Le Mans

24 Hours - a gruelling test of man & machine. From the very early beginnings to present day - Bentley to Porsche.

SILVER STEED - The curvaceous 356 awaits the start of the 1953 Vingt Quatre Heures du Mans.

CLARK WAITS TO JUMP IN TO THE ASTON MARTIN DBR1/300 - He shared the car with Roy Salvadori and finished a creditable third overall.

MARKO SITS PATIENTLY IN THE WINNING CAR - Marko and van Lennep won for the Martini International Racing Team.

A MURKY START - The winning XK-120C sits towards the centre of the image (number 20).

J. W. AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING - David Yorke prepares to set 'Herbie' Muller on his way to second at Le Mans in 1971.

AN ALL BRITISH VICTORY - Sadly their win was marred in controvesy in what is still regarded as the worst motor racing disaster.

S.P.A. ALFA ROMEO - This was the reserve car for the Italian squad and sadly did not participate despite passing scrutineering.

MARANELLO CONCESSIONAIRES - Hill shared the gorgeous 330 P with Jo Bonnier and finished runner-up in the 1964 24 Hour Le Mans.

HERCULEAN EFFORT - Chinetti drove for 22.5 hours of the 24, giving him his third victory, this time with Lord Selsdon.

THE CATS PURR BEFORE THE OFF - Moss and Walker's D-type ahead of Rolt/Hamilton and Whitehead/Wharton in similar cars.

REFUELLING A PORSCHE 917K - The second placed car is refuelled at the Le Mans 24 Hours of 1971, with David Yorke presiding.

VICTORIOUS SCUDERIA - A lovely image of the winning Ferrari 375 Plus at the 1954 Vingt Quatre Heures du Mans.

ECURIE ECOSSE - Flockhart leaves his starting number block to jump in to his Ecurie Ecosse entered Tojeiro-Jaguar at Le Mans in 1959.

FORD LINE-UP - The winning Ford as entered by Shelby American Inc and driven by Americans Gurney and Foyt at the 1967 24 Hours.

MULSANNE CORNER - Barnato rounds the Mulsanne corner winning the 1929 race in his Bentley Speed Six, 'Old Number One', with Henry 'Tim' Birkin.

STIRLING MOSS - Moss and co-driver, Peter Walker, finished a creditable second overall at Le Mans in 1953, in their beautiful C-type.

WINNING DRIVER - Gendebien runs to his Ferrari (out of picture) that he shared with Phil Hill to win the 1962 race. Number three is a Maserati Tipo 151.

COBRA POWER - Number four of Hugus and Jopp sits alongside the sister car of Sanderson and Bolton at the 1963 race.

MIRAGE - Another great pit shot this time featuring the Mirage M1 of Ickx and Muir. It failed to trouble the lap timers!

DRIVER CHANGE - Attwood exits the Gulf sponsored 917K, as 'Herbie' Muller prepares for another stint. They finished second behind the Martini entered 917K.

SPARTACO DINI - What a name! Dini, partnered by Facetti finished fifth overall in the 1968 race.

WORKING THROUGH THE NIGHT - Privateers Piper and Attwood finished a creditable seventh at the 1968 Vingt Quatre Heures du Mans.

DAVID BROWN LOOKS ON - Privateers Baillie and Fairman finished ninth overall in their Aston Martin DBR1/300 during the 1960 race.

PORSCHE 917K LINE-UP - The J. W. Automotive Engineering Ltd cars of Hobbs/Hailwwod, Rodriguez/Kinnunen and Siffert/Redman.

CUNNINGHAM BRUTE - The Chrysler powered Cunningham, entered by Briggs Cunningham, finished tenth overall at the 1953 Le Mans.

AFTERSHAVE SPONSORSHIP - Jules sponsored the winning Porsche of Bell and Ickx, a classic winning combination, during the 1981 24 Hour race.

STREAMLINED STRIPES - An unusual view of the winning Ford Mk 1V. Le Mans 1967 is where Champagne was first sprayed by the victors.

