1997 24 Hours of Le Mans


The 1997 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 65th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 14 and 15 June 1997.
The race saw the first of a record 9 wins at Le Mans for popular Danish driver Tom Kristensen.

Pre-race

The Dunlop chicane was modified slightly in order to slow speeds again but also accommodate larger gravel traps as runoff area for the protection of motorcycle riders using the Bugatti Circuit. Frenchman Sébastien Enjolras lost his life in a pre-qualifying accident in his Welter Racing WR LM97-Peugeot.

Race

The 1997 race was won by the same chassis as had won in 1996, marking the second time that Joest had won back-to-back Le Mans with the same chassis. They were able to beat factory teams in the GT1 and LMP classes from Porsche, BMW and Nissan. The TWR-Porsche was not the fastest on track during the race, but was able to take advantage of the leading Porsche 911 GT1's and McLaren F1 GTR's mechanical problems, allowing the Joest Racing machine to claim victory by one lap.

Official results

PosClassNoTeamDriversChassisTyreLaps
PosClassNoTeamDriversEngineTyreLaps
1LMP7 Joest Racing GmbH Michele Alboreto
Stefan Johansson
Tom Kristensen		TWR Porsche WSC-95361
1LMP7 Joest Racing GmbH Michele Alboreto
Stefan Johansson
Tom Kristensen		Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6361
2LMGT141 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren Jean-Marc Gounon
Pierre-Henri Raphanel
Anders Olofsson		McLaren F1 GTR360
2LMGT141 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren Jean-Marc Gounon
Pierre-Henri Raphanel
Anders Olofsson		BMW S70 6.0 L V12360
3LMGT143 BMW Motorsport Peter Kox
Roberto Ravaglia
Éric Hélary		McLaren F1 GTR358
3LMGT143 BMW Motorsport Peter Kox
Roberto Ravaglia
Éric Hélary		BMW S70 6.0 L V12358
4LMP13 Courage Compétition Didier Cottaz
Jérôme Policand
Marc Goossens		Courage C41336
4LMP13 Courage Compétition Didier Cottaz
Jérôme Policand
Marc Goossens		Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6336
5LMGT133 Schübel Engineering Pedro Lamy
Armin Hahne
Patrice Goueslard		Porsche 911 GT1331
5LMGT133 Schübel Engineering Pedro Lamy
Armin Hahne
Patrice Goueslard		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6331
6LMP3 Moretti Racing Inc. Gianpiero Moretti
Didier Theys
Max Papis		Ferrari 333 SP321
6LMP3 Moretti Racing Inc. Gianpiero Moretti
Didier Theys
Max Papis		Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12321
7LMP8 La Filière Elf Henri Pescarolo
Jean-Philippe Belloc
Emmanuel Clérico		Courage C36319
7LMP8 La Filière Elf Henri Pescarolo
Jean-Philippe Belloc
Emmanuel Clérico		Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6319
8LMGT127 BMS Scuderia Italia Pierluigi Martini
Christian Pescatori
Antônio Hermann		Porsche 911 GT1317
8LMGT127 BMS Scuderia Italia Pierluigi Martini
Christian Pescatori
Antônio Hermann		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6317
9LMGT278 Elf Haberthur Racing Michel Neugarten
Guy Martinolle
Jean-Claude Lagniez		Porsche 911 GT2307
9LMGT278 Elf Haberthur Racing Michel Neugarten
Guy Martinolle
Jean-Claude Lagniez		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6307
10LMGT274 Roock Racing André Ahrlé
Andy Pilgrim
Bruno Eichmann		Porsche 911 GT2306
10LMGT274 Roock Racing André Ahrlé
Andy Pilgrim
Bruno Eichmann		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6306
11LMGT273 Roock Racing Manuel Mello-Breyner
Tomaz Mello-Breyner
Pedro Mello-Breyner		Porsche 911 GT2295
11LMGT273 Roock Racing Manuel Mello-Breyner
Tomaz Mello-Breyner
Pedro Mello-Breyner		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6295
12LMGT123 Nissan Motorsport Kazuyoshi Hoshino
Érik Comas
Masahiko Kageyama		Nissan R390 GT1294
12LMGT123 Nissan Motorsport Kazuyoshi Hoshino
Érik Comas
Masahiko Kageyama		Nissan VRH35L 3.5 L Turbo V8294
