24h Le Mans
As Porsche’s 70th-anniversary year draws to an end, we celebrate the magnificent exhibition currently at the 24 Hours of Le Mans museum (until 24 February 2019) with a series about the emblematic marque. Following the superb conference recently held at the museum, this episode focuses on Porsche’s first outright win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Prior to the 1958 race, Porsche had already amassed seven class wins since its maiden Le Mans in 1951. The iconic 550 entered in 1953 was the first Porsche specifically designed for racing and the car in which world-renowned film star James Dean died in 1955.
The 718 RSK which won Le Mans in 1958 was first raced in La Sarthe the previous year and evolved from the 550, the significant changes being lighter weight and updated suspension.
A triumph at Le Mans often means braving the elements. In 1958, the weather was stormy for 15 of the 24 hours! Despite a drenched track, brake issues and a consequently slippery ride, Porsche placed two 718 RSKs and a 550 in the top five, behind Ferrari and Aston Martin.
Following instructions from Huschke von Hanstein, competition manager and astute marketeer, the three Porsches crossed the finish line together.
The result augured well for all three crews. Paul Frère and Hans Herrmann went on to win in 1960 and 1970 respectively, Frère with Ferrari and Herrmann with Porsche, the marque’s first outright win. Dutch gentleman driver Carel Godin de Beaufort had a successful career, always at the wheel of a Porsche, while Jean Behra goes down in history as one of the best French drivers of the post-war era.
Mechanic turned driver, Herbert Linge raced his maiden 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1958 and went on to claim five class wins with Porsche. In 1970, he made a key contribution to Steve McQueen’s film Le Mans. He and Jonathan Williams shared the wheel of the Porsche 908 which was fitted with onboard cameras to shoot the race scenes.
In 1958, Behra/Herrmann and Barth/Frère won the 2-litre and 1.5-litre classes, taking the Porsche tally of class wins to nine. It took the German manufacturer another ten years to claim its first Le Mans 24 Hours pole position. But that’s a story for another day!
Photos (Copyright ACO Archives) - Jean Behra-Hans Herrmann (#29), Edgar Barth-Paul Frère (#31) and Carel Godin de Beaufort-Herbert Linge (#32) finished in the top five and Jacques Dewes-Jean Kerguen (#34) finished tenth overall at the 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans.
