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.
Race
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 | Laps |
| Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Engine | Laps |
| 1 | S +2.0 | 2 |  Renault Sport | Didier Pironi Jean-Pierre Jaussaud | Renault Alpine A442B | 369 |
| 1 | S +2.0 | 2 | Renault Sport | Didier Pironi Jean-Pierre Jaussaud | Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 | 369 |
| 2 | S +2.0 | 6 |  Martini Racing Porsche System | Bob Wollek Jürgen Barth Jacky Ickx | Porsche 936/78 | 364 |
| 2 | S +2.0 | 6 | Martini Racing Porsche System | Bob Wollek Jürgen Barth Jacky Ickx | Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6 | 364 |
| 3 | S +2.0 | 7 | Martini Racing Porsche System |  Hurley Haywood Peter Gregg Reinhold Joest | Porsche 936/77 | 362 |
| 3 | S +2.0 | 7 | Martini Racing Porsche System | Hurley Haywood Peter Gregg Reinhold Joest | Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6 | 362 |
| 4 | S +2.0 | 4 | Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson | Guy Fréquelin Jean Ragnotti José Dolhem Jean-Pierre Jabouille | Renault Alpine A442A | 358 |
| 4 | S +2.0 | 4 | Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson | Guy Fréquelin Jean Ragnotti José Dolhem Jean-Pierre Jabouille | Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 | 358 |
| 5 | IMSA +2.5 | 90 | Dick Barbour Racing |  Brian Redman Dick Barbour John Paul Sr. | Porsche 935/77 | 337 |
| 5 | IMSA +2.5 | 90 | Dick Barbour Racing | Brian Redman Dick Barbour John Paul Sr. | Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 337 |
| 6 | Gr.5 +2.0 | 44 | Porsche Kremer Racing | Jim Busby Chris Cord Rick Knoop | Porsche 935/77 | 336 |
| 6 | Gr.5 +2.0 | 44 | Porsche Kremer Racing | Jim Busby Chris Cord Rick Knoop | Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 336 |
| 7 | Gr.5 +2.0 | 41 | Mondelo ASA Cachia Team Pace | Alfredo Guaraná Paulo Gomes Mário Amaral | Porsche 935/77 | 329 |
| 7 | Gr.5 +2.0 | 41 | Mondelo ASA Cachia Team Pace | Alfredo Guaraná Paulo Gomes Mário Amaral | Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 329 |
| 8 | Gr.5 +2.0 | 43 | Martini Racing Porsche System |  Manfred Schurti Rolf Stommelen | Porsche 935/78 | 326 |
| 8 | Gr.5 +2.0 | 43 | Martini Racing Porsche System | Manfred Schurti Rolf Stommelen | Porsche 3.2L Turbo Flat-6 | 326 |
| 9 | GTP 3.0 | 72 | Jean Rondeau | Jean Rondeau Bernard Darniche Jacky Haran | Rondeau M378 | 294 |
| 9 | GTP 3.0 | 72 | Jean Rondeau | Jean Rondeau Bernard Darniche Jacky Haran | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | 294 |
| 10 | S +2.0 | 10 | Grand Touring Cars Inc. |  Vern Schuppan Jacques Laffite Sam Posey | Mirage M9 | 293 |
| 10 | S +2.0 | 10 | Grand Touring Cars Inc. | Vern Schuppan Jacques Laffite Sam Posey | Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 | 293 |
| 11 | S 2.0 | 31 | ROC La Pierre du Nord | Michel Pignard Lucien Roussiaud Laurent Ferrier | Chevron B36 | 284 |
| 11 | S 2.0 | 31 | ROC La Pierre du Nord | Michel Pignard Lucien Roussiaud Laurent Ferrier | ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 | 284 |
| 12 | GT 3.0 | 66 | BP Racing / Anne-Charlotte Verney | Anne-Charlotte Verney Xavier Lapeyre François Servanin | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 279 |
| 12 | GT 3.0 | 66 | BP Racing / Anne-Charlotte Verney | Anne-Charlotte Verney Xavier Lapeyre François Servanin | Porsche 3.0L Flat-6 | 279 |
| 13 | GTP 3.0 | 71 | André Chevalley Racing | André Chevalley François Trisconi | Inaltera LM | 279 |
| 13 | GTP 3.0 | 71 | André Chevalley Racing | André Chevalley François Trisconi | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | 279 |
| 14 | IMSA +2.5 | 97 | Charles Ivey Racing | Larry Perkins Gordon Spice John Rulon-Miller | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 278 |
| 14 | IMSA +2.5 | 97 | Charles Ivey Racing | Larry Perkins Gordon Spice John Rulon-Miller | Porsche 3.0L Flat-6 | 278 |
| 15 | S +2.0 | 8 | Alain de Cadenet | Alain de Cadenet Chris Craft | De Cadenet-Lola LM | 273 |
