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Added on the 18/06/2018 19:15:13 - Copyright : Auto Moto EN
"Porsche has won the 86th edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours in both the GTE-Pro and GTE-Am classes. In the factory-run Porsche 911 RSR with the starting number 92, Kévin Estre (France), Michael Christensen (Denmark) and Laurens Vanthoor (Bel-gium) crossed the finish line first in the GTE-Pro class on Sunday afternoon. Second place went to the #91 sister car driven by Richard Lietz (Austria), Frédéric Ma-kowiecki (France) and Gianmaria Bruni (Italy). In the GTE-Am class, the Porsche Young Professional Matt Campbell (Australia), Christian Ried (Germany) and Porsche Junior Julien Andlauer (France) took the flag in first place for the Porsche customer team Dempsey-Proton Racing. This makes 18-year-old Andlauer the youngest class winner in Le Mans history. Porsche celebrates class win number 106 und 107 at Le Mans in its anniversary year “70 Years Porsche Sports Cars”. “We’re absolutely delighted that we were able to come out on top in this fierce competition against five other automobile manufacturers after starting from Pole Position. These two wins underline once again why Porsche is a record-holder at Le Mans,” says Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, Vice President Motorsport and GT Cars. No other marque has secured as many successes at the world’s toughest long-distance race and is as closely linked to the legend of Le Mans as Porsche. 2013 marked the last time Porsche celebrated a double victory with the 911 RSR."
A pink car on the starting line of a race? And at one of the world's most important long-distance races to boot? This has never happened before. Wait a minute... Yes, it has happened before, in 1971! Back then, Porsche brought a special 917/20 Coupé to Le Mans. The car was a cross between a short and long-tail version. The Porsche Design Studio had it painted pink, and had the car optically divided into automotive "cuts," like on a butcher's diagram. No wonder the car caused a stir. A rather special name was quickly found for the racing car: "The sow." To this day, it remains one of Porsche's most famous cars, although it did not qualify at Le Mans. And because the sports car manufacturer is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2018, the company is once again bringing a "sow" to the starting line: the 911 RSR with the starting number 92. Even if history were to repeat itself, and this pink racing car were to drop out as well, it would not be a major drama. Rather, it would still be a self-confident appearance put in by a proud automobile manufacturer. But history did not repeat itself. On the contrary. In the Pro category, in which six manufacturers compete against each other, the "sow" finished first after 344 laps in the 86th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
To celebrate 70 years of Porsche sports cars, Porsches took 70 cars to the Le Mans race track, led by Felix Porsche riding in his grandfather’s first ever sports car.
Outstanding racing driver and exceptional person, Jacky Ickx is to be Grand Marshal of the 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans. He is as delighted to fulfil the role as he is to see Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button take part in the race. Watch this interview with him!
Watch this video covering the driver´s parade and the first stages of the 24 hours of Le Mans. In the lead is Porsche 911 RSR No. 92 - the pig.
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