1951 24 Hours of Le Mans

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1951 24 Hours of Le Mans
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Index: Races | Winners
Le Mans in 1951

The 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 19th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 23 and 24 June 1951. It was won by Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead in their works-entered Jaguar C-type, the first Le Mans win for the marque.

The arrival of Jaguar's and Cunningham's first purpose-built racers in direct competition with Ferrari, and the first showing for Porsche and Lancia, marked the beginning of an era of intense competition between manufacturers of sports cars. The more powerful new sport racers would develop rapidly and put a final end to luxury touring cars and their derivatives as top contenders at Le Mans. It was the final outing for Delahaye and Bentley (for 50 years) and the sports prototype tide would overwhelm Talbot-Lago in the next couple of years. The race was marred by the death of French driver Jean Larivière within the opening laps of the race.

Regulations[]

This year there were no significant changes to the regulations, by either the CSI or the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO), except to create a Reserve list as a back-up to the basic sixty entrants.

Entries[]

Peter Walker and Peter Whitehead won the race driving a Jaguar XK-120C

Works entries were entered by Aston Martin, Frazer-Nash, Healey, Jaguar, Jowett, Panhard and Renault as well as self-built cars from Allard, Cunningham, DB, Delettrez, Gordini and Monopole. The biggest sensation were the three works cars from Jaguar after their private entry the year before. Designed in complete secrecy specifically for Le Mans, the XK-120C, or C-Type (‘C’ standing for ‘Competition’) was 450 kg lighter than before and its 3.4L engine developed 205 bhp with a top speed of 160 mph (257 km/h).[1] Along with Fairman, Whitehead and Johnson, team manager “Lofty” England paired them up respectively with debutants Stirling Moss and Peter Whitehead and multiple Mille Miglia winner Clemente Biondetti. Sydney Allard again had the biggest cars, returning with a pair of his J2s with their 5.4L Cadillac engines.[2] John Wyer’s works Aston Martin team fielded three DB2 coupés, bolstered by a pair of privately-entered DB-2s. In the 3.0L class, their reliable 2.6L engines had improved to develop 138bhp.[3]

Briggs Cunningham also returned, this year with three cars of his own design – the first serious American entry for victory in 20 years. Although heavy, the C-2R with its big 5.4L Chrysler V8 engine, could develop a powerful 225bhp and had a top speed over 240 km/h. Defending French honour, after the previous year’s victory, were six private-entrant Talbots, including four of the two-seat Formula 1 conversions. With works backing, 'Tony' Lago hired the top Argentinian drivers from F1: Juan-Manuel Fangio drove with last year’s winner Louis Rosier, while José Froilán González was paired with the young Onofre Marimón.[4] This year also marked the final entry by Delahaye.

The biggest entry from a single marque were nine Ferraris (including three entered by US Ferrari-agent & triple Le Mans winner Luigi Chinetti). Although there was still no works team, they did include four of the exciting new ‘340 America’ in the big-engine class.[2] After winning the Mille Miglia, they arrived as one of the pre-race favourites: the 4.1L V12 engine (based on the F1 4.5L engine) matched the Cunninghams, producing 230 bhp and a top speed around 240 km/h. There were also three new ‘212 Export’ models with 2.4L engines and a pair of the older 2.0L, race-proven, ‘166MM’ models. The other Italian entry was a lone Lancia, here for the first time.[2] Vittorio Jano’s Aurelia B20 design was a development of the B10, the first production car with a V6 engine. Entered by the Milanese Scuderia Ambrosiana team of Count Giovanni Lurani, it was the first car at Le Mans to race with radial tyres.[5] Finally, both the Bentley sedan and Delettrez diesel returned for the last time.[2]

In the smaller categories, there was a significant new entrant: Race director and founder Charles Faroux had approached Porsche to be the first German car in the post-war races.[2] Five of its modern new 356 SL (Super Licht) model were built but two were wrecked in road-testing, but two did make the entry-list.[6] Its 1086cc engine developed just 46bhp but that still gave a top speed of 100mph (160 km/h).[7] Again, French makes dominated the small classes, with 16 entries from Panhard, DB, Monopole, Renault, Simca, Gordini and several one-off specials (all with an assortment of Panhard, Simca or Renault engines)[2] Up against them, aside from the Porsches, was a single Czech Aero-Minor, a pair of Jowetts, an MG and a new American Crosley.

