1987 24 Hours of Le Mans


The 1987 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 55th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 13 and 14 June 1987. It was also the fifth round of the 1987 World Sports-Prototype Championship.

Track alterations

A chicane was installed in the middle of the Dunlop Curve, just prior to the Dunlop Bridge, in an attempt to slow speeds for sportscars as they went from the main straight to the Esses. The new chicane was also intended to slow motorcycles for races on the Bugatti Circuit.

Pre race

With the cancellation of the B Class, the race was the first in the history of Le Mans to lack any homologated class entries. The hiatus would last until 1993.

Race

Porsche 962C cars suffered from piston failure due to the wrong microchip fitted for fuel management, causing a lean mixture and burned pistons. The #17 car of Bell, Stuck, and Holbert escaped this fate with a new chip fitted, running largely uncontested to the finish.

Official results

Class winners in bold. Cars failing to complete 70% of the winner's distance marked as Not Classified.
PosClassNoTeamDriversChassisTyreLaps
PosClassNoTeamDriversEngineTyreLaps
1C117 Rothmans Porsche Hans-Joachim Stuck
Derek Bell
Al Holbert
Porsche 962C355
1C117 Rothmans Porsche Hans-Joachim Stuck
Derek Bell
Al Holbert
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6355
2C172 Primagaz Competition Jürgen Lässig
Pierre Yver
Bernard de Dryver
Porsche 962C335
2C172 Primagaz Competition Jürgen Lässig
Pierre Yver
Bernard de Dryver
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-6335
3C113 Primagaz Competition Pierre-Henri Raphanel
Yves Courage
Hervé Regout
Cougar C20332
3C113 Primagaz Competition Pierre-Henri Raphanel
Yves Courage
Hervé Regout
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-6332
4C111 Porsche Kremer Racing George Fouché
Franz Konrad
Wayne Taylor
Porsche 962C327
4C111 Porsche Kremer Racing George Fouché
Franz Konrad
Wayne Taylor
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-6327
5C14 Silk Cut Jaguar
Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Eddie Cheever
Raul Boesel
Jan Lammers
Jaguar XJR-8LM325
5C14 Silk Cut Jaguar
Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Eddie Cheever
Raul Boesel
Jan Lammers
Jaguar 6.9L V12325
6C2111 Spice Engineering Gordon Spice
Fermín Velez
Philippe de Henning
Spice SE86C321
6C2111 Spice Engineering Gordon Spice
Fermín Velez
Philippe de Henning
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8321
7GTP202 Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd. David Kennedy
Mark Galvin
Pierre Dieudonné
Mazda 757319
7GTP202 Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd. David Kennedy
Mark Galvin
Pierre Dieudonné
Mazda 13G 2.0L 3-Rotor319
8C2102 Ecurie Ecosse David Leslie
Ray Mallock
Marc Duez
Ecosse C286308
8C2102 Ecurie Ecosse David Leslie
Ray Mallock
Marc Duez
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8308
9C2121 Cosmik GP Motorsport Dudley Wood
Costas Los
Tom Hessert
Tiga GC287275
9C2121 Cosmik GP Motorsport Dudley Wood
Costas Los
Tom Hessert
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8275
10C2114 Team Tiga Ford Denmark Thorkild Thyrring
John Sheldon
Ian Harrower
Tiga GC287272
10C2114 Team Tiga Ford Denmark Thorkild Thyrring
John Sheldon
Ian Harrower
Ford Cosworth DBT-E 2.3L Turbo I4272
11C2177 Automobiles Louis Descartes Jacques Heuclin
Dominique Lacaud
Louis Descartes
ALD 03270
11C2177 Automobiles Louis Descartes Jacques Heuclin
Dominique Lacaud
Louis Descartes
BMW M88 3.5L I6270
12C140 Graff Racing Jean-Philippe Grand
Gaston Rahier
Jacques Terrien
Rondeau M482260
12C140 Graff Racing Jean-Philippe Grand
Gaston Rahier
Jacques Terrien
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8260
13
NC
C2127 Chamberlain Engineering Nick Adams
Graham Duxbury
Richard Jones
Spice SE86C240
