Le Mans 1983 - Porsche dominates with an eight-fold victory

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Le Mans 1983 - Porsche dominates with an eight-fold victory

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Created on May 10, 2013

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Balz Schreier

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Dan Morgan (mendaman)

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Martin Lee (Karting Nord)

25

Jimmy Froidevaux

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Unique shot of the last lap! Clouds of smoke dramatically escape from the leading Porsche 956 (right) on the start/finish straight - nobody knew whether it would reach the finish line! On the left you can see the Marlboro Porsche with Bob Wollek, which was lapped several times.

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BMW M1 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Brun Motorsport BMW M1 surrounded by competitors - shortly after the Ford chicane on the start/finish straight

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Swiss at Le Mans 1983 (from left to right): Claude Haldi (Porsche 930 #94, 16 times at Le Mans), Angelo Pallavicini (BMW M1 #90, retired), constructor Peter Sauber (Sauber C7 #46), Marco Vanoli (Alba AR2 #63)

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(1983) in Le Mans 1983 - The cabin with the people who measured the time (Timekeepers Box)

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Positioning after the first lap: Ickx in the 956 #1, then Lancia LC2 (can keep up well, but unfortunately not for very long). Further back lurks the 956 of the Joest team

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The #14 Porsche 956 with Jan Lammers collides with Jacky Ickx (left in #1) shortly before Mulsanne, both go badly off the track, but both are able to drive on

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Without an incident with Jan Lammers (in the Canon Porsche 956 #14) shortly before Mulsanne, Ickx/Bell (pictured here) would probably have been the overall winner

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - 2nd place went to Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell in the Porsche 956 #1

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - 2nd place went to Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell (at the wheel in this picture) in the Porsche 956 #1 - unfortunately it is not known why there was no third driver for this car

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - 2nd place went to Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell in the Porsche 956 #1 - here just before the Esses

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Jochen Mass/Stefan Bellof works Porsche 956 with starting number #2 retired after 281 laps. In the back you can still see the 956 of Ickx/Bell

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - A coherent picture of 'The Esses' with the Jochen Mass/Stefan Bellof works Porsche 956 #2

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The overall winner of the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans with Vern Schuppan, Hurley Haywood and Al Holbert

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - overall winner Porsche 956 #3 with racing legend Al Holbert at the wheel - co-pilots were Vern Schuppan and Hurley Haywood

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - overall winner Porsche 956 #3 with racing legend Al Holbert at the wheel - co-pilots were Vern Schuppan and Hurley Haywood

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Lancia LC2-83 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Piercarlo Ghinzani, Hans Heyer and Teo Fabi drove the Lancia LC2-83 #5 - Here at the Esses

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Lancia LC2 83 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - A Lancia at probably the most famous spot in town - the Dunlop Arch

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Lancia LC2-83 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Alessandro Nannini, Jean-Claude Andruet and Paolo Barilla drove the Lancia LC2-83 #6 - Recording at the Esses

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Marlboro Porsche 956 #8 with Stefan Johansson, Klaus Ludwig and Bob Wollek took 6th place overall - here on the way to Indianapolis

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Stefan Johansson, Klaus Ludwig and Bob Wollek drove the Marlboro Porsche 956 (starting number #8) - here after the home straight

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Stefan Johansson, Klaus Ludwig and Bob Wollek drove the Marlboro Porsche 956 (starting number #8) - here at the Esses

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Stefan Johansson, Klaus Ludwig and Bob Wollek took 6th place overall with the Marlboro Porsche 956 (starting number #8)

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WRC P83 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Jean-Daniel Raulet, Michel Pignard and Didier Theys in WRC P83 number #9 with Peugeot engine

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WRC P83 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Roger Dorchy, Alain Couderc and Pascal Fabre in WRC P83 number #10 with Peugeot engine achieved 16th place overall

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - 4th place for the Newman Porsche 956 with Volkert Merl, Clemens Schickentanz, and Mauricio DeNarvaez

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Newman Porsche 956 #12 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - with Volkert Merl, Clemens Schickentanz, and Mauricio DeNarvaez on the home straight

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - #14 Jan Lammers, Jonathon Palmer and Richard Lloyd Porsche 956 #14

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - #14 Jan Lammers, Jonathon Palmer and Richard Lloyd Porsche 956 #14

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Lola T610 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Cooke Racing competed with this Lola T610 #20, but retired early. The drivers were Jim Adams, Francois Servanin and Ralph Kent-Cooke

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Andrettis took third place for Porsche Kremer Racing

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Frenchman Philippe Alliot at the wheel of the Kremer Racing Kenwood Porsche 956 with starting number #21 shared the cockpit with Mario Andretti and son Michael Andretti - they finished 3rd overall

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Mario Andretti at the wheel of the Kremer Racing Kenwood Porsche 956 with starting number #21 shared the cockpit with son Michael Andretti and Frenchman Philippe Alliot - they finished 3rd overall!

