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.

1978 24 Hours of Le Mans
Previous: 1977 Next: 1979
Index: Races | Winners

Race
Le Mans in 1978

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
Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Tyres Laps
Engine
1 S
+2.0		 2 Renault Sport Didier Pironi
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud		 Renault Alpine A442B M 369
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6
2 S
+2.0		 6 Martini Racing Porsche System Bob Wollek
Jürgen Barth
Jacky Ickx		 Porsche 936/78 D 364
Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6
3 S
+2.0		 7 Martini Racing Porsche System Hurley Haywood
Peter Gregg
Reinhold Joest		 Porsche 936/77 D 362
Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6
4 S
+2.0		 4 Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson Guy Fréquelin
Jean Ragnotti
José Dolhem
Jean-Pierre Jabouille		 Renault Alpine A442A M 358
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6
5 IMSA
+2.5		 90 Dick Barbour Racing Brian Redman
Dick Barbour
John Paul Sr.		 Porsche 935/77 G 337
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
6 Gr.5
+2.0		 44 Porsche Kremer Racing Jim Busby
Chris Cord
Rick Knoop		 Porsche 935/77 G 336
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
7 Gr.5
+2.0		 41 Mondelo ASA Cachia
Team Pace		 Alfredo Guaraná
Paulo Gomes
Mário Amaral		 Porsche 935/77 D 329
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
8 Gr.5
+2.0		 43 Martini Racing Porsche System Manfred Schurti
Rolf Stommelen		 Porsche 935/78 D 326
Porsche 3.2L Turbo Flat-6
9 GTP
3.0		 72 Jean Rondeau Jean Rondeau
Bernard Darniche
Jacky Haran		 Rondeau M378 G 294
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
10 S
+2.0		 10 Grand Touring Cars Inc. Vern Schuppan
Jacques Laffite
Sam Posey		 Mirage M9 G 293
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6
11 S
2.0		 31 ROC La Pierre du Nord Michel Pignard
Lucien Roussiaud
Laurent Ferrier		 Chevron B36 G 284
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4
12 GT
3.0		 66 BP Racing / Anne-Charlotte Verney Anne-Charlotte Verney
Xavier Lapeyre
François Servanin		 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR M 279
Porsche 3.0L Flat-6
13 GTP
3.0		 71 André Chevalley Racing André Chevalley
François Trisconi		 Inaltera LM G 279
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
14 IMSA
+2.5		 97 Charles Ivey Racing Larry Perkins
Gordon Spice
John Rulon-Miller		 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR G 278
Porsche 3.0L Flat-6
15 S
+2.0		 8 Alain de Cadenet Alain de Cadenet
Chris Craft		 De Cadenet-Lola LM G 273
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
16 IMSA
+2.5		 86 Écurie Grand Competition Cars
North American Racing Team		 François Migault
Lucien Guitteny		 Ferrari 365 GT4/BB G 262
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12
17 GT
+3.0		 62 "Ségolen" Christian Bussi
Jean-Claude Briavoine
"Ségolen" (André Gahinet)		 Porsche 934 M 259
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
18
NC		 S
2.0		 23 Artos Francy Sauber PP AG Marc Surer
Eugen Strähl
Harry Blumer		 Sauber C5 P 257
BMW 2.0L I4
19
NC		 S
2.0		 20 C.H. Graeminger Sandro Plastina
Mario Luini
Jean-Daniel Grandjean		 Cheetah G601 G 250
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4
20
NC		 GT
3.0		 64 Georges Bourdillat Georges Bourdillat
Alain-Michel Bernhard
Jean-Luc Favresse		 Porsche 911 Carrera RSR M 241
Porsche 3.0L Flat-6
21
NC		 S
2.0		 25 Team Pronuptia Bruno Sotty
Gérard Cuynet
Jean-Claude Dufrey		 Lola T294/6 G 238
Ford Cosworth FVC 1.9L I4
22
NC		 S
2.0		 24 Team Pronuptia Michel Elkoubi
Pierre Yver
Philippe Streiff		 Lola T296 G 232
Ford Cosworth FVC 1.9L I4
23
NC		 S
2.0		 28 Dominique Lacaud Michel Lateste
Jean-François Auboiron
Dominique Lacaud		 Lola T297 G 217
BMW 2.0L I4
24
NC		 Gr.5
+2.0		 45 Porsche Kremer Racing Louis Krages
Dieter Schornstein
Philippe Gurdjian		 Porsche 935/77 G 182
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
25
NC		 S
2.0		 27 Mogil Motors Ltd. with Kores Racing Tony Charnell
Robin Smith
Fréderic Alliot
Richard Jones		 Chevron B31 G 180
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4
26
DNF		 S
+2.0		 1 Renault Sport Jean-Pierre Jabouille
Patrick Depailler		 Renault Alpine A443 M 279
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6
27
DNF		 S
+2.0		 5 Martini Racing Porsche System Jacky Ickx
Henri Pescarolo
Jochen Mass		 Porsche 936/78 D 255
Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6
28
DNF		 IMSA
+2.5		 88 Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing Jean-Claude Andruet
Spartaco Dini		 Ferrari 512BB M 251
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12
29
DNF		 IMSA
