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1978 Le Mans 24 Hours in Le Mans 24 Hours at the Le Mans circuit. Full information

1978 Le Mans 24 Hours

1978 Le Mans 24 Hours is 46th Le Mans 24 Hours race. Passed at the Le Mans circuit. Jacky Ickx, Henri Pescarolo, Jochen Mass won the pole position, Didier Pironi, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud won this race. Bob Wollek, Jürgen Barth, Jacky Ickx and Hurley Haywood, Peter Gregg, Reinhold Jöst also climbed to the podium, in second and third place. Race distance 370 laps (5,045 km).

Previous race: 1977 Le Mans 24 Hours
Next race: 1979 Le Mans 24 Hours
Race Start: 11th June 1978

Interesting facts and statistics about the 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours

1st victory for the Equipe Renault Elf Sport team
1st victory for the Didier Pironi
1st victory for the Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
1st podium for the Didier Pironi
3rd podium for the Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
1st podium for the Bob Wollek
2nd podium for the Jürgen Barth
5th podium for the Jacky Ickx
2nd podium for the Hurley Haywood
2nd podium for the Peter Gregg
2nd podium for the Reinhold Jöst

1978 Le Mans 24 Hours

Alpine A442 B #2 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: S+2.0)

WM P78 #78 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: GTP+3.0)

Porsche 935 /77A - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Porsche 935 /77A #90 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: IMSA+2.5)

Porsche 935 /77A #44 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: Gr.5+2.0)

Rondeau M378 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Rondeau M378 #72 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: GTP3.0)

Chevron B36 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Chevron B36 #31 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: S2.0)

Porsche 911 Carrera RSR - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Porsche 911 Carrera RSR #66 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: GT3.0)

Porsche 934 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner

Porsche 934 #62 - 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours winner (Class: GT+3.0)