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Porsche CK5 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Porsche Kremer Racing was at the start with two CK5s (with Porsche 935 engine) in addition to the third-placed 956 - however, both CK5s were eliminated.

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Porsche CK5 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Porsche Kremer Racing was at the start with two CK5s (with Porsche 935 engine) in addition to the third-placed 956 - however, both CK5s were eliminated.

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Rondeau M482 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Henri Pescarolo and Thierry Boutsen drove in this Rondeau M482 with starting number #24 - Henri Pescarolo can be seen at the top left of the picture, just covering his left ear with his pointer finger - retired early

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Rondeau M482 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Phillipe Streiff, Jean-Pierre Jassaud and Michel Ferte in the Rondeau M482 #25 - Pit exit - Only 15 laps completed!

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Rondeau M482 (1983) during its first test drive by Phillipe Streiff (recorded before Le Mans)

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Max Sardou's aerodynamic catamaran-Rondeau M482 with its special rear section attracted a lot of attention - Le Mans 1983

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Rondeau M379 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Rondeau M379 with starting number #28 was driven by Vic Elford, Joël Gouhier and Anny-Charlotte Verney - but they did not reach the finish line

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Rondeau M379 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Rondeau M379 with starting number #28 was driven by Vic Elford, Joël Gouhier and Anny-Charlotte Verney - but they did not reach the finish line - here at the Esses

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Rondeau M382 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Christian Bussi's all-Belgian team drove a Rondeau M382 and took 19th place overall

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Rondeau M382 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Tertre Rouge with the Rondeau M382 #30 with Pierre Yver, Lucien Guitteny and Bernard de Dryver followed by the #12 Newman Porsche 956

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Rondeau M382 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Tertre Rouge with the Rondeau M382 #30 with Pierre Yver, Lucien Guitteny and Bernard de Dryver followed by a Porsche 930

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(1983) in Le Mans 1983 - As every year, the short mass took place in the small chapel (La Chapelle) despite the race

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Dome RC82 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Pink Floyd at the wheel - The drummer of Pink Floyd (Nick Mason) was one of the drivers of this Dome-March with Ford engine and number #18 - retired after 78 laps

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Nimrod NRA-C2 Aston Martin (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Ray Mallock, Steve Earle, Mike Salmon at Tertre Rouge in the Nimrod NRA-C2 #5 with Aston Martin engine

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Nimrod NRA-C2 Nimrod NRA-C2 #5 before the start - on the right you can still see Henri Pescarolo (1983) at Le Mans 1983 -

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EMKA C83/1 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Tiff Needell/Steve O'Rourke/Nick Faure achieved 17th place overall in the EMKA C83/1

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Sauber C7 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The best-placed car after the eight Porsches was the Sauber C7 with BMW engine, built in Hinwil, Switzerland

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Sauber C7 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Sauber C7 in the pit lane - Drivers were Diego Montoya, Tony Garcia and Albert Naon

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The BP Porsche 956 of Preston Henn/Claude Ballot-Léna/Jean-Louis Schlesser achieved 10th place overall - here at Indianapolis

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The BP Porsche 956 of Preston Henn/Claude Ballot-Léna/Jean-Louis Schlesser achieved 10th place overall - here at the Esses

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Porsche 956 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The BP Porsche 956 of Preston Henn/Claude Ballot-Léna/Jean-Louis Schlesser finished 10th overall - here at the Dunlop Bogen

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Lancia LC1 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Lancia LC1 #51 of Oscar Larrauri/Massimo Sigala/Max Cohen after Indianapolis - retired after 217 laps

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Lancia LC1 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Lancia LC1 #51 of Oscar Larrauri/Massimo Sigala/Max Cohen at the tightest corner Arnage

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URD 81 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Bruno Sotty/Gérard Cuynet achieved 14th place overall in the URD 81 - despite temporary damage shortly before the Dunlop bend

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URD 81 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Bruno Sotty/Gérard Cuynet achieved 14th place overall in URD 81 number #54 - followed by a Lancia LC1

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URD 81 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Bruno Sotty/Gérard Cuynet achieved 14th place overall in the URD 81 with BMW engine - Here at Indianapolis

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URD 81 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Bruno Sotty/Gérard Cuynet achieved 14th place overall in the URD 81 with BMW engine

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Mazda 717C (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Both Mazda's ran solidly throughout, securing 1st (#60) and 2nd (#61) in Group C Jr.

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Mazda 717C (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Mazda 717C with number #60 was only manned by two drivers because Christian Baldino failed to qualify. Here they are overtaking a URD 81

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Mazda 717C (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Mazda 717C with number #60 was only manned by two drivers because Christian Baldino failed to qualify. Here they are overtaking a URD 81

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Mazda 717C (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Mazda 717C #60 from the all-Japanese team Mazdaspeed followed by the WM P83 and Porsche 956 in front of the Dunlop curve - at that time still without a chicane!

