Number 6: 1970-71 Porsche 917K
Story: This was the first Porsche race car that dominated at Le Mans and took two of Porsche's 16 wins at Le Mans. Designed by Norbert Singer, the Porsche 917K used the Porsche 4.9 litre Flat-12 engine to create 600 bhp back in the early 1970s. Which took Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood to the 1970 Le Mans race win to make a Porsche one-two-three finish(second place was using the Porsche 917L, while third was using a Porsche 908/2L). Then in 1971, Dr. Helmut Marko and Gijs van Lennep took victory in their Porsche 917K to finish off a Porsche one-two in the 24 hour race.
Number 5: 1931-34 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300
Story: Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 will be possibly the most dominated race car at Le Mans before the pre-World War 2. The Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 uses a 2.3 litre straight eight engine that produces 180 bhp. Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 took Lord Howe and Sir Henry Birkin to Le Mans victory in 1931. While in 1932, Raymond Sommer and Luigi Chinetti took victory with an Alfa Romeo one-two finish. In 1933, Raymond Sommer and Tazio Nuvolari took victory with an Alfa Romeo one-two-three finish. And finally in 1934, with Luigi Chinetti and Philippe Étancelin driving the Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 to take victory at Le mans for the final time.
Number 4: 1958, 1960-61 Ferrari 250 TR
Story: Ferrari 250 TR will be most dominate Ferrari at Le Mans. Ferrari 250 TR uses the Ferrari 3 litre V12 engine that produces over 300 bhp. The Ferrari 250 TR won three outright Le Mans victory, in 1958 when Olivier Gendebien and Phil Hill took victory at Le Mans in the Ferrari 250 TR/58. Then again in 1960 with Paul Frère and Olivier Gendebien driving to give Ferrari a one-two finish in the race in the Ferrari 250 TR 59/60. And finally once again in 1961 were Olivier Gendebien and Phil Hill took victory in the Ferrari 250 TRI61 to give Ferrari a one-two-three finish (third place Ferrari was a Ferrari 250GT SWB instead of the Ferrari 250 TR).
Number 3: 2000-02, 2004-05 Audi R8
Story: The race car that took Audi to it's first Five 24 hours of Le Mans wins. The Audi R8 uses the Audi 3.6 litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine that produces 610 bhp. Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro took 2000 win with an Audi one-two-three finish. Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro once again for an Audi one-two finish in 2001. And one more time in 2002 with Frank Biela, Tom Kristensen and Emanuele Pirro as the winners to give Audi another one-two-three finish. Forth win came in 2004, and this time Seiji Ara, Rinaldo Capello and Tom Kristensen as winners for another Audi one-two-three finish. And finally in 2005 with Tom Kristensen, JJ Lehto and Marco Werner as the winners to finish the domination of the Audi R8 at Le Mans.
Number 2: 1982-85 Porsche 956
Story: Designed by Norbert Singer, the Porsche 956 took Porsche to it's seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth victories at Le Mans in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1985. Porsche 956 uses the Porsche 2.6 litre twin turbo flat-6 engine that produces 620 bhp. In 1982 Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell took victory to give Porsche a one-two-three finish. In 1983, Porsche drivers Vern Schuppan, Hurley Haywood and Al Holbert took victory in that years 24 hours race. Also in that race, nine Porsche 956's finished inside the top ten after 24 hours as-well(1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th-6th-7th-8th-10th place). In 1984, Henri Pescarolo and Klaus Ludwig took victory in that years 24 hours race. Also in that race, eight Porsche 956's finished inside the top ten after 24 hours as-well(1st-2nd-3rd-4th-5th-6th-7th-9th place). Finally in 1985, Klaus Ludwig, Paolo Barilla and "John Winter" took victory to give the Porsche 956 the most dominated race car in the Group C era, and possibly the most dominated race car ever at Le Mans.
Number 1: 1966-69 Ford GT40
Story: So why is Ford GT40 is my number one in my top twenty best Le Mans race cars ever instead of the Porsche 956 or Audi R8 for example? Because of history don't forget this car was dominating at Le Mans too. Back in 1963, Ford almost bought Ferrari, but Ferrari owner Enzo Ferrari stopped the deal on the 11th hour. Henry Ford II who owned Ford at that time, directed his racing division to find a company that could build a Ferrari-beater on the world endurance-racing circuit, which includes winning at Le Mans at all costs.
The original Ford GT40 was designed and developed by Lola designers in 1963 with the Ford 4.2 litre V8 included that produces 400 bhp. Then in 1964, Carroll Shelby took over the project put in his tuned Shelby Ford 7.0 litre V8 engine inside the Ford Gt40 Mark IV that produces 485 bhp while later Ford GT40 Mark I and II models had the smaller Ford 4.9 litre V8 engine that produces over 430 bhp. The Ford GT40 took victory in the 1966 race with Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon as drivers to give Ford a one-two-three finish. While in 1967, Dan Gurney and A. J. Foyt took victory inside the Ford GT40. In 1968, Pedro Rodriguez and Lucien Bianchi took victory. And finally in 1969, Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver took the final victory for the Ford GT40 at the 24 hours of Le Mans.
A great Legacy of Le Mans race cars from the last 90 years.
End of blog for how, new post soon. Bye.
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