61 CARS FROM 1935-1955

The line-up of cars for this year's Le Mans Legend, the Historic support race at the Le Mans 24 Hours, is looking exceptional. "Entries have far exceeded the 61 cars which can start the one-hour, two-driver race," says race organiser Duncan Wiltshire, "so we're accepting entries on the basis of provenance: cars with genuine Le Mans history, or sister cars of the same specification."

Headline entries include Sir Stirling Moss in the very first production C-type; three-times Le Mans winner and 1961 F1 World Champion Phil Hill in an ex-Fangio Alfa Romeo 3000CM; and Johnny Herbert in a 1955 Jaguar D-type.

Cars with real Le Mans history are plentiful. There's an HRG Le Mans from 1949 and a Jaguar XK120 from 1950, plus a very special XK120 LT2 from the following year. This is one of the two, lightweight XK120s with a one-piece magnesium body which Jaguar prepared for 1951 in case the C-types weren't ready. History tells us that the XK120s weren't needed - the C-types went on famously to win.

Also entered is a Gordini T23S which ran at Le Mans in 1950 and 1951, before being fitted with a larger, six-cylinder engine for 1952. In this guise it led the race for eight and a half hours before a brake problem forced retirement.

Among the later racers is a Jowett Jupiter Le Mans R1 from 1952, and the actual Hamilton-Rolt Jaguar C-type which won outright in 1953, and is now owned by Duncan Hamilton's son, Adrian. The following year, 1954, saw the first Jaguar D-types at Le Mans - and the D-type which came second overall that year is entered in the Le Mans Legend, along with the Porsche 550 RS which came 12th. And from 1955 there's a Frazer Nash Sebring and a Triumph TR2. The TR2 finished 19th - and last! - that year, and will be driven in 2005 by Tony Dron, Triumph's last ever works racing driver.

Dron is also one of the many drivers who is a veteran of the modern 24 Hours. Other veterans include Nick Faure, who will be driving a 1953 Porsche 356 in the Le Mans Legend, and 25-year-old Gavin Pickering - who already has three modern Le Mans under his belt. There's also Nick Mason, better known as Pink Floyd's drummer than a Le Mans racer, although Mason competed in the modern 24 Hours five times between 1979 and 1984.

Meanwhile Stuart Graham, who will take the wheel of a 1955 Austin-Healey 100S, had an illustrious early career on both two wheels and four. Barrie 'Whizzo' Williams is down to drive two cars in the race: a Jaguar D-type and an Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar XK120. And as long-time Lotus enthusiast Malcolm Ricketts races his 1955 Lotus IX, he will no doubt be remembering that this is the 50th anniversary of Lotus's debut at Le Mans.

On Saturday 18th June 2005, a few hours before the start of the Le Mans 24 Hours, 61 cars from the 1935-1955 era will compete in the Le Mans Legend: a one-hour, two-driver race on the full 8.5-mile circuit. The Le Mans Legend is run by Motor Racing Legends, in partnership with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 

