Mixed fortunes for the 15 former winners
No fewer than 15 former winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans were on the grid of the 80th edition. At that point, between them they had scored 26 wins. Top of the list of course is Tom Kristensen and his 8 victories, followed by Dindo Capello (3 wins), Allan McNish and Alexander Wurz (2 wins each). Fortune (mostly) favoured former winners in 2012.
The battle between Audis No.1 and No.2 was exciting until three hours from the finish when the Scot Allan McNish had a minor track exit. A change of nose and a slightly damaged suspension ended the hopes of a 9th succes for Tom Kristensen and fourth for Dindo Capello.
As its number indicates, the car No.1 was in the hands of the winning crew in 2011. The trio of Marcel Fässler, André Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer became two-time winners at 3pm on Sunday, 17th June. Not such a surprising result you may think, after André Lotterer started from pole position, but it is only the eighth time in the history of Le Mans 24 Hours that a car has won from pole!
Stephan Johansson, driver for Gulf Racing Middle East, and Tom Kristensen won together in 1997 with the Joest TWR Porsche. This year, the Swedish driver would not cross the finish line, the Lola-Nissan # 28 retired in the night after going off the circuit. Alexander Wurz, the youngest winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1996, will also retire with the No.7 Toyota due to engine failure, while Christophe Bouchut, victorious in 1993 with Peugeot, would suffer the same fate when his teammate Scott Tucker (HPD-Honda No.33 Level 5 Motorsport) came to a halt at the side of the track.
Seiji Ara, winner in 2004 with Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen, took the checkered flag with the Dome No.17 of Pescarolo Team, but would not be classified because it did not cover 70% of the distance travelled by the winner . The returning Martin Brundle, who teamed with his son Alex, were not in contention for the overall podium, racing the LMP2 class. They ultimately finished in 15th place overall, but the eighth in the class with the Zytek-Nissan No.42 of Greaves Motorsport. Changing the alternator belt had delayed the car for about twenty minutes.
David Brabham, winner in 2009 with Peugeot Sport, shone with the JRM HPD-Honda No. 22 in an unexpected 6th place given their results at the Sebring 12 Hours and 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the first two rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship. His former team mate Marc Gene, with whom he shared the victory in 2009, was expected after his victory in the Belgian Ardennes on the 5th of May 5. Replacing the injured Timo Bernhard, he made a daring choice of tyres in the Ardennes, which allowed the Audi R18 Ultra, with conventional diesel power, to win on a track thought to favour the hybrids.
His partner Romain Dumas, who won in 2010 with Audi, played mechanics along the track after a chance encounter with the security barrier of 24 Hours circuit. Marc Gene will imitate a few hours later with the same consequences: a front cover with crumbs and a broken suspension. Both drivers have been able to reach the pit lane, they finally finish in 5th place with Loic Duval on the Audi R18 # 3.
Mike Rockenfeller who was victorious in 2010 with Romain Dumas, had a massive accident in 2011, the car was destroyed hitting guard rails shortly before midnight. Virtually unscathed, the German driver had merely a few weeks off before resuming his place in the DTM with Audi. This year, teamed-up with Marco Bonanomi and Oliver Jarvis, Mike Rockenfeller ascended to third step of the podium.
Now, the total for the 15 drivers has risen to 29 wins!
Dave Davies
Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE, 24 HEURES DU MANS, LUNDI 11 JUIN 2012, SCRUTINEERING. Martin Brundle, past winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, was back this year and teamed with son Alex.