Practice[]

The Jaguars immediately showed their pace, although Peter Walker complained that the lights were insufficient in the night-practice. When it was pointed out he had his tinted glasses on, he took them off and went out and immediately did an unofficial lap of 4:46. But it was Phil Walters’ Cunningham that set the fastest official practice lap at 5:03.[8][9] The later practice sessions were compromised by very wet weather. Rudolf Sauerwein suffered severe leg injuries when his new Porsche crashed and rolled, almost collecting Moss's Jaguar and Morris-Goodall's Aston Martin following close behind.[7] A number of cars had engine problems in practice that were traced to the fuel supplied by the ACO – nominally 80-octane, but that was suspect. Many teams needed to do last minute engine modifications.[10]

Race[]

Start[]

After all the rain in practice, race-day also started wet but it was dry for the start. Tom Cole's Allard was first away, but at the end of the first lap, it was the Talbot of González ahead of Moss and Cole. After three laps the young, very fast, Stirling Moss dashed into the lead and took on the role that was to become his signature - the hare sent out to break the pursuing hounds, running to an assigned pace.[2] However tragedy struck on the sixth lap: French driver Jean Larivière crashed his Ferrari 212 heavily into a sandbank at Tertre Rouge, getting airborne. He was killed instantly when virtually decapitated by a wire fence.[11][12] [Notes 1]

The race continued though, and Moss set a blistering pace, repeatedly lowering Rosier's 1950 lap record (eventually, over 6 seconds quicker). After an hour, Moss led González, ahead of the Jaguars of Biondetti and Walker, then the Talbots of Chaboud and Rosier. By the end of the second hour, Moss had put a lap on the whole field. At the four-hour mark Moss & Fairman had a lead of over 2 laps, with the Jaguar team running 1-2-3, ahead of the Talbots of González and Fangio.

Soon afterward, the rain returned and stayed for the rest of the night. The pace was starting to take its toll: Both Allards had gone off track, and repairing the damage put them well down. Chaboud's Talbot was out with radiator problems, and a loss of oil pressure caused a similar problem stopping the Biondetti Jaguar. Louis Chiron, running in the top 10, ran his Ferrari out of gas on-track, but when the officials found out a mechanic had driven out to him with a tank of fuel to top up he was disqualified.[13]

In the smaller classes, the 1500cc Gordinis were comfortably ahead of their English competition (the Jowetts and MG) – at times 40 seconds a lap faster[14] - Manzon and Trintignant running as high as 15th and 16th respectively, mixing it with the bigger cars until both were put out with engine problems after only 4 hours.

Night[]

Just before midnight, after his car had held the lead for more than 7 hours, Moss’ impressive run came to an end – a conrod broke due, like Biondetti, due to a major loss of oil pressure. Soon after, Rosier was stopped by a split oil tank. The remaining works Jaguar of Walker/Whitehead inherited the lead, a lap ahead of González/Marimón. The Britons extended the lead to 7 laps, easily matching the Talbot's pace through the night until the latter car retired with a blown head gasket at the halfway mark.[15]

The Ferrari challenge never really materialised, although wealthy Englishman Eddie Hall, who had driven solo the previous year to 2nd place, had his Ferrari 340 up to as high as 3rd during the night. The big heavy Cunninghams suffered in the greasy wet conditions; two had been held up in the first couple of hours and were well down the order. Huntoon, co-driving the boss’ car, slid off at Indianapolis wrecking the steering, then soon afterward Rand spun his car in traffic at the Dunlop curve. He missed the other cars but slammed into the roadside bank. The third car though, of Fitch/Walters, had been in the top 10 throughout, steadily picking up places as others fell out, and was up to 2nd when the Talbot retired. The Allard/Cole car had charged through the field up to 4th after its initial delay, but was finally stopped at the end of the night by a broken gearbox.