| 15 | S +2.0 | 8 | Alain de Cadenet | Alain de Cadenet Chris Craft | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | 273 |
| 16 | IMSA +2.5 | 86 | Écurie Grand Competition Cars North American Racing Team | François Migault Lucien Guitteny | Ferrari 365 GT4/BB | 262 |
| 16 | IMSA +2.5 | 86 | Écurie Grand Competition Cars North American Racing Team | François Migault Lucien Guitteny | Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 | 262 |
| 17 | GT +3.0 | 62 | "Ségolen" | Christian Bussi Jean-Claude Briavoine "Ségolen" | Porsche 934 | 259 |
| 17 | GT +3.0 | 62 | "Ségolen" | Christian Bussi Jean-Claude Briavoine "Ségolen" | Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 259 |
| 18 NC | S 2.0 | 23 | Artos Francy Sauber PP AG | Marc Surer Eugen Strähl Harry Blumer | Sauber C5 | 257 |
| 18 NC | S 2.0 | 23 | Artos Francy Sauber PP AG | Marc Surer Eugen Strähl Harry Blumer | BMW 2.0L I4 | 257 |
| 19 NC | S 2.0 | 20 | C.H. Graeminger | Sandro Plastina Mario Luini Jean-Daniel Grandjean | Cheetah G601 | 250 |
| 19 NC | S 2.0 | 20 | C.H. Graeminger | Sandro Plastina Mario Luini Jean-Daniel Grandjean | Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4 | 250 |
| 20 NC | GT 3.0 | 64 | Georges Bourdillat | Georges Bourdillat Alain-Michel Bernhard Jean-Luc Favresse | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 241 |
| 20 NC | GT 3.0 | 64 | Georges Bourdillat | Georges Bourdillat Alain-Michel Bernhard Jean-Luc Favresse | Porsche 3.0L Flat-6 | 241 |
| 21 NC | S 2.0 | 25 | Team Pronuptia | Bruno Sotty Gérard Cuynet Jean-Claude Dufrey | Lola T294/6 | 238 |
| 21 NC | S 2.0 | 25 | Team Pronuptia | Bruno Sotty Gérard Cuynet Jean-Claude Dufrey | Ford Cosworth FVC 1.9L I4 | 238 |
| 22 NC | S 2.0 | 24 | Team Pronuptia | Michel Elkoubi Pierre Yver Philippe Streiff | Lola T296 | 232 |
| 22 NC | S 2.0 | 24 | Team Pronuptia | Michel Elkoubi Pierre Yver Philippe Streiff | Ford Cosworth FVC 1.9L I4 | 232 |
| 23 NC | S 2.0 | 28 | Dominique Lacaud | Michel Lateste Jean-François Auboiron Dominique Lacaud | Lola T297 | 217 |
| 23 NC | S 2.0 | 28 | Dominique Lacaud | Michel Lateste Jean-François Auboiron Dominique Lacaud | BMW 2.0L I4 | 217 |
| 24 NC | Gr.5 +2.0 | 45 | Porsche Kremer Racing | Louis Krages Dieter Schornstein Philippe Gurdjian | Porsche 935/77 | 182 |
| 24 NC | Gr.5 +2.0 | 45 | Porsche Kremer Racing | Louis Krages Dieter Schornstein Philippe Gurdjian | Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 182 |
| 25 NC | S 2.0 | 27 | Mogil Motors Ltd. with Kores Racing | Tony Charnell Robin Smith Fréderic Alliot Richard Jones | Chevron B31 | 180 |
| 25 NC | S 2.0 | 27 | Mogil Motors Ltd. with Kores Racing | Tony Charnell Robin Smith Fréderic Alliot Richard Jones | Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4 | 180 |
| 26 DNF | S +2.0 | 1 | Renault Sport | Jean-Pierre Jabouille Patrick Depailler | Renault Alpine A443 | 279 |
| 26 DNF | S +2.0 | 1 | Renault Sport | Jean-Pierre Jabouille Patrick Depailler | Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 | 279 |
| 27 DNF | S +2.0 | 5 | Martini Racing Porsche System | Jacky Ickx Henri Pescarolo Jochen Mass | Porsche 936/78 | 255 |
| 27 DNF | S +2.0 | 5 | Martini Racing Porsche System | Jacky Ickx Henri Pescarolo Jochen Mass | Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6 | 255 |
| 28 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 88 | Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing | Jean-Claude Andruet Spartaco Dini | Ferrari 512BB | 251 |
| 28 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 88 | Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing | Jean-Claude Andruet Spartaco Dini | Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 | 251 |
| 29 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 87 | Luigi Chinetti Sr. | Jacques Guérin Jean-Pierre Delauney Gregg Young | Ferrari 512BB | 232 |
| 29 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 87 | Luigi Chinetti Sr. | Jacques Guérin Jean-Pierre Delauney Gregg Young | Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 | 232 |
