Six snapshots from the 24 Hours of Le Mans through the years (1)
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Six snapshots from the 24 Hours of Le Mans through the years (1)

For this summer series, let's take a look a closer look at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and some extraordinary stories at different moments in its history. The focus of this first installment was a standout year. Welcome back to 1950.

A bridge through time - In 1978, the Dunlop Bridge was moved to its current location. Recall after the tragedy that befell the 1955 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the gangway was displaced 40 meters inward as a result of the modification of the curve. The 2018 photo shows French team IDEC Sport's #48 ORECA 07-Gibson on the hill. Driven by Paul-Loup Chatin, Paul Lafargue and Memo Rojas, the car secured the pole in the LMP2 class and was a contender for a podium finish before being forced to retire with gearbox problems.

The 1950 24 Hours of Le Mans - Held 24-25 June, the 18th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans was won by Louis and Jean-Louis Rosier at the wheel of a Talbot-Lago. It was the only time in the history of the race that a father/son driver line-up has claimed the top step on the podium. Talbot-Lago even scored a one-two thanks to two private driver line-ups: the Rosier family and in second place Pierre Meyrat-Guy Mairesse. American sportsman Briggs Cunningham fielded two stunning Cadillacs: a Coupe de Ville and a Spider, nicknamed "Little Clumsy" and "The Monster" respectively, finishing 10th and 11th in order.

Motorsport in 1950 - The World Constructors Championship was created in 1950 as the first incarnation of the Formula 1 World Championship. The first title-winner was Italian driver Giuseppe "Nino" Farina with Alfa Romeo. Two-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner (1932-1933), French driver Raymond Sommer passed away on 10 September during a race at Cadours in southwestern France.

1950, a year for talent - The world was given many of its future rock and pop artists that year. Among them: Steve Hackett (12 February), Peter Gabriel (13 February), Tony Banks (27 March) and Mike Rutherford (2 October) from the legendary group Genesis, Steven Van Zandt the famous guitarist in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band (22 November), Stevie Wonder (13 May), Tom Petty (20 October 1950-2 October 2017) and Agnetha Fältskog from ABBA (5 April).

 

 

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