Back in the junior classes, with only the reserve-entry Jowett left, the Gordinis were making good progress, with a 9-lap lead, when disaster struck – both remaining Gordinis were retired late in the night with yet more engine problems.

Morning[]

As dawn broke, the Jaguar had a comfortable 8-lap lead over the Cunningham, the Macklin/Thompson Aston Martin and the Rolt/Hamilton Nash-Healey. Hall's Ferrari gave up with a flat battery and would not restart. The two Talbots of Mairesse/Meyrat and Bouillin/Marchand followed, trying to stage a fightback, split by the Abecassis/Shawe-Taylor Aston Martin. This order stayed fairly constant through the morning, until midday when the Cunningham hit the pits with engine problems. The crew made repairs and it crawled around doing occasional slow laps, waiting for the race-end. By pushing hard, Mairesse and Meyrat picked off the Nash-Healey in the early morning, then passed the Aston Martin into 3rd about 11am, which became 2nd when the Cunningham stopped.

Meanwhile, even being the sole survivor of the S1500 class, it still took the Jowett over an hour to overtake the leading Gordini on distance – they eventually cruised home to finish 21st.[16]

Finish and post-race[]

In the end, the Jaguar won at a canter, with a 9-lap lead over the Talbot. Despite 16 hours of rain, the Jaguar easily broke the distance record, covering over 3600 km. Even though Mairesse put in his fastest lap in the last hour, and they covered two more laps than Rosier's winning Talbot last year, Meyrat and Mairesse were not going to catch the Jaguar and they again finished second. Debutants Pierre Bouillin (racing under the pseudonym Levegh) and René Marchand, driving Mairesse's 1949-race Talbot finished a creditable 4th. The Aston Martins again proved extremely reliable: five entered, five finished with the three works cars coming in 3rd, 5th and 7th and 1-2-3 in class. Macklin & Thompson in 3rd were less than a lap behind the Talbot, having spent only 10 minutes in the pits during the whole race.[11] Like the previous year, the Anglo-American Nash-Healey of Rolt/Hamilton had proven very reliable. Even with its bigger engine, its heavier weight meant it could never compete with the Jaguars and Talbots in its class for pace, but that reliability had got it up to 4th in the morning, until overtaken by the Talbot and the leading Aston Martin and finishing 6th.[17] Only one of the big Ferraris finished – Chinetti's own, in 8th, although three of the smaller ones did make it to the end. The Lancia had run like clockwork finishing 12th. Incredibly it had covered nearly 2000 miles on just a single set of tyres, and was then driven back to Turin after the race.[5]

After the tribulations getting to the start, the new Porsche of Auguste Veuillet (the Porsche agent in Paris[7]) won its class at first attempt; a promising start to an exceptional association with Le Mans. For the second year running the Biennial Cup and the Index of Performance both went to the works Monopole by Pierre Hérnard & Jean de Montrémy[18][19] Despite their best attempts, neither Fitch's Cunningham, the second Allard nor the Bentley were classified – the former two could not get their final laps done in the minimum time and the latter missed its minimum required distance by just 4 miles (half a lap!).[20]

The popular American adage of the time – “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday” – was particularly apt for Jaguar. It was later estimated that extra sales of US$12 million were generated in the USA alone from their Le Mans win.[9] By contrast, the negative press for Gordini's failure led to Simca withdrawing its engine supply to the team.[14]

Official results[]