13LMGT280 GT Racing Team AG Claudia Hürtgen
John Robinson
Hugh Price		Porsche 911 GT2280
13LMGT280 GT Racing Team AG Claudia Hürtgen
John Robinson
Hugh Price		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6280
14LMGT263 Société Viper Team Oreca Justin Bell
Pierre Yver
John Morton		Chrysler Viper GTS-R278
14LMGT263 Société Viper Team Oreca Justin Bell
Pierre Yver
John Morton		Chrysler 8.0 L V10278
15LMGT264 Chamberlain Engineering Hans Hugenholtz Jr.
Jari Nurminen
Chris Gleason		Chrysler Viper GTS-R269
15LMGT264 Chamberlain Engineering Hans Hugenholtz Jr.
Jari Nurminen
Chris Gleason		Chrysler 8.0 L V10269
16LMP10 Courage Compétition Fredrik Ekblom
Jean-Louis Ricci
Jean-Paul Libert		Courage C36265
16LMP10 Courage Compétition Fredrik Ekblom
Jean-Louis Ricci
Jean-Paul Libert		Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6265
17LMP15 Team TDR Yojiro Terada
Jim Downing
Franck Fréon		Kudzu DLM-4263
17LMP15 Team TDR Yojiro Terada
Jim Downing
Franck Fréon		Mazda R26B 2.6 L 4-Rotor263
DNFLMGT126 Porsche AG Emmanuel Collard
Ralf Kelleners
Yannick Dalmas		Porsche 911 GT1 Evo327
DNFLMGT126 Porsche AG Emmanuel Collard
Ralf Kelleners
Yannick Dalmas		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6327
DNFLMGT139 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren Ray Bellm
Andrew Gilbert-Scott
Masanori Sekiya		McLaren F1 GTR326
DNFLMGT139 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren Ray Bellm
Andrew Gilbert-Scott
Masanori Sekiya		BMW S70 6.0 L V12326
DNFLMGT261 Société Viper Team Oreca Philippe Gache
Olivier Beretta
Dominique Dupuy		Chrysler Viper GTS-R263
DNFLMGT261 Société Viper Team Oreca Philippe Gache
Olivier Beretta
Dominique Dupuy		Chrysler 8.0 L V10263
DNFLMGT125 Porsche AG Hans-Joachim Stuck
Thierry Boutsen
Bob Wollek		Porsche 911 GT1 Evo238
DNFLMGT125 Porsche AG Hans-Joachim Stuck
Thierry Boutsen
Bob Wollek		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6238
DNFLMGT142 BMW Motorsport JJ Lehto
Steve Soper
Nelson Piquet		McLaren F1 GTR236
DNFLMGT142 BMW Motorsport JJ Lehto
Steve Soper
Nelson Piquet		BMW S70 6.0 L V12236
DNFLMGT129 Société JB Jabouille Bouresche Jürgen von Gartzen
Olivier Thévenin
Alain Ferté		Porsche 911 GT1236
DNFLMGT129 Société JB Jabouille Bouresche Jürgen von Gartzen
Olivier Thévenin
Alain Ferté		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6236
DNFLMGT154 David Price Racing Andy Wallace
James Weaver
Butch Leitzinger		Panoz GTR-1236
DNFLMGT154 David Price Racing Andy Wallace
James Weaver
Butch Leitzinger		Ford-Roush 6.0 L V8236
DNFLMGT130 Kremer Racing Christophe Bouchut
Andy Evans
Bertrand Gachot		Porsche 911 GT1207
DNFLMGT130 Kremer Racing Christophe Bouchut
Andy Evans
Bertrand Gachot		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6207
DNFLMGT275 Société Larbre Compétition Patrick Bourdais
Peter Kitchak
André Lara-Rezende		Porsche 911 GT2205
DNFLMGT275 Société Larbre Compétition Patrick Bourdais
Peter Kitchak
André Lara-Rezende		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6205
DNFLMP9 Courage Compétition Mario Andretti
Michael Andretti
Olivier Grouillard		Courage C36197
DNFLMP9 Courage Compétition Mario Andretti
Michael Andretti
Olivier Grouillard		Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6197
DNFLMGT152 Société DAMS Franck Lagorce
Éric Bernard
Jean-Christophe Boullion		Panoz GTR-1149
DNFLMGT152 Société DAMS Franck Lagorce
Éric Bernard
Jean-Christophe Boullion		Ford-Roush 6.0 L V8149
DNFLMGT155 David Price Racing David Brabham
Perry McCarthy
Doc Bundy		Panoz GTR-1145
DNFLMGT155 David Price Racing David Brabham
Perry McCarthy
Doc Bundy		Ford-Roush 6.0 L V8145
DNFLMGT121 Nissan Motorsport Martin Brundle
Jörg Müller
Wayne Taylor		Nissan R390 GT1139
DNFLMGT121 Nissan Motorsport Martin Brundle
Jörg Müller
Wayne Taylor		Nissan VRH35L 3.5 L Turbo V8139