13
NC
C2127 Chamberlain Engineering Nick Adams
Graham Duxbury
Richard Jones
Hart 418T 1.8L Turbo I4240
14
NC
C2178 Automobiles Louis Descartes Michel Lateste
Gérard Tremblay
Sylvain Boulay
ALD 02236
14
NC
C2178 Automobiles Louis Descartes Michel Lateste
Gérard Tremblay
Sylvain Boulay
BMW M88 3.5L I6236
15
DNF
C2181 Dune Motorsport Neil Crang
Jean Krucker
Duncan Bain
Tiga GC287260
15
DNF
C2181 Dune Motorsport Neil Crang
Jean Krucker
Duncan Bain
Rover V64V 3.0L V6260
16
DNF
C2108 Roland Bassaler Jean-François Yver
Yves Hervalet
Hervé Bourjade
Sauber SHS C6257
16
DNF
C2108 Roland Bassaler Jean-François Yver
Yves Hervalet
Hervé Bourjade
BMW M88 3.5L I6257
17
DNF
C16 Silk Cut Jaguar
Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Martin Brundle
John Nielsen
Jaguar XJR-8LM231
17
DNF
C16 Silk Cut Jaguar
Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Martin Brundle
John Nielsen
Jaguar 6.9L V12231
18
DNF
C2123 Charles Ivey Racing John Cooper
Tom Dodd-Noble
Max Cohen-Olivar
Tiga GC287224
18
DNF
C2123 Charles Ivey Racing John Cooper
Tom Dodd-Noble
Max Cohen-Olivar
Porsche Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6224
19
DNF
C2116 Luigi Taverna Technoracing Luigi Taverna
Evan Clements
Patrick Trucco
Alba AR3219
19
DNF
C2116 Luigi Taverna Technoracing Luigi Taverna
Evan Clements
Patrick Trucco
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8219
20
DNF
GTX203 Rothmans Porsche René Metge
Claude Haldi
Kees Nierop
Porsche 961199
20
DNF
GTX203 Rothmans Porsche René Metge
Claude Haldi
Kees Nierop
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-6199
21
DNF
C123 Nissan Motorsport Kazuyoshi Hoshino
Kenji Takahashi
Keiji Matsumoto
Nissan R87E181
21
DNF
C123 Nissan Motorsport Kazuyoshi Hoshino
Kenji Takahashi
Keiji Matsumoto
Nissan VEJ30 3.0L Turbo V8181
22
DNF
C2103 John Bartlett Racing Tim Lee-Davey
Robin Donovan
Raymond Boutinaud
Bardon DB1/2172
22
DNF
C2103 John Bartlett Racing Tim Lee-Davey
Robin Donovan
Raymond Boutinaud
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.0L V8172
23
DNF
C2125 Vetir Racing Team Jean-Claude Justice
Patrick Oudet
Bruno Sotty
Tiga GC85164
23
DNF
C2125 Vetir Racing Team Jean-Claude Justice
Patrick Oudet
Bruno Sotty
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8164
24
DNF
C15 Silk Cut Jaguar
Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Jan Lammers
John Watson
Win Percy
Jaguar XJR-8LM158
24
DNF
C15 Silk Cut Jaguar
Tom Walkinshaw Racing
Jan Lammers
John Watson
Win Percy
Jaguar 6.9L V12158
25
DNF
C2198 Roy Baker Racing David Andrews
Mark Peters
Mike Allison
Tiga GC286139
25
DNF
C2198 Roy Baker Racing David Andrews
Mark Peters
Mike Allison
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8139
26
DNF
C2101 Ecurie Ecosse Mike Wilds
Les Delano
Andy Petery
Ecosse C286135
26
DNF
C2101 Ecurie Ecosse Mike Wilds
Les Delano
Andy Petery
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8135
27
DNF
C161 Kouros Racing Mike Thackwell
Henri Pescarolo
Hideki Okada
Sauber C9123
27
DNF
C161 Kouros Racing Mike Thackwell
Henri Pescarolo
Hideki Okada
Mercedes-Benz M117 5.0L Turbo V8123
28
DNF
C13 Brun Motorsport Bill Adam
Richard Spenard
Scott Goodyear
Porsche 962C120
28
DNF
C13 Brun Motorsport Bill Adam
Richard Spenard
Scott Goodyear
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-6120
29
DNF
C132 Nissan Motorsport Masahiro Hasemi
Takao Wada
Aguri Suzuki
Nissan 87E117
29
DNF
C132 Nissan Motorsport Masahiro Hasemi
Takao Wada
Aguri Suzuki
Nissan VEJ30 3.0L Turbo V8117
30
DNF
C115 Liqui Moly Equipe Jonathan Palmer
James Weaver
Price Cobb
Porsche 962C GTi112
30
DNF
C115 Liqui Moly Equipe Jonathan Palmer
James Weaver
Price Cobb
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-6112
31
DNF
C11 Brun Motorsport Michel Trollé
Paul Belmondo
Pierre de Thoisy
Porsche 962C88
31
DNF
C11 Brun Motorsport Michel Trollé
Paul Belmondo
Pierre de Thoisy