+2.5		 87 Luigi Chinetti Sr. Jacques Guérin
Jean-Pierre Delauney
Gregg Young		 Ferrari 512BB G 232
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12
30
DNF		 IMSA
+2.5		 89 Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing Claude Ballot-Léna
Jean-Louis Lafosse		 Ferrari 512BB M 218
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12
31
DNF		 S
+2.0		 19 IBEC Racing Developments, Ltd. Guy Edwards
Ian Grob		 Ibec-Hesketh 308LM G 195
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8
32
DNF		 S
2.0		 30 ROC La Pierre du Nord Jacques Henry
Albert Dufrene
Max Cohen-Olivar		 Chevron B36 G 195
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4
33
DNF		 GTP
+3.0		 78 WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl Christian Debias
Xavier Mathiot
Marc Sourd		 WM P78 M 186
Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6
34
DNF		 GTP
3.0		 76 WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl Christine Dacremont
Marianne Hoepfner		 WM P76 M 171
Peugeot PRV 2.7L V6
35
DNF		 GT
+3.0		 68 Hervé Poulain Edgar Dören
Gerhard Holup
Hervé Poulain
Roman Feitler		 Porsche 934 G 167
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
36
DNF		 S
+2.0		 3 Renault Sport Derek Bell
Jean-Pierre Jarier		 Renault Alpine A442A M 162
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6
37
DNF		 IMSA
+2.5		 91 Dick Barbour Racing Bob Garretson
Steve Earle
Robert Akin		 Porsche 935/77 G 159
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
38
DNF		 S
2.0		 29 ROC Modylook Michel Dubois
Daniel Gache
Julien Sanchez		 Chevron B36 G 142
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4
39
DNF		 Gr.5
+2.0		 48 Haberthur
Mecarillos-Cégécol Racing Team		 Herbert Müller
Claude Haldi
"Nico" (Nick McGranger)		 Porsche 935/76 G 140
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
40
DNF		 S
2.0		 26 G.V.E.A. Georges Morand
Eric Vaugnat
Christian Blanc		 Lola T296 G 130
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4
41
DNF		 S
2.0		 21 Jean-Marie Lemerle Jean-Marie Lemerle
Alain Levié
Pierre-François Rousselot		 Lola T294 G 126
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4
42
DNF		 GT
3.0		 65 Joël Laplacette Antoine Salamin
Gerard Vial
Yves Courage
Joël Laplacette		 Porsche 930 M 116
Porsche 3.3L Turbo Flat-6
43
DNF		 S
2.0		 34 BMW Great Britain
Toleman Delivery		 Dieter Quester
Tom Walkinshaw
Rad Dougall		 Osella PA6 P 113
BMW 2.0L I4
44
DNF		 S
2.0		 32 Dorset Racing Associates with Kelly Girl Ian Harrower
Tony Birchenhough
Miss Juliette Slaughter
Brian Joscelyn		 Lola T294 G 61
Ford Cosworth FVC 2.0L I4
45
DNF		 GT
+3.0		 61 Auto Daniel Urcun Guy Chasseuil
Jean-Claude Lefévre
Marcel Mignot		 Porsche 934 D 61
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
46
DNF		 GTP
+3.0		 77 WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl Jean-Daniel Raulet
Marcel Mamers		 WM P77 M 44
Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6
47
DNF		 Gr.5
+2.0		 94 Whittington Bros. Racing Don Whittington
Bill Whittington
Franz Konrad		 Porsche 935/77 G 41
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
48
DNF		 IMSA
+2.5		 85 Ecurie Francorchamps Teddy Pilette
Jean Blaton
Raymond Touroul		 Ferrari 512BB M 39
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12
49
DNF		 GT
+3.0		 69 Ravenel Frères Willy Braillard
Philippe Dagoreau
Jean-Louis Ravenel
Jean Ravenel		 Porsche 934 D 35
Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
50
DNF		 Gr.5
+2.0		 46 Porsche Kremer Racing Martin Raymond
"Steve" (Jean-Pierre Wielemans)
Mike Franey		 Porsche 935/77 G 34
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
51
DNF		 S
+2.0		 11 Grand Touring Cars Inc. Sam Posey
Michel Leclère		 Mirage M9 G 33
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6
52
DNF		 IMSA
+2.5		 84 Brad Frisselle Racing
Wynn's Belgium		 Brad Frisselle
Robert Kirby
John Hotchkis		 Chevrolet Monza G 30
Chevrolet 5.7L V8
53
DNF		 S
2.0		 33 Dorset Racing Associates
Cloud Engineering		 Bob Evans
Martin Birrane
Richard Down
Richard Bond		 Lola T294 G 23
Ford Cosworth FVC 2.0L I4
54
DNF		 Gr.5
+2.0		 47 Weisberg Gelo Team John Fitzpatrick
Toine Hezemans		 Porsche 935/77 G 19
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6
DQ S
+2.0		 12 Simon Phillips Racing
BATCO France		 Nick Faure
John Beasley
Simon Phillips
Martin Raymond		 De Cadenet-Lola T380 G 99
Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8


Statistics
  • Pole Position - #6 Martini Racing Porsche System (Jacky Ickx) - 3:27.06
  • Fastest Lap - #1 Renault Sport (Jean-Pierre Jabouille) - 3:34.20
  • Distance - 5044.53 km
  • Average Speed - 210.188 km/h

Trophy Winners
  • Index of Thermal Efficiency - #6 Martini Racing Porsche System
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