24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
In 1982, the FIA World Sportscar Championship launched new regulations Introducing Group C sportscars.
The major focus was on fuel capacity and consumption: the fuel tank capacity was restricted to 100 liters and a race average fuel consumption of up to 60 L/100 km.
A second major factor was the 800 kg minimum weight limit.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
For its first 24 hours race in Group C, Porsche won all the podium places, with the 3 Rothmans-sponsored Porsche 956 ending in perfect formation across the finish line exactly as were their racing numbers. The winning car #1 was driven by Jacky Ickx/Derek Bell, the second-place car #2 was driven by Jochen Mass/Vern Schuppan (3 laps behind the winner) and the last factory entered car #3 scored 3rd, driven by Al Holbert/Hurley Haywood/Jürgen Barth (19 laps from the winner).
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell won the 50th anniversary 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982 by breaking the distance record they had established the previous year, despite the new fuel capacity and consumption reduction regulations.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
The 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982 was the sixth and final Le Mans victory for Jacky Ickx.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
Porsche 956 #2 was driven by Jochen Mass/Vern Schuppan
Porsche also trusted the IMSA GTX class, with John Fitzpatrick Racing Porsche 935 #79 winning the class (4th overall) and BP Cooke Racing Porsche 935 K3 driven by Dany Snobek, François Servanin and René Metge 2nd of the class. Porsche thereby won the 5 first places of the race.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
Pierre Dieudonné, Jean-Paul Libert and Carson Baird driving the European University-sponsored Ferrari 512 BB LM #70 by Prancing Horse Farm Racing ended 6th overall and climbed to the third place of the IMSA GTX podium.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
The Nimrod NRA C2 #32, with a V8 Aston Martin engine prepared by Viscount Downe Race Petroleum, ended 7th overall. Mike Salmon, Simon Phillips and Ray Mallock were the drivers.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
North American Racing Team Ferrari 512 BB LM #72 driven by John Morton, John St Paul and Alain Cudini ended 9th overall.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
Belga-sponsored Joest Racing Porsche 936 C driven by Philippe Martin, Jean-Michel Martin and Bob Wollek had to abandon at 14:25 with engine failure.
Ford Werke AG was present with two Ford C100, which were 6th and 11th in qualifications but had to abandon after 71 laps for #7 driven by Manfred Winkelhok and Klaus Biedzwiedz and 67 laps for #6 driven by Klaus Ludwig and Marc Surer.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans 1982
