Le Mans Classic 2004 : In orbit!

Dithyrambic media review and grapevine has worked well: Le Mans Classic really takes off during this second edition…

The start, always an exciting moment, was given by seven previous winners of the 24 Hours who –excepting the regretted Maurice Trintignant- took part in the race: Jürgen Barth, Jean Guichet, Johnny Herbert, Phil Hill, Jean Pierre Jaussaud and Henri Pescarolo. Among the driving personalities; Mark Knopfler, Adrian Newey and the first participation of the man who was to become First Minister to Nicolas Sarkozy, François Fillon.

The car bearing the colours of Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque gives a humoristic note to this second edition. Stylist Chantal Thomass takes the relay from photographer Bettina Rheims (in 2002) for the decoration of an extremely glamorous E-Type!

A new record is broken with the highest bid in a European auction for the Bentley Speed 6 built in 1930 and winner at Le Mans the same year.

The Clubs and Le Mans 24H Club (to become the Le Mans Heritage Club) pay tribute to Panhard for the first edition contests takeoff. The results can be seen by clicking on the links (see below).

Le Mans Classic 2004 in a few figures:

18 races in 24 Hours
50 Jeep shuttles for the drivers
130 chassis having raced in the 24 Hour of Le Mans
350 legendary racing cars
700 mechanics
900 drivers
900 race stewards
4,000 club cars - becoming the largest European club meeting
13,000 sq m of tents
Over 50,000 spectators

All won a prize in their field

On the track

Position	Team	Drivers	Cars
1	25	Cointreau Bessade/Laurent/Magnin Leventis/Dron Bessade/Aguilar/Mahul Luco/Barth/Crubile Luco/Barth/Crubile	Bugatti 51 1930 Gordini T24s 1953 Ferrari 246 S 1960 Cd Lm 64 1964 Porsche 908/3 1971 Porsche 936 1977
2	21	Fabri/Stoop Fabri/Stoop Guichet/Guichet Noblet/Prunet Thadani Macaluso/Wang	Aston Martin Ulster 1935 Aston Martin Db 3 S 1955 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Szt 1960 Ferrari 275 Gtb 1965 Ferrari 275 Gtb/C 1966 Ferrari 308 Gt4 Le Mans 1974
3	10	Frankel Flood/Markey Chiles/Ingram Chiles/Ingram Sheldon Keiner/Johnson/Scalli	Bentley 3 Litres 1926 Austin Healey 100 1954 Austin Healey 3000 1961 Ford Gt 40 1965 Chevron B 16 1970 Porsche 911 Rsr 3,0l 1974

For all 2004 race results, click here.

Clubs Contest

Position	Club	Representative(s)
1	RENAULT	Christian Schmaltz
2	PORSCHE	Vincent Flandin
3	BENTLEY	David J Rolfe David Benson

For all Club Contest 2004 results, click here.

Le Mans 24H Club (to become Le Mans Heritage Club)

Theme - Panhard-powered cars

	Car	Representative
1	Panhard Le Mans 1951	M. Lesueur
2	Panhard Coupé 1954	M. Coural
3	Panhard Monopole LM 1955	M. Deligny

Jury Special Prize

	Car	Representative
	Lorraine Dietrich B3/6 LM 1926	P. Leroux

For further results of the Le Mans 24H Club 2004 contest, click here.