Audi’s last-lap duel and Jaguar’s charge: Silverstone’s finest sportscar finishes

5. 1980: Desire’s Double

A second consecutive win, following the Monza 1000Kms, for the Cosworth DFV-powered Lola of Alain de Cadenet, above, right, and Desiré Wilson, above, left. A shutdown of the mechanical fuel pump meant the overworked electric pump was causing a misfire. While dealing with this, a fluffed downshift caused Wilson to miss the chicane – costing a one-lap penalty. But the South African fought back to pass the Porsche 908/3 of Jürgen Barth and Siggi Brunn with 23min remaining for victory.

4. 1976: CSL vs 935

The first World Sportscar Championship race to be held at Silverstone was a thriller. Hans Heyer, sharing Kremer’s Porsche 935 with Bob Wollek, fought back from an early delay to lead, but needed a late splash of fuel. He rejoined 24sec behind the BMW CSL, above, of John Fitzpatrick with 9min left, slashed 3-4sec per lap from the gap and finished just 1.18sec down. ‘Fitz’ had driven solo for three hours: co-driver Tom Walkinshaw flew to Thruxton to race his BTCC Capri – and won that too!

3. 1988: Jaguar vs Sauber

The best of the trio of Jaguar wins at Silverstone from 1986-88. This one featured a slugfest over the opening stint between Eddie Cheever, above, right, in the best of the TWR-run XJR-9s, and Sauber–Mercedes duo Jean-Louis Schlesser and Mauro Baldi. Such was the paint-trading that it was like a sped-up touring car race. Sadly, Martin Brundle, above, left, ruined things by getting in the Jag and pulling out over 30sec on Jochen Mass and James Weaver in the Saubers. Game over; fun while it lasted.

2. 2013: Audi 1-2

The sports car equivalent of the Nigel Mansell vs Nelson Piquet 1987 British GP battle? Hybrid failure was costing Benoît Tréluyer 1.5sec per lap, but he held the advantage over the sister Audi, above, of Allan McNish – more so when a spin at Becketts while lapping GT traffic meant the Scot had to get rid of his flat-spotted tyres at his final pitstop. But McNish, sharing with Tom Kristensen and Loïc Duval, was not to be denied. His R18 made its move for victory with five minutes left.

1. 1985: Porsche 1-2

An epic battle between Jonathan Palmer in Richard Lloyd Racing’s Porsche 956 GTI and lead Lancia LC2 star Riccardo Patrese lasted half the race – with intermissions as Jan Lammers and Alessandro Nannini respectively took turns at the wheel – until Palmer lost a wheel. Patrese’s Lancia then suffered a seized wheel bearing with Alessandro Nannini driving. And the other Lancia of Bob Wollek/Mauro Baldi looked a likely winner until its gearbox jammed. The fired-up Patrese stormed back to wrest third from Manfred Winkelhock’s Kremer Porsche 962C a lap from home – by diving into the pit entry road! Scarcely noticed, Jacky Ickx, above, and Jochen Mass led home a works Porsche 1-2.