In the mid-1980s, the TWR Jaguar team launched a big offensive to bring to an end Porsche's domination at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which included remaining undefeated since 1981. The British marque recruited not only experts in endurance racing but young talents from single-seaters, paving the way for Jan Lammers, Johnny Dumfries and Martin Brundle to achieve the greatest wins of their careers.

Jan Lammers heading into his 24th start - Formula 3 European Champion in 1978, Jan Lammers moved into Formula 1 the very next year, participating in 21 Grand Prix from 1979 to 1982. He debuted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1983 at the wheel of a Porsche 956, then served as a factory Jaguar TWR driver from 1987 to 1990, winning the race in 1988 along with Johnny Dumfries and Andy Wallace. From 2001 to 2007, Lammers was the team owner of and driver with Racing For Holland. During that time, the checkered flag livery of his Dome prototypes powered by Judd was very popular with spectators and photographers. In 2017, he competed in the LMP2 class at the wheel of a Dallara he shared with a famous, newly retired Formula 1 driver, Rubens Barrichello from Brazil. This year, Jan Lammers will celebrate his 62nd birthday on Test Day weekend and is set to take the start at his 24th 24 Hours of Le Mans two weeks later!

Jan Lammers (born June 2, 1956) - 23 participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1983 to 2017 (1 win in 1988), 23 Grand Prix from 1979 to 1992.

Johnny Dumfries and Martin Brundle, victory for Jaguar - In addition to giving Jaguar a win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, these two men also have in common legend Ayrton Senna. In 1983, Martin Brundle was his fiercest rival for the British Formula 3 title. In 1986, Johnny Dumfries was the Brazilian driver's teammate in Formula 1 with Lotus. Dumfries and Brundle participated in their first 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1987: the first at the wheel of a Kouros-Mercedes, the second already with Jaguar by then. Dumfries joined the British manufacturer the following year, and won the race, before representing Toyota from 1989 to 1991. In 1990, Martin Brundle finished his first 24 Hours...on the top step of the podium, along with Danish driver John Nielsen and American driver Price Cobb. The pole sitter at the 1999 edition, he took part in the race in 2012 with his son Alex who has gone on to become a major player in the LMP2 class. After 12 seasons in Formula 1, Martin Brundle is now a very popular consulting analyst on television. A member of one of the oldest and richest aristocratic families in the U.K., after retiring as a driver Johnny Dumfries readopted his given name, John Crichton-Stuart, seventh Marquis of Bute.

Johnny Dumfries (born April 26, 1958) - 5 participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1 win in 1988), 15 Grand Prix in 1986.

Martin Brundle (born June 1, 1959) - 8 participations in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (1 win in 1990, 1 pole position in 1999), 158 Grand Prix from 1984 to 1996 (9 podiums).

 

PHOTO: Thirty years after his win, Dutch driver Jan Lammers will hit the track this year in the LMP2 class for his 24th start at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.