24h Le Mans
Will Fernando Alonso become the fifth Formula 1 World Champion to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans? As we wait to find out on either June 17, 2018 or June 16, 2019, the dates of the two editions in the upcoming FIA WEC Super Season, here is a look back at 10 other times remarkable drivers were able to achieve this exceptional feat.
- In the history of motorsport, only four drives have won both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the world title: (in chronological order of Le Mans victories) the Brit Mike Hawthorn, the American Phil Hill, the Austrian Jochen Rindt and the Brit Graham Hill. They boast six wins among them.
- Of the four drivers, the most active at the 24 Hours is Phil Hill with 14 starts, followed by Graham Hill (10 participations), Mike Hawthorn (5) and Jochen Rindt (4).
- Jochen Rindt is the youngest winner, claiming the top step on the podium in 1965 at the age of 23. Phil Hill won the first of his three victories at 31, and Mike Hawthorn and Graham Hill were 26 and 43 respectively for their wins in 1955 and 1972.
- Mike Hawthorn, Phil Hill and Jochen Rindt all won Le Mans prior to winning their Formula 1 world title. After reaching the top step on the 24 Hours podium in 1955, Hawthorn earned the F1 title in 1958. That year Phil Hill won the first of his three Le Mans victories three years before clinching his Formula 1 world title. Jochen Rindt won the 24 Hours in 1965 then the title in 1970.
- On the other hand, Graham Hill won Le Mans in 1972 toward the end of his career. He is also the only two-time Formula 1 World Champion (1962 and 1968) to win the 24 Hours, and also the only one to win all three major circuit races: in order, Monaco, Indianapolis and Le Mans.
- His American namesake Phil Hill achieved an extraordinary feat in 1961, winning in the same year the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Formula 1 world title.
- In 1958, Mike Hawthorn became the first Brit to win the Formula 1 title, and Phil Hill the first American to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- In 1965, Jochen Rindt - along with American driver Masten Gregory - won the ninth and still to this day final overall victory for Ferrari at the 24 Hours. Of the nine wins, three others are credited to Phil Hill and his Belgian teammate Olivier Gendebien (in 1958, 1961 and 1962).
- Among the four F1 World Champions/24 Hours of Le Mans winners, Graham Hill racked up the most F1 victories for a total of 14. Jochen Rindt follows with six, then Mike Hawthorn and Phil Hill with three each.
- None of the four drivers won the 24 Hours for their first participation. Mike Hawthorn, Phil Hill, Jochen Rindt and Graham Hill reached the top step on the podium for their second, fifth, second and 10th starts, respectively. In case of victory in 2018, Fernando Alonso will become the first F1 World Champion to win the 24 Hours as a rookie, and also the Le Mans winner with the most victories in Formula 1 (32 to date).
