Gordon Murray honoured as Le Mans Classic Legend launches new era at La Sarthe
Le Mans Classic enters a new chapter with a dedicated celebration of the modern era, where Gordon Murray's career, Group C machinery and endurance racing's recent past shared the spotlight across a packed weekend at the Circuit de la Sarthe
Julien Biehler/DPPI Media
Ooh la la. Since 2002, the Le Mans Classic had been a highlight of the historic racing calendar – but only in alternate years. But the biennial shackles are now shaken off. In a way, it’s logical. After all, the event started when there weren’t quite 80 years of Le Mans 24 Hours history; now there are more than 100.
Clockwise from top left: One he made earlier; Murray display in the village; Le Mans Classic Legend guest of honour Gordon Murray in natty chapeau
DPPI, Peter Auto
So, now we have Le Mans Classic Heritage, with cars from the period 1923 to ’75 grouped into five different eras, known as Plateau 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. That was held last year and will be again in 2027. For 2026? Le Mans Classic Legend, for machinery from 1976 to 2015, and which will next grace the Circuit de la Sarthe in ’28.
From left: Porsche Carrera RSR of Grégory Driot leads a gaggle; Steve Brooks out of luck with his Peugeot 908
DPPI, Peter Auto
Guest of honour for July’s inaugural Le Mans Classic Legend was Gordon Murray. Models from his career spanning Brabham, McLaren and Gordon Murray Automotive were displayed and featured in a parade around the circuit. Among the South African wizard’s creations were Brabham BT42 and McLaren MP4/5B F1 cars, along with McLaren F1 GTR (the model that won the 24 Hours in 1995) plus his GMA T.33, T.50 and T.50s Niki Lauda.
From left: Plateau 9-dominating Ascari is chased by Christian Albrecht in Audi R8 and Dome S101 of Alex Müller; We guess the good ol’ boys of NASCAR become les bons vieux gars here; Jeff McKee at front in Mustang
DPPI, Peter Auto
“The biennial shackles are now shaken off. In a way, it’s logical”
The competing machinery lined up in Plateaus 6 to 10, each grid fighting out three races, with overall winners decided on accumulated aggregate times. Victorious were Maxime Guenat (Lola T286), Klaus Abbelen (Porsche 962C), Olivier Galant (Panoz LMP-1 Roadster S), Plateau 9 clean-sweepers Sam Hancock and Olivier Hart (Ascari KZR-1), and Christian Albrecht (Lola–Aston Martin DBR1-2). Others to take ‘heat’ wins included Jan Magnussen and Chris Ward (Lola T292), Galant (Nissan R90CK), Ralf Kelleners (Porsche 962C), Emmanuel Collard (McLaren F1 GTR) and Philip Kadoorie in another Lola-Aston.
From left: GT3 Legends head into the sunset, Callaway Corvette of Wiget and Wachter closest to camera; The Biotteau family campaigned this Datsun 240Z, shared by Olivier and Luc, in the earliest Plateau 6 split
DPPI
Among the support acts were the near-40-strong GT3 Revival and… HSR NASCAR Classic, in which winners included JC France, grandson of NASCAR founder Bill, and ex-BTCC champion Andrew Jordan in an ex-Clint Bowyer Toyota Camry. Among those vanquished was 2004 NASCAR king Kurt Busch.
Clockwise from top left: Porsche parade – with 917s to the fore – was another feature; the motivation behind Lola T292 of Cal Meeker; ‘Little Big Mans’ for the kids; gravelly moment for a Porsche 911 GT3 R; Gregor Fisken and Nico Verdonck raced this GT1 Aston Martin DBR9; Gary Moore (no, not the 1970s rock guitarist) prepares to race his NASCAR Thunderbird
DPPI
