You were there: 1969 Le Mans 24 Hours
A Le Mans for the ages
Tim Marshall
In May 1969, Tim Marshall witnessed one of the all-time great Le Mans 24 Hours, featuring Jacky Ickx’s safety protest and a Ford victory by mere feet after a fierce duel with a Porsche.
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Dunlop Bridge](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mans-24-Hours-Dunlop-Bridge-800x534.jpg)
Hans Herrmann was delayed 20 minutes with suspension problems, forcing the Porsche crew into a knife-edge recovery drive
Tim Marshall
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours spectator's car](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mans-24-Hours-spectators-car-800x534.jpg)
Not everyone drove to the race in impressive machinery – and this one made it from England!
Tim Marshall
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Siffert Redman Porsche](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mans-24-Hours-Siffert-Redman-Porsche-800x534.jpg)
Siffert and Redman briefly led in their Porsche 908 until an oil leak began
Tim Marshall
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Alpine A210 pits](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mand-24-Hours-Alpine-A210-pits-800x534.jpg)
All hands to the engine bay – but the gasket’s gone on the Alpine A210’s Renault engine. LeGuellec and Tramont are out after two hours
Tim Marshall
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Ickx winning car](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mans-24-Hours-Ickx-winning-car-800x534.jpg)
Despite Ickx’s protest walk, and the car’s age, it would prove a second victory for chassis 1075
Tim Marshall
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Porsche v Ford](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mans-24-Hours-Porsche-v-Ford-800x534.jpg)
The Porsche 908LH coupé of Hans Herrmann and Gérard Larrousse would battle Ford for victory, finishing second
Tim Marshall
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Scuderia Filipinetti Corvette](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mans-24-Hours-Scuderia-Filipinetti-Corvette-800x412.jpg)
Scuderia Filipinetti’s Corvette retired with a gearbox problem.
Tim Marshall
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Jean Egreteaud Porsche 911T](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mans-24-Hours-Jean-Egreteaud-Porsche-911T-800x534.jpg)
Privateer Porsche 911T of Jean Egreteaud crashed out late on
Tim Marshall
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Jacky Ickx Jackie Oliver](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mans-24-Hours-Jacky-Ickx-Jackie-Oliver--800x534.jpg)
Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver beat Porsche to take the closest win ever in the JW GT40
Tim Marshall
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Matra](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mans-24-Hours-Matra-800x534.jpg)
Fourth and fifth for Matra, with Galli and Widdows, below, seventh, was a disappointment for the huge organisation
Tim Marshall
![1969 Le Mans 24 Hours Alan Mann GT40 in pits](https://msm.tjlabs.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/1969-Le-Mans-24-Hours-Alan-Mann-GT40-in-pits-800x534.jpg)
Overheating ended the hopes of Gardner and Guthrie in their Alan Mann GT40
Tim Marshall