DREARY LE MANS - A Gendarme looks wet and weary at Le Mans in 1977 as a Porsche 934 speeds past in the drizzle.

PREVIOUS DISTANCE RECORD - The 917K of Marko and van Lennep covered over 5,000 kms, a distance record that stood for thirty-nine years until Audi in 2010.

FILM STAR ATTRACTION - Film star, Paul Newman, shared this bright red 935 with pro driver Stommelen and car owner Barbour. where they finished second.

LULL BEFORE THE STORM - The Kremer Porsche 935 of Ludwig and the Whittington brothers won the 1979 edition of the Vinght Quatre Heures du Mans.

SCREAMING ROTARY - German Weidler negotiates the Ford Chicane on his way to a memorable victory in 1991. The sound of the rotary engine was unforgettable.

1-2-3 CLEAN SWEEP - Porsche System finished in the first three places, with the Ickx/Bell car crossing the line first.

CLEAR THE WAY! - Scuderia Filipinetti enterened this Ford GT40 in their classic colours of red, with white stripes.

LIGHTS PIERCING THE GLOOM - The shrill Peugeot 905 Evo 1 restored French pride at the 1992 Le Mans 24 Hours.

ROLT AND HAMILTON - Initially disqualified and then re-instated on race morning, Rolt and Hamilton won the first Le Mans to use disc brakes.

THE CAT STRIKES - The iconic 'Silk Cut' livery Jaguary of F1 driver Brundle, partnered by John Nielsen and Price Cobb won the 1990 edition.

FRAZER-NASH- FN was a brand of British sports car manufactured from 1922 first by Frazer Nash Limited founded by engineer Archibald Frazer-Nash.

ROAD GOING PORSCHE - The Dauer 962 GT LM was a road going Porsche developed by Jochen Dauer in to a race winning sports car.

ASTON MARTIN - A super image of the Aston Martins 'works' entered DB3S charging through the 'Esses' at Le Mans in 1953.

ROTHMANS 956 - Ickx and Bell finished second to the sister car of Schuppan, Holbert and Haywood in 1983.

PACKED TRIBUNES - The old Tribunes above the pits are full of spectators, as an Alpine M64 passes during the 1965 race.

THROUGH THE ESSES - The Ferrari 330 P2 of Guichet and Parkes drifts through the atmospheric 'Esses' at Le Mans in 1965.

MULTI WINNERS - Ludwig and Johansson both won Le Mans on multiple occasions, whilst 'Brilliant' Bob Wollek failed to register a victory.

LIGHT TRACER - A time delay photograph taken at Tetre Rouge as night falls. Classic French countryside.

PROJECT CARS - A pair of Aston Martin DP215's sit on the pit lane before the start of the 1963 race. Number eighteen was driven by Hill and Bianchi.

GO! Maranello Concessionaires entered this Ferrari Dino 206 S for Hobbs and Parkes. They did not finish.

CLASSIC SHAPE - A Porsche 910, with beautiful flowing bodywork, sadly retired with 'rocker' trouble in the 1968 edition.

LONG TAIL TWELVE - A super image of the 'long tail' Alfa Romeo T33/2, entered by Autodelta S. P. A.

BP GREEN - Car owner David Piper, with co driver Attwood drive their BP green privateer Ferrari 250 LM to seventh overall.

WINNING TRIUMVIRATE - Schuppan, Haywood and Holbert won the 1983 race ahead of the sister car of Ickx and Bell.

TETRE ROUGE - Baghetti and Maglioli exit Tetre Rouge on the run down the Mulsanne straight during the 1964 Vingt Quatre Heures du Mans.

E-TYPE LIGHTWEIGHT - The racing colours of Briggs Cunningham adorn the beautiful Jaguar E-type Lightweight of Pabst and Hangsen.

BEST OF THE 911 T'S - The Jean-Pierre Gaban entered 911 T finished twelfth and first of the 'T' versions of the 911 in 1968.

BRAKING FOR THE FORD CHICANE - The 'Silk Cut' Jaguar of the Americans, but entered by Tom Walkinshaw, did not trouble the lap keepers.