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.
Hans Herrmann was delayed 20 minutes with suspension problems, forcing the Porsche crew into a knife-edge recovery drive
Tim Marshall
Not everyone drove to the race in impressive machinery – and this one made it from England!
Tim Marshall
Siffert and Redman briefly led in their Porsche 908 until an oil leak began
Tim Marshall
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
Despite Ickx’s protest walk, and the car’s age, it would prove a second victory for chassis 1075
Tim Marshall
The Porsche 908LH coupé of Hans Herrmann and Gérard Larrousse would battle Ford for victory, finishing second
Tim Marshall
Scuderia Filipinetti’s Corvette retired with a gearbox problem.
Tim Marshall
Privateer Porsche 911T of Jean Egreteaud crashed out late on
Tim Marshall
Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver beat Porsche to take the closest win ever in the JW GT40
Tim Marshall
Fourth and fifth for Matra, with Galli and Widdows, below, seventh, was a disappointment for the huge organisation
Tim Marshall
Overheating ended the hopes of Gardner and Guthrie in their Alan Mann GT40
Tim Marshall