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps
1 S
5.0
20 United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd[21] United Kingdom Peter Walker
United Kingdom Peter Whitehead
Jaguar XK-120C Jaguar 3.4L S6 267
2 S
5.0
9 France Pierre Meyrat
(private entrant)
France Pierre Meyrat
France Guy Mairesse
Talbot-Lago T26 GS Biplace Talbot-Lago 4.5L S6 258
3 S
3.0
26 United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. United Kingdom Lance Macklin
United Kingdom Eric Thompson
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin 2.6L S6 257
4 S
5.0
10 France Pierre ”Levegh”
(private entrant)
France Pierre "Levegh"
France René Marchand
Talbot-Lago T26 Monoplace Décalée Talbot-Lago 4.5L S6 256
5 S
3.0
25 United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. United Kingdom George Abecassis
United Kingdom Brian Shawe-Taylor
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin 2.6L S6 255
6 S
5.0
19 United Kingdom Donald Healey Motor Company United Kingdom Tony Rolt
United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton
Nash-Healey Sport Coupé Nash 3.8L S6 255
7 S
3.0
24 United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. United Kingdom Reg Parnell
United Kingdom David Hampshire
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin 2.6L S6 252
8 S
5.0
15 United States Luigi Chinetti United States Luigi Chinetti
France Jean Lucas
Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Ferrari 4.1L V12 246
9 S
3.0
29 France N.-J. Mahé
(private entrant)
France Norbert Jean Mahé
France Jacques Péron
Ferrari 212 Export Coupé Ferrari 2.6L V12 244
10 S
3.0
28 United Kingdom N.H. Mann
(private entrant)
United Kingdom Nigel Mann
United Kingdom Mortimer Morris-Goodall
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin 2.6L S6 236
11 S
5.0
21 United Kingdom R. Lawrie
(private entrant)
United Kingdom Rob Lawrie
United Kingdom Ivan Waller
Jaguar XK-120S Jaguar 3.4L S6 236
12 S
2.0
33 Italy Scuderia Ambrosiana Italy Comte Giovanni Lurani
Italy Giovanni Bracco
Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Lancia 2.0L V6 235
13 S
3.0
27 United Kingdom P.T.C. Clark
(private entrant)
United Kingdom Peter Clark
United Kingdom James Scott-Douglas
Aston Martin DB2 Aston Martin 2.6L S6 233
14 S
2.0
35 United Kingdom Automobiles Frazer Nash Ltd. United Kingdom Eric Winterbottom
United Kingdom John Marshall
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica Bristol 2.0L S6 232
15 S
2.0
32 United States Luigi Chinetti France Yvonne Simon
United Kingdom Betty Haig
Ferrari 166 MM Berlinetta Ferrari 2.0L V12 231
16 S
3.0
31 United States Charles Moran Jr.
(private entrant)
United States Charles Moran Jr.
Italy Franco Cornacchia
Ferrari 212 Export Spyder Ferrari 2.6L V12 227
17 S
5.0
11 France A. Chambas
(private entrant)
France André Chambas
France André Morel
Talbot-Lago SS Spyder Talbot-Lago 4.5L S6 226
18 S
2.0
34 United Kingdom Mrs P. Trevelyan
(private entrant)
United Kingdom Richard "Dickie" Stoop
United Kingdom Peter Wilson
Frazer Nash Mille Miglia Bristol 2.0L S6 217
19 S
1.1
46 Germany Porsche K.G. France Auguste Veuillet
France Edmond Mouche
Porsche 356 SL Coupe Porsche 1086cc Flat-4 210
20 S
1.1
48 France Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet France René Bonnet
France Élie Bayol
DB Sport Panhard 851cc Flat-2 206
21 S
1.5
66 France M. Becquart
(private entrant)
France Marcel Becquart
United Kingdom Gordon Wilkins
Jowett Jupiter Jowett 1486cc Flat-4 203
22 S
750
50 France Régie Renault France Francois Landon
France André Briat
Renault 4CV-1063 Renault 747cc S4 197
23 S
750
60 France Établissements Monopole France Jean de Montrémy
France Jean Hémard
Monopole X84 Panhard 614cc FLat-2 194
24 S
750
61 France R. Gaillard
(private entrant)
France Raymond Gaillard
France Pierre Chancel
Panhard Dyna X84 Panhard 611cc Flat-2 190
25 S
750
54 France Régie Renault France Jacques Lecat
France Henri Senftleben
Renault 4CV-1063 Renault 747cc S4 184
26 S
750
58 France Auguste Lachaize
(private entrant)
France Jean-Paul Colas
France Robert Schollmann
Callista RAN D120 Panhard 611cc Flat-2 183
27 S
750
53 France Régie Renault France Just-Emile Vernet
France Jean Pairard
Renault 4CV-1063 Renault 747cc S4 181
28 S
750
56 France Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet France Michel Arnaud
France Louis Pons
DB Sport Panhard 745cc Flat-2 179