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Mazda 717C (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Steve Soper/Jeff Allam/James Weaver Mazda 717C #61 at Indianapolis

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Mazda 717C (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Steve Soper/Jeff Allam/James Weaver Mazda 717C #61 on the wooded section between Mulsanne and Indianapolis

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Mazda 717C (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Steve Soper/Jeff Allam/James Weaver Mazda 717C #61 turns into the Esses

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Mazda 717C (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Steve Soper/Jeff Allam/James Weaver Mazda 717C #61 followed by the Cadenet Lola

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Porsche 930 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The all-German team with Georg Memminger, Fritz Müller and Heinz Kuhn-Weiss secured 13th place overall and second place in Group B with their Porsche 930 #92

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Porsche 930 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Porsche 930 #92 of Georg Memminger - here on the start/finish straight

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Porsche 930 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Followed by the Mazda 717C #60, the Porsche 930 #92 of Georg Memminger, Fritz Müller and Heinz Kuhn-Weiss drives towards its second place in Group B

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Porsche 930 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The all-British team Charles Ivey Racing drove this Porsche 930 #93 to 11th place overall and took the class win in Group B - Drivers were John Cooper, Paul Smith and David Ovey

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Porsche 930 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Swiss team with Claude Haldi, Günter Steckkönig and Bernd Schiller drove this Porsche 930 #94 - but retired after 217 laps

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Porsche 930 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Porsche 930 with starting number #95 of Jean-Marie Alméras, Jacques Alméras and Jacques Guillot followed by the Sauber C7 Diego Montoya/Albert Naon/Tony Garcia on the home straight

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Porsche 930 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Jean-Marie Alméras, Jacques Alméras and Jacques Guillot achieved 15th place in the Porsche 930 #95 and also 3rd place in Group B

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Porsche 930 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Porsche 930 with starting number #95 of Jean-Marie Alméras, Jacques Alméras and Jacques Guillot in front of the 4th placed Joest supported Newman Porsche 956 of Volkert Merl, Clemens Schickentanz and Mauricio DeNarvaez

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Porsche 930 (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - Michel Lateste's French team retired early with the Porsche 930

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Porsche 928S (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Porsche 928S with starting number #97 with Patrick Gonin photographed from the Ferris wheel. At that time it was located after the Dunlop bend and not at the Ford chicane as it is today

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Porsche 928S (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The Porsche 928S with starting number #97 of Patrick Gonin/Raymond Boutinaud/Alain Le Page at the Dunlop arch

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Porsche 928S (1983) at Le Mans 1983 - The 928S #97 of Patrick Gonin/Raymond Boutinaud/Alain Le Page in a wonderful atmosphere here at Tertre Rouge - unfortunately they did not reach the finish line

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Between Arnage and Porsche curves at Le Mans 1983

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Le Mans 1983 - The first corner after the home straight - A Rothmans Porsche is just coming out of the pit lane while a WM P83 is approaching

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Start/finish straight at 10.20 in the morning on Sunday at Le Mans 1983

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Le Mans 1983 - The winning team (from left to right) Al Holbert, Vern Schuppan and Hurley Haywood celebrate with a champagne shower!

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Summary

The superiority of the Porsche 956 in 1983 could hardly have been more overwhelming. Eleven 956s started and nine finished in places 1-8 and 10, with only a Sauber C7 appearing in 9th place and saving the honor of the Porsche opponents. At least in practice, it didn't look like Porsche dominance at all, as the Lancia LC2s were able to make a positive impression. This race report summarizes the events of 1983 and illustrates the review with almost 100 historic photos.

This article contains the following chapters

No time for superstition
Again (almost) with a classic Le Mans start
No walk in the park despite brand dominance
Record performances
The salt in the soup
Sauber as spoilsport?
Family festival?
Too many breakdowns?
Junior category Group C Junior
Features and specialties
The prince in the M1
Results

Estimated reading time: 8min

Preview (beginning of the article)

The superiority of the Porsche 956 in 1983 could hardly have been more overwhelming. Eleven 956s were at the start, nine finished in places 1-8 and 10. It didn't look like Porsche dominance, at least in practice, because the Lancia LC2s were able to make a positive impression. Michele Alboreto set a top lap of 3:20.79 in the works Lancia and secured the start from the front row. But the dream of a Le Mans victory vanished in the second hour due to gearbox damage. For the first time since 1926, a car with the number 13 was on the grid again, and it seems that Alain de Cadenet, Yves Courage and Michel Dubois were not superstitious when they set off in their Cougar C01B with a Ford-Cosworth engine. However, luck was not on their side and their race ended prematurely after 86 laps due to ignition problems.

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