| 30 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 89 | Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing | Claude Ballot-Léna Jean-Louis Lafosse | Ferrari 512BB | 218 |
| 30 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 89 | Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing | Claude Ballot-Léna Jean-Louis Lafosse | Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 | 218 |
| 31 DNF | S +2.0 | 19 | IBEC Racing Developments, Ltd. | Guy Edwards Ian Grob | Ibec-Hesketh 308LM | 195 |
| 31 DNF | S +2.0 | 19 | IBEC Racing Developments, Ltd. | Guy Edwards Ian Grob | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | 195 |
| 32 DNF | S 2.0 | 30 | ROC La Pierre du Nord | Jacques Henry Albert Dufrene Max Cohen-Olivar | Chevron B36 | 195 |
| 32 DNF | S 2.0 | 30 | ROC La Pierre du Nord | Jacques Henry Albert Dufrene Max Cohen-Olivar | ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 | 195 |
| 33 DNF | GTP +3.0 | 78 | WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl | Christian Debias Xavier Mathiot Marc Sourd | WM P78 | 186 |
| 33 DNF | GTP +3.0 | 78 | WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl | Christian Debias Xavier Mathiot Marc Sourd | Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6 | 186 |
| 34 DNF | GTP 3.0 | 76 | WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl | Christine Dacremont Marianne Hoepfner | WM P76 | 171 |
| 34 DNF | GTP 3.0 | 76 | WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl | Christine Dacremont Marianne Hoepfner | Peugeot PRV 2.7L V6 | 171 |
| 35 DNF | GT +3.0 | 68 | Hervé Poulain | Edgar Dören Gerhard Holup Hervé Poulain Roman Feitler | Porsche 934 | 167 |
| 35 DNF | GT +3.0 | 68 | Hervé Poulain | Edgar Dören Gerhard Holup Hervé Poulain Roman Feitler | Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 167 |
| 36 DNF | S +2.0 | 3 | Renault Sport | Derek Bell Jean-Pierre Jarier | Renault Alpine A442A | 162 |
| 36 DNF | S +2.0 | 3 | Renault Sport | Derek Bell Jean-Pierre Jarier | Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 | 162 |
| 37 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 91 | Dick Barbour Racing | Bob Garretson Steve Earle Robert Akin | Porsche 935/77 | 159 |
| 37 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 91 | Dick Barbour Racing | Bob Garretson Steve Earle Robert Akin | Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 159 |
| 38 DNF | S 2.0 | 29 | ROC Modylook | Michel Dubois Daniel Gache Julien Sanchez | Chevron B36 | 142 |
| 38 DNF | S 2.0 | 29 | ROC Modylook | Michel Dubois Daniel Gache Julien Sanchez | ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 | 142 |
| 39 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 48 | Haberthur Mecarillos-Cégécol Racing Team | Herbert Müller Claude Haldi "Nico" | Porsche 935/76 | 140 |
| 39 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 48 | Haberthur Mecarillos-Cégécol Racing Team | Herbert Müller Claude Haldi "Nico" | Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 140 |
| 40 DNF | S 2.0 | 26 | G.V.E.A. | Georges Morand Eric Vaugnat Christian Blanc | Lola T296 | 130 |
| 40 DNF | S 2.0 | 26 | G.V.E.A. | Georges Morand Eric Vaugnat Christian Blanc | Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4 | 130 |
| 41 DNF | S 2.0 | 21 | Jean-Marie Lemerle | Jean-Marie Lemerle Alain Levié Pierre-François Rousselot | Lola T294 | 126 |
| 41 DNF | S 2.0 | 21 | Jean-Marie Lemerle | Jean-Marie Lemerle Alain Levié Pierre-François Rousselot | ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 | 126 |
| 42 DNF | GT 3.0 | 65 | Joël Laplacette | Antoine Salamin Gerard Vial Yves Courage Joël Laplacette | Porsche 930 | 116 |
| 42 DNF | GT 3.0 | 65 | Joël Laplacette | Antoine Salamin Gerard Vial Yves Courage Joël Laplacette | Porsche 3.3L Turbo Flat-6 | 116 |
| 43 DNF | S 2.0 | 34 | BMW Great Britain Toleman Delivery |  Dieter Quester Tom Walkinshaw Rad Dougall | Osella PA6 | 113 |
| 43 DNF | S 2.0 | 34 | BMW Great Britain Toleman Delivery | Dieter Quester Tom Walkinshaw Rad Dougall | BMW 2.0L I4 | 113 |
