Top Twenty Best Le Mans race cars Part 1, Celebrating 90 years of Le Mans (20-13)

This season is 90th year of 24 hours of Le Mans race is formed. Back in 1923 were French men André Lagache and René Léonard winning the first ever 24 hours of Le Mans race in a Chenard & Walcker Sport 3-Litre. To Celebrate this a top twenty best Le Mans race cars that ever made and produce and won the 24 hours of Le Mans race. This will be a three part post starting from twenty to thirteen. And so Starting with Number twenty of the top twenty is:



Number 20: 1999 BMW V12 LMR
Story: Designed and developed by the Williams F1 team back in 1999. The BMW V12 LMR used a BMW 6 litre V12 engine which produce 600 bhp. Which took, BMW as a manufacture to win the 1999 24 hours of Le Mans race with Pierluigi Martini, Yannick Dalmas and Joachim Winkelhock as drivers on that day.



Number 19: 2003 Bentley Speed 8
Story: After many years away from Le Mans, Bentley returns to the 24 hour race back in 2001 with the all new Speed 8. It used a Bentley (Audi) 4 litre twin-turbo V8 that produces over 600 bhp. Didn't win in 2001 nor in 2002 either. But in 2003, Speed 8 took Bentley to a one-two finish in the 24 hours race to win with Tom Kristensen, Rinaldo Capello and Guy Smith that year.



Number 18: 1989 Sauber C9 Mercedes Benz
Story: After many years away from Le Mans, Mercedes returns to the 24 hours race back in 1987 from a little help from Sauber F1 team. The Sauber C9 used a Mercedes Benz 4.9 litre twin-turbo V8 which produces over 720 bhp. Didn't win in 1987 nor did 1988. But in 1989, Sauber C9 took Sauber and Mercedes Benz to a one-two finish in the 24 hours to win with Jochen Mass, Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens that year.



Number 17: 1959 Aston Martin DBR1
Story: After many years of Aston Martin not winning at the 24 hours race. The Aston Martin DBR1 took Aston Martin to their first 24 hours of Le Mans race win with one-two with Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori winning the race. Aston Martin DBR1 used a Aston Martin 2.5 litre straight six that produces over 250 bhp.



Number 16: 2009 Peugeot 908 HDi FAP
Story: After many years of Audi dominance at the 24 hours race. Peugeot finally beaten Audi for once in 2009 with the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. Peugeot 908 HDi FAP used a Peugeot HDi 5.5 litre twin-turbo V12, diesel engine which produces 700 bhp. 908 HDi FAP debut in 2007, but it was in 2009 when Peugeot took a one-two finish at the 24 hours of Le Mans race with David Brabham, Marc Gené and Alexander Wurz driving the winning Peugeot.



Number 15: 1991 Mazda 787B
Story: This was the first Japanese car that won the famous Le Mans race outright. And it would be possibly the most least favourite to win the 24 hours race that year as-well in 1991 (Sauber-Mercedes and Jaguar would have been stronger favourites for 1991 race) Mazda 787B used the Mazda R26B 2.6 litre 4-rotor naturally aspirated engine that produces 700bhp. Mazda 787B took drivers Volker Weidler, Johnny Herbert and Bertrand Gachot to Mazda's first and only outright victory at the 24 hours race.



Number 14: 1978 Renault Alpine A442B
Story: Designed and built by Alpine, but funded and powered by Alpine's owners Renault, specifically to contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Renault Alpine A442B uses a 2 litre Reanult turbo V6 that produces 500 bhp. Debut for the 1975 season, but never archived victory in 1976 or 1977, until 1978 when Didier Pironi and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud took victory in the 1978 race to give Renault and Alpine their first and only 24 hours of Le Mans win.



Number 13: 1972-74 Matra MS670
Story: Matra MS670 uses a Matra 3 litre V12 engine and produces over 450bhp. Matra MS670 took three Le Mans victories in a row in 1972, 1973 and 1974. In 1972, Henri Pescarolo and Graham Hill took a Malta one-two in the race. While in 1973 and 1974, Henri Pescarolo and Gérard Larrousse took back to back victories in the Matra MS670B and Matra MS670C.



Next post number twelve to number seven.

End of blog for how, new post soon. Bye.