[22]

Did Not Finish[]

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Laps Reason
29 S
8.0
2 United Kingdom S.H. Allard United Kingdom Peter Reece
United Kingdom Alfred Hitchings
Allard J2 Cadillac 5.4L V8 230 not classified
last lap too slow
30 S
8.0
4 United States Briggs Cunningham United States John Fitch
United States Phil Walters
Cunningham C-2R Chrysler 5.5L V8 223 not classified
last lap too slow
31 S
5.0
14 United Kingdom H.S.F. Hay
(private entrant)
United Kingdom Jack ‘Zoltan’ Hay
United Kingdom Tom Clarke
Bentley 4¼ Paulin Bentley 4.3L S6 204 not classified
insufficient distance
32 S
750
51 France Régie Renault France Jean-Louis Rosier
France Jean Estager
Renault 4CV-1063 Renault 0.7L I4 194 accident (24h)
33 S
750
57 Belgium L. Eggen
(private entrant)
Belgium Louis Eggen
France André Beaulieux
DB Sport Panhard 745cc Flat-2 184 Disqualified (23h)
outside assistance
34 S
750
52 France Régie Renault France Jean Sandt
France Paul Moser
Renault 4CV-1063 Renault 747cc S4 177 fire (21h)
35 S
8.0
1 United Kingdom S.H. Allard United Kingdom Sydney Allard
United States Tom Cole Jr.
Allard J2 Cadillac 5.4L V8 134 gearbox (13h)
36 S
1.1
45 Switzerland R. Caron
(private entrant)
Switzerland Roger Caron
France André Guillard
Simca Huit Sport Simca 1090cc S4 133 engine (19h)
37 S
5.0
17 United States William Spear
(private entrant)
United States William "Bill" Spear
Belgium Johnny Claes
Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Ferrari 4.1L V12 132 clutch (17h)
38 S
1.5
37 France Equipe Gordini France Pierre Veyron
France Georges Monneret
Gordini T15S Simca 1495cc S4 130 engine (13h)
39 S
5.0
7 France Henri Louveau
(private entrant)
Argentina José Froilán González
Argentina Onofre Marimón
Talbot-Lago T26 GS Biplace Talbot-Lago 4.5L S6 128 radiator (13h)
40 S
5.0
18 United Kingdom E.R. Hall
(private entrant)
United Kingdom Eddie Hall
Italy Giuseppe Navone
Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Ferrari 4.1L V12 125 battery (13h)
41 S
8.0
5 United States Briggs Cunningham United States George Rand
United States Fred Wacker, Jr.
Cunningham C-2R Chrysler 5.5L V8 98 accident (11h)
42 S
5.0
6 France Louis Rosier
(private entrant)
France Louis Rosier
Argentina Juan Manuel Fangio
Talbot-Lago T26 GS Biplace Talbot-Lago 4.5L S6 92 oil tank (9h)
43 S
5.0
22 United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd
United Kingdom Stirling Moss
United Kingdom Stirling Moss
United Kingdom Jack Fairman
Jaguar XK-120C Jaguar 3.4L S6 92 engine (9h)
44 S
5.0
62 France H. Leblanc
