McLaren Fourth In Le Mans

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31394, 13 June 1967, Page 15

McLaren Fourth In Le Mans

(NZ.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

LE MANS.

A Ford won the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race for the second successive year after one of the most tense battles in the event’s 44-year history.

The winning car was driven by D. Gurney, the grand prix driver, and A. J. Foyt, three times winner of the Indianapolis 500.

Another Ford, driven by B. R. McLaren (New Zealand) and M. Donohue (United States) finished fourth in spite of a , delay in the pits for repairs to the car’s bodywork. Gurney and Foyt led from the second hour until the end. Foyt, competing for the first time, is the only man to have won the Le Mans 24-Hour and the Indianapolis. In Running

Although a monster, sevenlitre Ford came out the winner the second year running

in the merciless contest against Ferraris, of Italy, a Ferrari victory was possible until the very end. Second and third places went to Ferrari, which had a six-year monopoly at Le Mans until Fords took the first three places last year. The four4itr e Ferrari which finished second was driven by L. Scarfiotti and M. Parkes, (Britain). Third, in a Belgian-entered four-litre Ferrari, were W. Mairesse (Belgium) and J. Beurlys (France). A multiple crash put out three of the seven-litre Ford prototypes during the night when they were lying second, sixth and ninth. This left the Gurney-Foyt and McLaren-Donohue cars as the only Ford challengers for victory. Car Patched The McLaren-Donohue Ford dropped back when part of its fibreglass body was torn off by the stress of 200 m.p.h. driving. A long pit stop was needed to patch up the car with glue and adhesive tape.

Gurney and Foyt, with several hours still to run, were out in front with no. other Ford to support them. They thundered on to be applauded by the 400,000 crowd as they crossed the line for victory.

The winning car covered a record distance of 3251.01 miles to avenge 135.956 m.p.h. The distance separating the winning Ford from the second placed Ferrari was only 32 miles—or 1 per cent of the distance covered In the 24 hours. Big Threat The weird-looking American Chaparral—the “Batmobile”—driven by P. Hill (United States) and M. Spence (Britain) provided the greatest threat in the middle stages, but it was retired with an automatic transmission fault

Mr F. Lini, manager of the Ferrari team, said: “I am not too disappointed and I don’t think there will be any major car modifications because of Ford’s success.”

Sixteen or the 54 starters were officially classified as finishers. Results:—

Ford, D. Gurney and A. J. Foyt (United States), 325« miles, average X 35.482 miles an hour record distance and speed, 1; Ferrari, L. Scarfiotti (Italy) and M. Parkes (Britain). 3219 miles. 2; Ferrari, W, Mairesse (Belgium) and J. Beurlys (France), 3159 miles, 3; Ford, B. McLaren (New Zealand) and M. Donohue (United States), 3009 miles, 4; Porsche, J. Slffert (Switzerland) and H. Hermann (West Germany), 3001 miles. 5; Porsche, R. Stommelen and J. Neerpasch (West Germany), 2942 miles, 6.

Index of performance (based on car’s performance in relation to its engine size):— Porsche, , two-litre (Slffert-Her-manh), 1; Ferrari, four-litre (Scarfiotti-Parkes), 2; Porsche, two-Utra (Stommelen-Neerpasch)

Index of thermal efficiency (based on fuel consumption In relation to speed and weight).— Ford seven litre (Gurney-Foyt) 1. Porsche two litre (SlffertHerrman) 2, Renault Alpina 1.3 litre (A. de Cortnaza-A. Le Guellec, France), 3.

Fastest lap: Hum* (Ford) and Andretti (Ford), both 3:32.8 sec average; 147.394 mllea an hour, an absolute record.