Dunlop's 110 years of experience are no better exemplified than in their impressive record at the gruelling Le Mans 24/Hour race.
Le Mans is the oldest, toughest, longest and arguably the most prestigious race in the world and has seen 34 Dunlop successes in the 68 races held since 1923, more than any other tyre company.
To contact Dunlop motorsport department, please e-mail: motorsport@dunloptyres.com
1920s |
1930s |
1950s |
1960s |
1970s |
1980s |
1990s |
2000s
2000s The Bentley era
| Year |
Le Manns race no. |
Marque and nationality |
Engine Size cm3 |
Drivers |
Distance km |
Average speed km/h |
| 2002 |
70 |
Bentley (UK) |
3.995 |
Andy Wallace, Butch Leitzinger and Eric Van De Poele |
4,941.30 |
205.294 |
| * Please note: Dunlop/Bentley team position 4th place. |
| 2001 |
69 |
Bentley (UK) |
3.596 |
Andy Wallace, Buch Leitzinger and Eric Van De Poele |
4,163.13 |
172.493 |
| * Please note: Dunlop/Bentley team position 3rd place. |
1990s The Japanese influence
| Year |
Le Manns race no. |
Marque and nationality |
Engine Size cm3 |
Drivers |
Distance km |
Average speed km/h |
| 1991 |
59 |
Mazda (J) |
4.708 |
B. Gachot,
J. Herbert
and W. Weidler |
4,922.81 |
205.665 |
1980s: The Porsche era
| Year |
Le Manns race no. |
Marque and nationality |
Engine Size cm3 |
Drivers |
Distance km |
Average speed km/h |
| 1981 |
49 |
Porsche (G) |
3.708 |
J. Ickx and D. Bell |
4,825.35 |
201.056 |
| 1982 |
50 |
Porsche (G) |
3.708 |
J. Ickx and D. Bell |
4,899.09 |
204.129 |
| 1983 |
51 |
Porsche (G) |
3.708 |
A. Holbert, H. Haywood and V. Schuppan |
4,825.35 |
201.056 |
| 1984 |
52 |
Porsche (G) |
3.708 |
H. Pescarolo and K. Ludwig |
4,900.28 |
204.178 |
| 1985 |
53 |
Porsche (G) |
3.708 |
K. Ludwig, D. Barilla and J. Winter |
4,088.51 |
212.021 |
| 1986 |
54 |
Porsche (G) |
3.71 |
D. Bell, H. Stuck and A. Holbert |
4,972.73 |
207.197 |
| 1987 |
55 |
Porsche (G) |
3.193 |
D. Bell, H. Stuck and A. Holbert |
4,791.86 |
199.661 |
| 1988 |
56 |
Jaguar (GB) |
7.00 |
J. Lammers, J. Dumfries and A. Wallace |
4,322.79 |
221.665 |
1970s: The Porsche era
| Year |
Le Manns race no. |
Marque and nationality |
Engine Size cm3 |
Drivers |
Distance km |
Average speed km/h |
| 1977 |
45 |
Porsche (G) |
2.998 |
J. Barth, H. Haywood and J. Ickx |
4,671.63 |
194.651 |
| 1979 |
47 |
Porsche (G) |
4.19 |
K. Ludwig and B. Whitington |
4,173.93 |
173.914 |
1960s: The Ferrari years
| Year |
Le Manns race no. |
Marque and nationality |
Engine Size cm3 |
Drivers |
Distance km |
Average speed km/h |
| 1960 |
28 |
Ferrari (I) |
2.958 |
P. Frere and O. Gendebien |
4,217.53 |
175.73 |
| 1961 |
29 |
Ferrari (I) |
2.961 |
O. Gendebien and P. Hill |
4,476.58 |
186.524 |
| 1962 |
30 |
Ferrari (I) |
2.926 |
P. Frere and O. Gendebien |
4,451.26 |
185.469 |
| 1963 |
31 |
Ferrari (I) |
