Bill Allen	Lotus Elite	Climax 1.2L I4	157	Clutch
36th	S1.15	45	Lola Ltd.	Charles Vögele Peter Ashdown	Lola Mk. 1	Climax 1.1L I4	148	Piston
37th	GT2.0	57	J. Rambaux	Jean Rambaux Pierre Boutin	AC Ace	Bristol 2.0L I6	130	Piston
38th	S850	55	Stanguellini	Raymond Quilico Carlos Manuel Reis	Stanguellini S750 Bialbero	Stanguellini 0.7L I4	103	Engine
39th	S1.15	40	Squadra Conrero	Bernard Costen Francesco de Leonibus	Conrero 1150	Alfa Romeo 1.1L I4	96	Gearbox
40th	S3.0	25	Camoradi U.S.A. RT	Lloyd Casner Jim Jeffords	Maserati Tipo 61 Longtail	Maserati 2.9L I4	95	Sand in gearbox
41st	S1.6	36	J. Kerguen	Jean Kerguen Robert La Caze	Porsche 718 RS 60	Porsche 1.6L Flat-4	92	Camshaft
42nd	GT3.0	23	J.G. Sears	Jack Sears Peter Riley	Austin-Healey 3000	BMC 2.9L I6	89	Bearing
43rd	S3.0	6	B. S. Cunningham	Dan Gurney Walt Hansgen	Jaguar E 2A	Jaguar 3.0L I6	89	Head gasket
44th	S850	49	Abarth & Cie	Jacques Féret Tony Spychiger	Fiat-Abarth 850S	Fiat 0.8L I4	86	Clutch
45th	S3.0	24	Camoradi U.S.A. RT	Chuck Daigh Masten Gregory	Maserati Tipo 61 Longtail	Maserati 2.9L I4	82	Electrics
46th	S850	53	Osca	Jean Laroche André Simon	Osca S750	O.S.C.A. 0.7L I4	66	Engine
47th	GT1.3	63	G. Ubezzi	José Rosinski Giorgio Ubezzi	Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Zagato	Alfa Romeo 1.3L I4	61	Transmission
48th	S2.0	34	Porsche	Maurice Trintignant Hans Herrmann	Porsche 718 RS 60	Porsche 1.6L Flat-4	57	Piston
49th	GT5.0	1	B. S. Cunningham	Briggs Cunningham William Kimberley	Chevrolet Corvette C1	Chevrolet 4.6L V8	38	Accident => Fire
50th	S850	60	Abarth & Cie	Giancarlo Rigamonti Remo Cattini	Fiat-Abarth 700 S	Fiat 0.7L I4	31	Engine
51st	S850	51	D. B.	Jean Vinatier Jean-Claude Vidilles	D. B. Barquette	Panhard 0.7L Flat-2	30	Engine
52nd	GT3.0	21	Equipe Nationale Belge	”Jean Beurlys” Lucien Bianchi	Ferrari 250 GT SWB	Ferrari 3.0L V12	29	Accident
53rd	S3.0	26	Camoradi U.S.A. RT	Gino Munaron Giorgio Scarlatti	Maserati Tipo 61 Longtail	Maserati 2.9L I4	22	Electrics
54th	S3.0	12	Scuderia Ferrari	Ludovico Scarfiotti Pedro Rodríguez	Ferrari 250 TRI/60	Ferrari 3.0L V12	22	Out of fuel
55th	S3.0	9	Scuderia Ferrari	Wolfgang von Trips Phil Hill	Ferrari 250 TR59/60	Ferrari 3.0L V12	22	Out of fuel

^[15][16][17]

• Fastest Lap: Masten Gregory & Dan Gurney, 4:04.0secs (123.407mph) ^[18][19]

Class Winners

^[20]

Standings after the race

FIA World Sportscar Championship

Pos	Championship	Points
1	Ferrari	22 (30)
2	Porsche	22 (26)
3	Maserati	11
4	Aston Martin	4

• Note: Only the top five positions are included in this set of standings.

Championship points were awarded for the first six places in each race in the order of 8-6-4-3-2-1. Manufacturers were only awarded points for their highest finishing car with no points awarded for positions filled by additional cars. Only the best 3 results out of the 5 races could be retained by each manufacturer. Points earned but not counted towards the championship totals are listed within brackets in the above table.

References

Further reading

• Quentin Spurring. Le Mans 24 Hours: The Official History of the World’s Greatest Motor Race 1949-59. Haynes Publishing. ISBN 978-1844255375
• Brian Laban. Le Mans 24 Hours: The Complete Story of World’s Most Famous Motor Race. Haynes Publishing. ISBN 978-1852270629

External links

• "Corvettes at Le Mans: GM Shows off rare 1960 Documentary". GM Media Archives. Archived from the original on 1 June 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2010.