(private entrant)
France Henry Leblanc
France Robert Bertrand
Delahaye 135CS Delahaye 3.6L S6 88 brakes (11h)
45 S
1.5
43 United Kingdom G.E. Phillips
(private entrant)
United Kingdom George Phillips
United Kingdom Alan Rippon
MG TD EX.172 MG 1250cc S4 80 engine (9h)
46 S
1.5
40 France Equipe Gordini France José Scaron
France Aldo Gordini
Gordini T15S Simca 1495cc S4 77 fuel pump (13h)
47 S
8.0
3 United States Briggs Cunningham United States Briggs Cunningham
United States George Huntoon
Cunningham C-2R Chrysler 5.5L V8 76 accident (9h)
48 S
2.0
64 France René Bouchard
(private entrant)
France Robert Bouchard
France Lucien Farnaud
Ferrari 166 MM Barchetta Ferrari 2.0L V12 75 engine (13h)
49 S
5.0
23 United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd
Italy Clemente Biondetti
Italy Clemente Biondetti
United Kingdom Leslie Johnson
Jaguar XK-120C Jaguar 3.4L S6 50 oil pump (5h)
50 S
1.5
39 France Equipe Gordini France Maurice Trintignant
France Jean Behra
Gordini T15S Simca 1495cc S4 49 ignition (5h)
51 S
1.5
41 United Kingdom Jowett Cars Ltd. United Kingdom Tommy Wisdom
United Kingdom Tommy Wise
Jowett Jupiter R1 Jowett 1486cc Flat-4 48 engine (5h)
52 S
750
59 United States Crosley Motors United States George Schrafft
United States Phil Stiles
Crosley Hotshot Super Sport Crosley 726cc S4 40 alternator (5h)
53 S
750
49 France J. Poch
(private entrant)
France Jacques Poch
France Maurice Vaselle
Aero Minor Aero 749cc S2
(2-Stroke)
40 ignition (9h)
54 S
750
55 France Satecmo France Georges Claude
France Pierre Clause
Renault 4CV-1063 Renault 747cc S4 38 ignition (9h)
55 S
5.0
8 France E. Chaboud
(private entrant)
France Eugène Chaboud
France Lucien Vincent
Talbot-Lago T26 GS Biplace Talbot-Lago 4.5L S6 33 radiator (4h)
56 S
5.0
16 United States Luigi Chinetti Monaco Louis Chiron
France Pierre-Louis Dreyfus ("Heldé")
Ferrari 340 America Barchetta Ferrari 4.1L V12 29 Disqualified (3h)
premature refuelling
57 S
1.5
38 France Equipe Gordini France Robert Manzon
France André Simon
Gordini T15S Simca 1495cc S4 26 engine (5h)
58 S
5.0
12 France Etablissements Delettrez France Jean Delettrez
France Jacques Delettrez
Delettrez Diesel Delettrez 4.5L S6
(Diesel)
24 ignition (5h)
59 S
1.5
42 United Kingdom Jowett Cars Ltd. United Kingdom Bert Hadley
United Kingdom Charles Goodacre
Jowett Jupiter Jowett 1486cc Flat-4 19 electrics (3h)
60 S
3.0
30 Belgium Johnny Claes
(private entrant)
France Jean Larivière
France André Guelfi
Ferrari 212 Export C Ferrari 2.6L V12 5 fatal accident (1h)

