Behind the scenes: Le Mans 1983
The second year of Group C, 1983, brought a tense Le Mans finish, with Al Holbert’s overheating 956 chased by Derek Bell. For Geoff Mitchell’s first trip here, it was some debut
![T-Bird-Swap-Shop-Porsche-956](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/T-Bird-Swap-Shop-Porsche-956-800x449.jpg)
Undressed T-Bird Swap Shop 956 run by John Fitzpatrick Racing for Preston Henn, Jean-Louis Schlesser and Claude Ballot-Léna.
![Vern Schuppan, Hurley Haywood and Al Holbert celebrate](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Vern-Schuppan-Hurley-Haywood-and-Al-Holbert-celebrate-800x449.jpg)
Vern Schuppan, Hurley Haywood and Al Holbert celebrate a close-run victory after their 956 engine seized but restarted
![Pace Lap towards 4pm green flag](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Pace-Lap-towards-4pm-green-flag-800x450.jpg)
Pulse rates of crowd and drivers peak as the pace car leads the field towards the 4pm green flag
![Fiat Miniforis two wheeled stunt](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Fiat-Miniforis-two-wheeled-stunt-800x449.jpg)
Spectator protection seems completely lacking as the stunt team of the legendary Rémy Julienne does its stuff in the pitlane
![The-Dunlop-Bridge](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/The-Dunlop-Bridge-800x449.jpg)
A view you don’t often see, taken from the middle of the empty track.
![Citroen-fire-appliance](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Citroen-fire-appliance-800x451.jpg)
Citroën fire appliance obviously belonged to the local force, not to a specially trained extraction crew…
![Le Mans 1983 ticket](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Le-Mans-1983-ticket-800x825.jpg)
As this was his first Le Mans visit, Geoff has kept his precious stand tickets
![4 pm Saturday afternoon in La Sarthe](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/4-pm-Saturday-afternoon-in-La-Sarthe-800x1051.jpg)
Any vantage point is worth risking as the magic 4 o’clock approaches
![1983 old pits buildings and paddock layout](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1983-old-pits-buildings-and-paddock-layout-800x450.jpg)
In 1983 the famous circuit was still in its pre-chicane form, with the old pits buildings and paddock layout
![Lola T610 pursues the French-entered URD under Dunlop Bridge](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Lola-T61o-of-Cooke-Adams-Servanib-passing-French-entered-URD-800x450.jpg)
Cooke Racing Lola T610 pursues the French-entered URD under the famous Dunlop Bridge. The Lola broke; the URD came 14th, albeit 88 laps down on the victors
![Porsche 930 Turbo in the pits](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Porsche-930-Turbo-in-the-pits-800x1093.jpg)
Spectators cluster on the much loved old pits buildings as the Porsche 930 of Michel Lateste, Michel Bienvault and Raymond Touroul is worked on