| 44 DNF | S 2.0 | 32 | Dorset Racing Associates with Kelly Girl | Ian Harrower Tony Birchenhough Miss Juliette Slaughter Brian Joscelyn | Lola T294 | 61 |
| 44 DNF | S 2.0 | 32 | Dorset Racing Associates with Kelly Girl | Ian Harrower Tony Birchenhough Miss Juliette Slaughter Brian Joscelyn | Ford Cosworth FVC 2.0L I4 | 61 |
| 45 DNF | GT +3.0 | 61 | Auto Daniel Urcun | Guy Chasseuil Jean-Claude Lefévre Marcel Mignot | Porsche 934 | 61 |
| 45 DNF | GT +3.0 | 61 | Auto Daniel Urcun | Guy Chasseuil Jean-Claude Lefévre Marcel Mignot | Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 61 |
| 46 DNF | GTP +3.0 | 77 | WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl | Jean-Daniel Raulet Marcel Mamers | WM P77 | 44 |
| 46 DNF | GTP +3.0 | 77 | WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl | Jean-Daniel Raulet Marcel Mamers | Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6 | 44 |
| 47 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 94 | Whittington Bros. Racing | Don Whittington Bill Whittington Franz Konrad | Porsche 935/77 | 41 |
| 47 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 94 | Whittington Bros. Racing | Don Whittington Bill Whittington Franz Konrad | Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 41 |
| 48 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 85 | Ecurie Francorchamps | Teddy Pilette Jean Blaton Raymond Touroul | Ferrari 512BB | 39 |
| 48 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 85 | Ecurie Francorchamps | Teddy Pilette Jean Blaton Raymond Touroul | Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 | 39 |
| 49 DNF | GT +3.0 | 69 | Ravenel Frères | Willy Braillard Philippe Dagoreau Jean-Louis Ravenel Jean Ravenel | Porsche 934 | 35 |
| 49 DNF | GT +3.0 | 69 | Ravenel Frères | Willy Braillard Philippe Dagoreau Jean-Louis Ravenel Jean Ravenel | Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 35 |
| 50 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 46 | Porsche Kremer Racing | Martin Raymond "Steve" Mike Franey | Porsche 935/77 | 34 |
| 50 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 46 | Porsche Kremer Racing | Martin Raymond "Steve" Mike Franey | Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 34 |
| 51 DNF | S +2.0 | 11 | Grand Touring Cars Inc. | Sam Posey Michel Leclère | Mirage M9 | 33 |
| 51 DNF | S +2.0 | 11 | Grand Touring Cars Inc. | Sam Posey Michel Leclère | Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 | 33 |
| 52 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 84 | Brad Frisselle Racing Wynn's Belgium | Brad Frisselle Robert Kirby John Hotchkis | Chevrolet Monza | 30 |
| 52 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 84 | Brad Frisselle Racing Wynn's Belgium | Brad Frisselle Robert Kirby John Hotchkis | Chevrolet 5.7L V8 | 30 |
| 53 DNF | S 2.0 | 33 | Dorset Racing Associates Cloud Engineering | Bob Evans Martin Birrane Richard Down Richard Bond | Lola T294 | 23 |
| 53 DNF | S 2.0 | 33 | Dorset Racing Associates Cloud Engineering | Bob Evans Martin Birrane Richard Down Richard Bond | Ford Cosworth FVC 2.0L I4 | 23 |
| 54 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 47 | Weisberg Gelo Team | John Fitzpatrick Toine Hezemans | Porsche 935/77 | 19 |
| 54 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 47 | Weisberg Gelo Team | John Fitzpatrick Toine Hezemans | Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 | 19 |
| DQ | S +2.0 | 12 | Simon Phillips Racing BATCO France | Nick Faure John Beasley Simon Phillips Martin Raymond | De Cadenet-Lola T380 | 99 |
| DQ | S +2.0 | 12 | Simon Phillips Racing BATCO France | Nick Faure John Beasley Simon Phillips Martin Raymond | Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 | 99 |
Statistics
- Pole Position - #6 Martini Racing Porsche System - 3:27.06
- Fastest Lap - #1 Renault Sport - 3:34.20
- Distance - 5044.53 km
- Average Speed - 210.188 km/h
Trophy Winners
- Index of Thermal Efficiency - #6 Martini Racing Porsche System