General information
Date: 15 and 16 June 1935
Weather: showers
Number of starters: 58
Number of abandons: 30
Start: signal given by Daniel Boutet – French State Councillor, and Raoul Dautry, Managing Director of the French national railway company at the time

Key facts:
Having won the race every year since 1931, Alfa Romeo started out as favourite. They were competing against Bugatti, Riley, Lagonda, Singer, MG, Fiat, Delahaye and Frazer Nash. Lord Howe grabbed the best qualifying time in one of the Alfas.

The track was soaking wet as the race started. Raymond Sommer (Alfa) moved straight past the other drivers to take the lead but had to abandon later when hit by fuel supply problems.

Seven hours into the race, Hindmarsh and Fontes (Lagonda) were in the lead but, half-way through, Howe and Lewis overtook them in their Alfa. In the early morning, two of the Alfas broke down, leaving just one in the race. It was still in the lead, however, with Stoffel and Deyfus (Heldé) at the wheel. The Lagonda fought back and with six hours to go, it moved back to the front.

Suddenly, in the final hour, Fontes called into the pits with oil pressure issues. He returned to the race but at a slower pace, still two laps in front of the Alfa, which then started its attack.

With just 20 minutes to go, the commentator announced that Heldé had moved in front of the Lagonda to put the Alfa in the lead. To spare his mechanics, he was advised to ease off the pace. However, with a mere 5 minutes of the race left, the officials realised there had been a mistake and reviewed the standings. The Alfa wasn't in the lead ... it was 8 km behind the Lagonda! It was too late. Despite finishing slowly, the British car won the race with an 8 km lead.

Key figures:
The first and only victory of a Lagonda (FS. Hindmarsh/L. Fontes), which won half a lap ahead of the Alfa Romeo, unbeaten since 1931.
Surprisingly, the winning Lagonda was red and not "British racing green".
Luis Fontès was 21 years old when he became the youngest driver to win the 24 Hours!
Victory in the "Index of Performance" and the Biennial Cup for Aston Martin
A record that remains unbeaten to date: 10 women started the race and 7 of them finished! Among them, Anne-Cecile Rose-Itier was the highest ranked, finishing 18th in a Fiat.

The winners:
Overall: LAGONDA Rapide driven by J. Hindmarsh and L. Fontes, 3,006.797 km covered at an average speed of 125.283 km/h.
Gap between 1st and 2nd place: 8.489 km
Best race lap time: 5:47.9 for Lord Howe (GB) in the Alfa Romeo 8C.
Winner of the "Index of Performance": Aston Martin Ulster driven by C. Martin and C. Brackenbury
Biennial Cup winner: Aston Martin Ulster driven by C. Martin and C. Brackenbury

David Bristol/ACO           Translated from French by Clair Pickworth
Based on some very valuable information provided by the association Infos-Course

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), 24-HOUR CIRCUIT, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY 16 JUNE 1935, RACE. The Lagonda n°4 heads to victory in 1935.