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-688
32
DNF
C129 Italya Sports Anders Olofsson
Alain Ferté
Patrick Gonin
Nissan R86V86
32
DNF
C129 Italya Sports Anders Olofsson
Alain Ferté
Patrick Gonin
Nissan VG30ET 3.0L Turbo V686
33
DNF
C12 Brun Motorsport Oscar Larrauri
Jesús Pareja
Uwe Schäfer
Porsche 962C40
33
DNF
C12 Brun Motorsport Oscar Larrauri
Jesús Pareja
Uwe Schäfer
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-640
34
DNF
C137 Toyota Team Tom's Tiff Needell
Masanori Sekiya
Kaoru Hoshino
Toyota 87C-L39
34
DNF
C137 Toyota Team Tom's Tiff Needell
Masanori Sekiya
Kaoru Hoshino
Toyota 3S-GTM 2.1L Turbo I439
35
DNF
C162 Kouros Racing Chip Ganassi
Johnny Dumfries
Mike Thackwell
Sauber C937
35
DNF
C162 Kouros Racing Chip Ganassi
Johnny Dumfries
Mike Thackwell
Mercedes-Benz M117 5.0L Turbo V837
36
DNF
GTP201 Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd. Yoshimi Katayama
Yojiro Terada
Takashi Yorino
Mazda 75734
36
DNF
GTP201 Mazdaspeed Co. Ltd. Yoshimi Katayama
Yojiro Terada
Takashi Yorino
Mazda 13G 2.0L 3-Rotor34
37
DNF
C136 Toyota Team Tom's Alan Jones
Geoff Lees
Eje Elgh
Toyota 87C-L19
37
DNF
C136 Toyota Team Tom's Alan Jones
Geoff Lees
Eje Elgh
Toyota 3S-GTM 2.1L Turbo I419
38
DNF
C2113 José Thibault José Thibault
André Heinrich
Chevron B3618
38
DNF
C2113 José Thibault José Thibault
André Heinrich
Talbot PRV 3.0L V618
39
DNF
C118 Rothmans Porsche Bob Wollek
Jochen Mass
Vern Schuppan
Porsche 962C16
39
DNF
C118 Rothmans Porsche Bob Wollek
Jochen Mass
Vern Schuppan
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-616
40
DNF
C151 WM Secateva Jean-Daniel Raulet
François Migault
Pascal Pessiot
WM P8614
40
DNF
C151 WM Secateva Jean-Daniel Raulet
François Migault
Pascal Pessiot
Peugeot PRV 2.8L Turbo V614
41
DNF
C152 WM Secateva Roger Dorchy
Philippe Gache
Dominique Delestre
WM P8713
41
DNF
C152 WM Secateva Roger Dorchy
Philippe Gache
Dominique Delestre
Peugeot PRV 2.8L Turbo V613
42
DNF
C2118 Olindo Iacobelli Olindo Iacobelli
Jean-Louis Ricci
Georges Tessier
Royale RP4013
42
DNF
C2118 Olindo Iacobelli Olindo Iacobelli
Jean-Louis Ricci
Georges Tessier
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V813
43
DNF
C2200 Dahm Cars Racing Team Peter Fritsch
Teddy Pilette
Jean-Paul Libert
Argo JM1912
43
DNF
C2200 Dahm Cars Racing Team Peter Fritsch
Teddy Pilette
Jean-Paul Libert
Porsche Type-930 3.2L Turbo Flat-612
44
DNF
C18 Joest Racing Frank Jelinski
Stanley Dickens
Hurley Haywood
Sarel van der Merwe
Porsche 962C7
44
DNF
C18 Joest Racing Frank Jelinski
Stanley Dickens
Hurley Haywood
Sarel van der Merwe
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-67
45
DNF
C110 Porsche Kremer Racing Kris Nissen
Volker Weidler
Kunimitsu Takahashi
Porsche 962C6
45
DNF
C110 Porsche Kremer Racing Kris Nissen
Volker Weidler
Kunimitsu Takahashi
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-66
46
DNF
C2117 Team Lucky Strike Schanche Martin Schanche
Will Hoy
Robin Smith
Argo JM19B5
46
DNF
C2117 Team Lucky Strike Schanche Martin Schanche
Will Hoy
Robin Smith
Zakspeed 1.8L Turbo I45
47
DNF
C17 Joest Racing Sarel van der Merwe
David Hobbs
Chip Robinson
Porsche 962C4
47
DNF
C17 Joest Racing Sarel van der Merwe
David Hobbs
Chip Robinson
Porsche Type-935 2.8L Turbo Flat-64
48
DNF
C142 Noël del Bello Pierre-Alain Lombardi
Gilles Lempereur
Jacques Guillot
Sauber C84
48
DNF
C142 Noël del Bello Pierre-Alain Lombardi
Gilles Lempereur
Jacques Guillot
Mercedes-Benz M117 5.0L Turbo V84
DNSC119 Rothmans Porsche AG Kees Nierop
Price Cobb
Vern Schuppan
Porsche 962C-
DNSC119 Rothmans Porsche AG Kees Nierop
Price Cobb
Vern Schuppan
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6-
DNQC2171 CEE Sport Racing Slim Borgudd
Tryggve Gronvall
Andrew Ratcliffe
Tiga GC286-
DNQC2171 CEE Sport Racing Slim Borgudd
Tryggve Gronvall
Andrew Ratcliffe
Volvo 2.3L Turbo I4-

Statistics