The 1966 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is famous for the fierce battle between Ford and Ferrari, marking the first victory for the American manufacturer. This race, worthy of a Hollywood script (as seen in the movie “Le Mans ’66” with Matt Damon and Christian Bale), was also notable for other firsts and unique stories. Here they are.
When the 200 km/h average speed barrier was broken… The first victory of an American manufacturer at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was also, symbolically, the first for a V8 engine! In 1966, the event celebrated a “double first.” The lap record was broken that year, with Dan Gurney covering the 13.461 km circuit, used since 1956, at an average speed of over 230 km/h. Specifically, he clocked 3’30″6, averaging 230.103 km/h.
In the race, the winners crossed the finish line at an average speed of over 200 km/h. Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon completed 359 laps, covering 4,843.09 km at an average speed of 201.795 km/h. A symbolic milestone, now surpassed at every edition.
The 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans also marked the rise of Porsche. Behind Ford’s procession and the constructor’s triple triumph, Porsche stood out. Five of the seven cars entered finished the race, with the German manufacturer occupying the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th places. Porsche once again won the performance index, thanks to a streamlined 906/6 (906/6LH No. 30).
In GT, we witnessed the very first victory of a Porsche 911. Yes, in 1966, the iconic model participated in the race for the first time. It has since become the model with the most starts. This first victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans was achieved by a French duo, Jacques Dewez and Jean Kerguen, their 911S being entered under the “J. Franc” banner. The only car in the GT 2.0L category, the Porsche was clearly the closest to a production car on the grid. This gave ideas to many, with four 911S cars starting in 1967. The enthusiasm quickly spread to the 911T, with seven examples starting in 1969. The beginnings of a lineage that still races today.
The 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans saw renowned newcomers taking the track. That year, the world’s greatest and most beautiful automobile race welcomed 55 competitors. Among the debuting brands were Bizzarini, Serenissima, Chaparral, and Matra!
For Bizzarini, the baptism of fire quickly turned into a nightmare. At the start, with drivers running to their cars, Edgar Berney was overly enthusiastic, spinning out just as everyone took off. The car did not shine afterwards, retiring after just two hours and eight laps.
The Serenissima Jungla GT Spyder completed 40 laps. A brief stint for Jean-Claude Sauer and Jean de Mortemart, mirroring the short-lived Formula 1 adventure of the brand (seven Grands Prix between 1961 and 1962).
Hill and Bonnier shared the wheel of a Chaparral 2D, victorious a few weeks earlier at the Nürburgring. The car retired due to electrical issues, not troubled by its unique feature: an automatic transmission coupled with a 5.4L Chevrolet V8 engine.
Matra made its debut with three cars: the Matra 620s with BRM V8 engines. None of these cars made it through the night. However, Henri Pescarolo made his first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The same goes for his teammate, the late Jean-Pierre Jaussaud. While Jaussaud has 13 participations (like Jürgen Barth or Lucien Bianchi), “Pesca” holds the record with 33 starts at the 24 Hours of Le Mans!
French small-displacement cars were also in the spotlight in 1966. Behind the six cars entered by Ferrari, the eight MKII prototypes, and the five Ford GT40s, French colors shone at Le Mans. Alpine-Renault and the CD Peugeot SP66, powered by Peugeot engines, enlivened the race for “small displacement” prototypes, less powerful than the American and Italian monsters.
The Société des Automobiles Alpine won the 1.3L prototype category, with the A210 dominating its class and outpacing the charming Marcos Mini Marcos GT 2+2 driven by Claude Ballot-Léna and Jean-Louis Marnat, as well as an Austin-Healey Sprite Le Mans from across the Channel.
For the three CD Peugeot SP66 cars, the race was more challenging, but Charles Deutsch’s creations attracted enthusiasts. Under the hood were engines from the Peugeot 204, with a displacement of 1,130 cm³, unofficially supported by the Lion brand. With a total power of around 110 hp, which might seem amusing, the Peugeot CD SP66 could slice through the air at 250 km/h on the Hunaudières. A feat made possible by a reduced weight of 760 kg and meticulous aerodynamics, with a drag coefficient of 0.20. A symbol of French engineering, a pioneer.
Finally, let us recall that the CD Peugeot SP66 returned to the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans circuit during Le Mans Classic 2022, thanks to L’Aventure Peugeot, which entered the vintage prototype. Relive the moment by clicking “Play” below.
Text: Geoffroy Barre
Photos: Ford, Ferrari, DR, and