2.953 |
L. Scarfiotti and L. Bandini |
4,561.71 |
190.071 |
| 1964 |
32 |
Ferrari (I) |
2.299 |
J. Guichet and N. Vaccarella |
4,695.31 |
195.638 |
1950s: The Jaguar decade
| Year |
Le Manns race no. |
Marque and nationality |
Engine Size cm3 |
Drivers |
Distance km |
Average speed km/h |
| 1950 |
18 |
Talbot - Lago (F) |
4.483 |
L. Rosier and J.L. Rosier |
3,465.12 |
144.38 |
| 1951 |
19 |
Jaguar (GB) |
3.441 |
P.D.C. Walker and P. Whitehead |
3,611.19 |
150.466 |
| 1953 |
21 |
Jaguar (GB) |
3.441 |
T. Rolt and D. Hamilton |
4,088.06 |
170.336 |
| 1955 |
23 |
Jaguar (GB) |
3.442 |
M. Hawthorn and Y. Bueb |
4,135.38 |
172.308 |
| 1956 |
24 |
Jaguar (GB) |
3.442 |
R. Flockhart and N. Sanderson |
4,034.93 |
168.122 |
| 1957 |
25 |
Jaguar (GB) |
3.781 |
R. Flockhart and Y. Bueb |
4,397.11 |
183.213 |
1930s: The french decade
| Year |
Le Manns race no. |
Marque and nationality |
Engine Size cm3 |
Drivers |
Distance km |
Average speed km/h |
| 1930 |
8 |
Bentley (GB) |
6.597 |
W. Barnato and G. Kidston |
2,930.663 |
122.111 |
| 1931 |
9 |
Alfa-Romeo (I) |
2.337 |
Lord Howe and H.R.S. Birkin |
3,017.65 |
183.213 |
| 1935 |
13 |
lagonda (F) |
2.451 |
F.S. Hindmarsch and L. Fontes |
3,006.80 |
125.283 |
| 1937 |
14 |
Bugatti (F) |
2.266 |
J.P. Wimille and R. Benoist |
3,287.94 |
136.997 |
| 1938 |
15 |
Delahaye (F) |
2.558 |
E. Chaboud and J. Tremoulet |
3,180.94 |
132.539 |
| 1939 |
16 |
Bugatti (F) |
2.251 |
J.P. Wimille and P. Veryon |
3,354.76 |
139.782 |
1920s: Dunlop - dominating the decade
| Year |
Le Manns race no. |
Marque and nationality |
Engine Size cm3 |
Drivers |
Distance km |
Average speed km/h |
| 1924 |
2 |
Bentley (GB) |
2.995 |
Duff and F.C.Clement |
2,077.34 |
86.556 |
| 1925 |
3 |
La Lorraine (F) |
3.73 |
G. De Courcelles and A. Rossignol |
2,233.98 |
93.083 |
| 1926 |
4 |
La Lorraine (F) |
3.44 |
R. Bloch and A. Rossignol |
2,552.41 |
106.351 |
| 1927 |
5 |
Bentley (GB) |
2.989 |
J.D. Benjafied and S.C.H. Davis |
2,369.81 |
98.742 |
| 1928 |
6 |
Bentley (GB) |
4.392 |
W. Barnato and B. Rubin |
2,669.27 |
111.22 |
| 1929 |
7 |
Bentley (GB) |
6.597 |
W. Barnato and H.R.S. Birkin |
2,843.83 |
118.493 |
During the years since the first Le Mans Race the circuit has been modified several times as follows:
Circuit 1 - 17.262 km used from 1923 - 1928
Circuit 2 - 16.340 km used from 1929 - 1931
Circuit 3 - 14.492 km used from 1932 - 1955
Circuit 5 - 13.461 km used from 1956 - 1967
Circuit 6 - 13.469 km used from 1968 - 1971
Circuit 7 - 13.626 km used from 1979 - 1985
Circuit 8 - 13.528 km used in 1986
Circuit 9 - 13.535 km used from 1987 - 1989
Circuit 10 - 13.600 km used from 1990 - 1996
Circuit 11 - 13.605 km used from 1997
Key change in recent years was in 1990 when two chicanes were built on the Mulsanne straight for safety reasons.