Race No./Marque/Model/CC/Year/Entrant/Driver 1/Driver 2

Class 1 - 1935-1939 2000cc and BelowMGK312711934Dean ButlerDean ButlerMartin WalfordAston MartinUlster14951935Jim CampbellJim CampbellAndy BellAston MartinUlster14951935Nick MasonNick MasonAnnette MasonAston MartinSpeed Model19501936Michael DeeMichael DeeTBAAston MartinSpeed Model19701936David FreemanDavid FreemanRussell BurstAston MartinSpeed Model19501937Richard LakeRichard LakeJane VarleyBMW32820001937Friedhelm TangFriedhelm TangAlbert OttenBMW32819711938Michael ParrMichael ParrMorgan4/410981938Adrian Van der KroftAdrian van der KroftBMW32819711939Alastair PughAlastair PughSteve Stanton Class 2 - 1935-1939 2001cc and AboveTalbot  105 Alpine33001934John RustonGareth BurnettTBALagondaV12 Le Mans45001938Mark ButterworthMark ButterworthTBALagondaV12 Le Mans45001938Clifford HardingClifford HardingDavid Brock-JestTalbot LagoT150C39961939Toby HeelisToby HeelisPeter Swete Class 3 - 1949-1953 2000cc and BelowHRGLe Mans14961947David LaingDavid LaingWilliam MahanyFrazer NashLe Mans Replica19711949Nick MasonNick MasonAnnette MasonFrazer NashMille Miglia19711951Philip ChampionPhilip ChampionChris ChilcottJowettLe Mans R114981952Peter DixonDon HandsH DixonFrazer NashLe Mans Replica19711952Andrew HallAndrew HallPeter BradfieldFrazer NashLe Mans Coupe19711952Andy HodgeAndy HodgeJon GrossPorsche35615001953Richard ClarkRichard ClarkAndrew PrillOscaMT4 2AD14971953Roger EarlRoger EarlGavin PickeringKieft Bristol2 litre sport19711953Michael ErlichMichael ErlichTBAPorsche356 Pre-A15001953Nick FaureNick FaureChris ChilesFrazer NashLe Mans Replica19711953Colin PearcyColin PearcyRicard CabburnFiat8V19971953Anthony PickeringTony PickeringRoger EarlClass 4 - 1949-1953 2001cc and AboveJaguarXK12034421950John FosterJohn FosterWilliam FosterGordini

26001950Eddie McGuireEddie McGuireJaguarXK120 LT234001951Chris JaquesR NewallColin YouleAllardJ254001951Albert OttenAlbert OttenMichael Windsor-PriceJaguarXK12034001951Dick SkipworthBarrie WilliamsStephen SkipworthJaguarC-type34001952Neil HadfieldNeil HadfieldTBAJaguarC-type34421952Nigel WebbNigel WebbSir Stirling MossAlfa Romeo3000 CM35001953Lawrence AurianaPhil HillJoe ColasaccoAston MartinDB 2/429951953Donald FlattDonald FlattPeter FlattJaguarC-type34421953Adrian HamiltonGary PearsonJaguarC-type34421953David WenmanDavid WenmanJulian BronsonLanciaAurelia B2024581954Bertrand LeseurBertrand LeseurClass 5 - 1954-1955 2000cc and BelowFrazer NashSebring19711954William AinscoughWilliam AinscoughJames BaxterPorsche550 RS15001954Claude Ruiz-PicassoClaude Ruiz-PicassoLotusIX10971955Richard AshmeadRichard AshmeadPeter Colborne-BaberMGA14981955Stephen DixonBarry Sidery-SmithTBAMGA14981955Philippe DouchetPhilippe DouchetTriumphTR219911955Jan PearceTony DronNick MarshLotusIX11001955Pierre PinelliPierre PinelliPierre BrouillardLotusIX10981955Malcolm RickettsMalcolm RickettsClass 6 - 1954-1955 2001cc and AboveFerrari375 Coupe50001954Sir Anthony BamfordJo BamfordAlain de CadenetJaguarD-type34001954Peter NeumarkPeter NeumarkMark GriffithsLagondaV12  47311954Bryan WingfieldTom McWhirterDarren McWhirterJaguarD-type34421955Sir Anthony BamfordWillie GreenFerrari750 Monza30001955Craig DavisRick HallRob HallJaguarD-type34421955Benjamin EastickBenjamin EastickTBAJaguarD-type34421955Johnny HerbertJohnny HerbertMaserati300S29911955Joseph KosterJoseph KosterTBAAston MartinDB3/S29921955Martin McGloneMartin McGloneChristopher CleggFerrari750 Monza30001955Carlos MonteverdeCarlos MonteverdeMaserati300S30001955Hugh TaylorHugh TaylorNeil TwymanAustin-Healey100S26601955Robert WaterhouseStuart GrahamJaguarD-type34421956David WenmanBarrie WilliamsJohn Harper