DNFLMGT128 Konrad Motorsport Franz Konrad
Mauro Baldi
Robert Nearn		Porsche 911 GT1138
DNFLMGT128 Konrad Motorsport Franz Konrad
Mauro Baldi
Robert Nearn		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6138
DNFLMGT267 Saleen/Allen Speedlab Steve Saleen
Price Cobb
Carlos Palau		Saleen Mustang SR133
DNFLMGT267 Saleen/Allen Speedlab Steve Saleen
Price Cobb
Carlos Palau		Ford 5.9 L V8133
DNFLMGT279 Konrad Motorsport Toni Seiler
Larry Schumacher
Michel Ligonnet		Porsche 911 GT2126
DNFLMGT279 Konrad Motorsport Toni Seiler
Larry Schumacher
Michel Ligonnet		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6126
DNFLMGT122 Nissan Motorsport Riccardo Patrese
Eric van de Poele
Aguri Suzuki		Nissan R390 GT1121
DNFLMGT122 Nissan Motorsport Riccardo Patrese
Eric van de Poele
Aguri Suzuki		Nissan VRH35L 3.5 L Turbo V8121
DNFLMGT149 GT1 Lotus Racing Jan Lammers
Mike Hezemans
Alexander Grau		Lotus GT1121
DNFLMGT149 GT1 Lotus Racing Jan Lammers
Mike Hezemans
Alexander Grau		Chevrolet LT5 6.0 L V8121
DNFLMP5 Kremer Racing Tomás Saldaña
Carl Rosenblad
Jürgen Lässig		Kremer K8 Spyder103
DNFLMP5 Kremer Racing Tomás Saldaña
Carl Rosenblad
Jürgen Lässig		Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6103
DNFLMGT284 Stadler Motorsport Enzo Calderari
Lilian Bryner
Angelo Zadra		Porsche 911 GT298
DNFLMGT284 Stadler Motorsport Enzo Calderari
Lilian Bryner
Angelo Zadra		Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-698
DNFLMGT144 Team Lark McLaren Akihiko Nakaya
Keiichi Tsuchiya
Gary Ayles		McLaren F1 GTR88
DNFLMGT144 Team Lark McLaren Akihiko Nakaya
Keiichi Tsuchiya
Gary Ayles		BMW S70 6.0 L V1288
DNFLMGT277 Société Chereau Jean-Luc Chéreau
Jack Leconte
Jean-Pierre Jarier		Porsche 911 GT277
DNFLMGT277 Société Chereau Jean-Luc Chéreau
Jack Leconte
Jean-Pierre Jarier		Porsche 3.6L Turbo Flat-677
DNFLMGT146 Newcastle United Lister Storm Julian Bailey
Thomas Erdos
Mark Skaife		Lister Storm GTL77
DNFLMGT146 Newcastle United Lister Storm Julian Bailey
Thomas Erdos
Mark Skaife		Jaguar 7.0 L V1277
DNFLMGT262 Société Viper Team Oreca Tommy Archer
Soheil Ayari
Marc Duez		Chrysler Viper GTS-R76
DNFLMGT262 Société Viper Team Oreca Tommy Archer
Soheil Ayari
Marc Duez		Chrysler 8.0 L V1076
DNFLMGT260 Agusta Racing Team Almo Coppelli
Rocky Agusta
Éric Graham		Callaway Corvette LM-GT245
DNFLMGT260 Agusta Racing Team Almo Coppelli
Rocky Agusta
Éric Graham		Chevrolet LT1 6.2 L V845
DNFLMGT266 Saleen/Allen Speedlab David Warnock
Rob Schirle
Allen Lloyd		Saleen Mustang SR28
DNFLMGT266 Saleen/Allen Speedlab David Warnock
Rob Schirle
Allen Lloyd		Ford 5.9 L V828
DNFLMGT145 Newcastle United Lister Storm Geoff Lees
Tiff Needell
George Fouché		Lister Storm GTL21
DNFLMGT145 Newcastle United Lister Storm Geoff Lees
Tiff Needell
George Fouché		Jaguar 7.0 L V1221
DNFLMP4 Pilot Racing Michel Ferté
Adrián Campos
Charlie Nearburg		Ferrari 333 SP18
DNFLMP4 Pilot Racing Michel Ferté
Adrián Campos
Charlie Nearburg		Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V1218
DNFLMGT270 Team Marcos Cor Euser
Takaji Suzuki
Harald Becker		Marcos Mantara LM60015
DNFLMGT270 Team Marcos Cor Euser
Takaji Suzuki
Harald Becker		Chevrolet 5.9 L V815
DNFLMGT132 Roock Racing Motorsport Stéphane Ortelli
Allan McNish
Karl Wendlinger		Porsche 911 GT18
DNFLMGT132 Roock Racing Motorsport Stéphane Ortelli
Allan McNish
Karl Wendlinger		Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-68
DNFLMP14 Pacific Racing Harri Toivonen
Eliseo Salazar
Jesús Pareja		BRM P3016
DNFLMP14 Pacific Racing Harri Toivonen
Eliseo Salazar
Jesús Pareja		Nissan 3.0 L Turbo V66
DNSLMGT140 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren John Nielsen
Thomas Bscher
Chris Goodwin		McLaren F1 GTR-
DNSLMGT140 Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren John Nielsen
Thomas Bscher
Chris Goodwin		BMW S70 6.0 L V12-

Statistics