Did Not Start[]

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Engine Reason
61 S
1.1
47 Germany Porsche K.G. Germany
France Robert Brunet
Porsche 356 SL Coupe Porsche 1086cc Flat-4 Accident in practice

[23][24]

17th Rudge-Whitworth Biennial Cup (1950/1951)[]

Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Score
1 S
750
60 France Établissements Monopole France Jean de Montrémy
France Jean Hémard
Monopole X84 1.376
2 S
750
61 France R. Gaillard
(private entrant)
France Raymond Gaillard
France Pierre Chancel
Panhard Dyna X84 1.351
3 S
5.0
20 United Kingdom Jaguar Cars Ltd[21] United Kingdom Peter Walker
United Kingdom Peter Whitehead
Jaguar XK-120C 1.326
4 S
1.1
48 France Automobiles Deutsch et Bonnet France René Bonnet
France Élie Bayol
DB Sport 1.308
5 S
3.0
25 United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. United Kingdom George Abecassis
United Kingdom Brian Shawe-Taylor
Aston Martin DB2 1.306
6 S
750
58 France Auguste Lachaize
(private entrant)
France Jean-Paul Colas
France Robert Schollmann
Callista RAN D120 1.297
7 S
3.0
24 United Kingdom Aston Martin Ltd. United Kingdom Reg Parnell
United Kingdom David Hampshire
Aston Martin DB2 1.288
8 S
5.0
19 United Kingdom Donald Healey Motor Company United Kingdom Tony Rolt
United Kingdom Duncan Hamilton
Nash-Healey Sport Coupé 1.254

Statistics[]

  • Fastest Lap in practice – Phil Walters, #2 Cunningham C-2R - 5:03.0; 160.30 kp/h (99.60 mph)
  • Fastest Lap – Stirling Moss, #22 Jaguar XK120-C - 4m46.8s; 169.36 kp/h (105.24 mph)
  • Distance – 3611.193  km (2244.0 miles)
  • Winner's Average Speed – 150.466 km/h (93.50 mph)
  • Attendance – about 100 000

Trophy Winners[]

  • 17th Rudge-Whitworth Biennial Cup – #60 Pierre Hérnard / Jean de Montrémy
  • Index of Performance – #60 Pierre Hérnard / Jean de Montrémy
  • Coupe des Dames – Mme Yvonne Simon / Miss Betty Haig, #32 Ferrari 166MM [6]

Notes[]

  1. ^ This occurred a half-hour into the race on Larivière‘s 5th lap, but the leaders had started their 6th

References[]

Citations
  1. ^ Spurring 2011, p.90
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Clausager 1982, p.82
  3. ^ Spurring 2011, p.95
  4. ^ Spurring 2011, p.93
  5. ^ a b Spurring 2011, p.104
  6. ^ a b Moity 1974, p.44
  7. ^ a b c Spurring 2011, p.96
  8. ^ Clarke, Autocar 1951
  9. ^ a b Spurring 2011, p.92
  10. ^ Spurring 2011, p.88
  11. ^ a b Moity 1974, p.45
  12. ^ Spurring 2011, p.100
  13. ^ Spurring 2011, p.99
  14. ^ a b Spurring 2011, p.107
  15. ^ Pomeroy & Walkerley 1952, p157
  16. ^ Spurring 2011, p.101
  17. ^ Spurring 2011, p.105
  18. ^ Spurring 2011, p.97
  19. ^ Clausager 1982, p.83
  20. ^ Spurring 2011, p.72
  21. ^ a b Spurring 2011, p.86
  22. ^ Spurring 2011, p.114
  23. ^ lemans-history.com [1]
  24. ^ Racing Sports Cars [2]
  • Spurring, Quentin (2011) Le Mans 1949-59 Sherborne, Dorset: Evro Publishing ISBN 978-1-84425-537-5
  • Clarke, R.M. - editor (1997) Le Mans 'The Jaguar Years 1949-1957' Cobham, Surrey: Brooklands Books ISBN 1-85520-357X
  • Clausager, Anders (1982) Le Mans London: Arthur Barker Ltd ISBN 0-213-16846-4
  • Laban, Brian (2001) Le Mans 24 Hours London: Virgin Books ISBN 1-85227-971-0
  • Moity, Christian (1974) The Le Mans 24 Hour Race 1949-1973 Radnor, Pennsylvania: Chilton Book Co ISBN 0-8019-6290-0
  • Pomeroy & Walkerley - editors (1952) The Motor Year Book 1952 London: Temple Press

External links[]

  • Racing Sports Cars – Le Mans 24 Hours 1951 entries, results, technical detail. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  • Le Mans History – Le Mans History, hour-by-hour (incl. pictures, YouTube links). Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  • Formula 2 – Le Mans 1951 results & reserve entries. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
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