1978 Le Mans 24 Hours results

Position	Name	Car	Result	Lap	Team	Class	Class position
1	Didier Pironi, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud	Alpine A442 B, #2	5044.530 kms	370	Equipe Renault Elf Sport	S+2.0	1
2	Bob Wollek, Jürgen Barth, Jacky Ickx	Porsche 936 /78, #6	4968.120 kms	365	Martini Racing Porsche System	S+2.0	2
3	Hurley Haywood, Peter Gregg, Reinhold Jöst	Porsche 936 /77, #7	4940.730 kms	363	Martini Racing Porsche System	S+2.0	3
4	Jean Ragnotti, Guy Fréquelin, José Dolhem, Jean-Pierre Jabouille	Alpine A442 A, #4	4894.390 kms	359	Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson	S+2.0	4
5	Brian Redman, John Paul, Dick Barbour	Porsche 935 /77A, #90	4607.420 kms	338	Dick Barbour Racing	IMSA+2.5	1
6	Jim Busby, Rick Knoop, Chris Cord	Porsche 935 /77A, #44	4592.970 kms	337	Porsche Kremer Racing	Gr.5+2.0	1
7	Paulo Gomes, Marinho Amaral, Alfredo Guaraná Menezes	Porsche 935, #41	4489.010 kms	330	A.S.A. Cachia-Team Pace	Gr.5+2.0	2
8	Manfred Schurti, Rolf Stommelen	Porsche 935 /78, #43	4447.730 kms	327	Martini Racing Porsche System	Gr.5+2.0	3
9	Jean Rondeau, Bernard Darniche, Jacky Haran	Rondeau M378, #72	4019.020 kms	295	Jean Rondeau	GTP3.0	1
10	Vern Schuppan, Jacques Laffite, Sam Posey	Mirage M9, #10	4007.730 kms	294	Grand Touring Cars Inc.	S+2.0	5
11	Michel Pignard, Laurent Ferrier, Lucien Rossiaud	Chevron B36, #31	3878.210 kms	285	R.O.C. La Pierre du Nord	S2.0	1
12	Anny-Charlotte Verney, Xavier Lapeyre, Francois Servanin	Porsche 911 Carrera RSR, #66	3817.920 kms	280	Anny-Charlotte Verney	GT3.0	1
13	Andre Chevalley, François Trisconi	Inaltera LM, #71	3810.170 kms	280	A. Chevalley Racing	GTP3.0	2
14	Gordon Spice, John Rulon-Miller, Larry Perkins	Porsche 911 Carrera RSR, #97	3801.150 kms	279	Charles Ivey Engineering	IMSA+2.5	2
15	Chris Craft, Alain De Cadenet	De Cadenet Lola LM, #8	3729.570 kms	274	Alain de Cadenet	S+2.0	6
16	François Migault, Lucien Guitteny	Ferrari 365 GT4/BB, #86	3579.340 kms	263	Ecurie Grand Compétition Car	IMSA+2.5	3
17	Christian Bussi, "Segolen", Jean-Claude Briavoine	Porsche 934, #62	3540.880 kms	260	"Ségolen"	GT+3.0	1
DNF	Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Patrick Depailler	Alpine A443, #1	Engine	279	Equipe Renault Elf Sport	S+2.0	7
DNC	Marc Surer, Eugen Strahl, Harry Blumer	Sauber C5 B, #23	3506.320 kms	258	Francy Sauber PP AG	S2.0	2
DNF	Jacky Ickx, Henri Pescarolo, Jochen Mass	Porsche 936 /78, #5	Accident	255	Martini Racing Porsche System	S+2.0	8
DNC	Sandro Plastina, Jean-Daniel Grandjean, Mario Luini	Cheetah G601, #20	3420.670 kms	251	C. H. Graemiger	S2.0	3
DNF	Jean-Claude Andruet, Spartaco Dini	Ferrari 512 BB, #88	Engine	251	Pozzi-Thompson J.M.S.	IMSA+2.5	4
DNC	Georges Bourdillat, Alain-Michel Bernard, Jean-Luc Favresse	Porsche 911 Carrera, #64	3295.380 kms	242	Georges Bourdillat	GT3.0	2
DNC	Bruno Sotty, Gérard Cuynet, Jean-Claude Dufrey	Lola T294 /6, #25	3250.890 kms	239	Pronuptia	S2.0	4
DNC	Michel Elkoubi, Philippe Streiff, Pierre Yver	Lola T296, #24	3159.140 kms	233	Pronuptia M.R.E.	S2.0	5
DNF	Jean-Pierre Delaunay, Jacques Guérin, Gregg Young	Ferrari 512 BB, #87	Gearbox	232	Luigi Chinetti Sr.	IMSA+2.5	5
DNC	Michel Lateste, Jean-François Auboiron, Dominique Lacaud	Lola T297, #28	2965.070 kms	218	Dominique Lacaud	S2.0	6
DNF	Claude Ballot-Lena, Jean-Louis Lafosse	Ferrari 512 BB, #89	Gearbox	218	Pozzi-Thompson J.M.S.	IMSA+2.5	6
DNF	Ian Grob, Guy Edwards	Ibec P6, #19	Con rod	195	Ibec Racing Developments Hesketh Team	S+2.0	9
DNF	Jacques Henry, Albert Dufréne, Max Cohen-Olivar	Chevron B36, #30	Piston	195	R.O.C. La Pierre du Nord	S2.0	8
DNF	Xavier Mathiot, Marc Sourd, Christian Debias	WM P78, #78	Accident	186	W.M. Aerem	GTP+3.0	1
DNC	John Winter, Dieter Schornstein, Philippe Gurdjian	Porsche 935 K2, #45	2494.860 kms	183	Porsche Kremer Racing	Gr.5+2.0	4
DNC	Tony Charnell, Robin Smith, Fréderic Alliot, Richard Jones	Chevron B31, #27	Not classified	181	Mogil Motors Ltd. with Kores Racing	S2.0	7
DNF	Marianne Hoepfner, Christine Dacremont	WM P76, #76	Head gasket	171	W.M. Aerem	GTP3.0	3
DNF	Edgar Dören, Romain Feitler, Hervé Poulain, Gerhard Holup	Porsche 934, #68	Gearbox	167	Hervé Poulain	GT+3.0	2
DNF	Jean-Pierre Jarier, Derek Bell	Alpine A442 A, #3	Differential	162	Equipe Renault Elf Sport	S+2.0	10
DNF	Bob Garretson, Bob Akin, Steve Earle	Porsche 935 /77A, #91	Accident	159	Dick Barbour Racing	IMSA+2.5	7
DNF	Michel Dubois, Daniel Gache, Julien Sanchez	Chevron B36, #29	Accident	142	R.O.C. Modylock	S2.0	9
DNF	Herbert Muller, Claude Haldi, "Nico"	Porsche 935, #48	Gearbox casing	140	Meccarillos Cégécol Racing Team	Gr.5+2.0	5
DNF	Georges Morand, Christian Blanc, Eric Vuagnat	Lola T296, #26	Oil pressure	130	G.V.E.A.	S2.0	10
DNF	Pierre-François Rousselot, Jean-Marie Lemerle, Alain Levié	Lola T294 /6, #21	Broken rear chassis	126	Jean-Marie Lemerle	S2.0	11
DNF	Antoine Salamin, Gérard Vial, Yves Courage, Joël Laplacette	Porsche 930, #65	Brakes, accident	116	Joël Laplacette	GT+3.0	3
DNF	Dieter Quester, Rad Dougall, Tom Walkinshaw	Osella PA6, #34	Accident	113	BMW (G.B.) Racing-Tolemans Racing	S2.0	12
DNF	Nick Faure, John Beasley, Simon Phillips, Martin Raymond	De Cadenet Lola T380, #12	DQ:Insufficient distance covered	99	Simon Phillips Racing with Batco France	S+2.0	11
DNF	Guy Chasseuil, Jean-Claude Lefebvre	Porsche 934, #61	Piston	61	Auto Daniel Urcun	GT+3.0	4
DNF	Ian Harrower, Juliette Slaughter, Brian Joscelyne, Tony Birchenhough	Lola T294S, #32	Engine	61	Dorset Racing Association with Kelly Girl	S2.0	13
DNF	Jean-Daniel Raulet, Max Mamers	WM P77, #77	Clutch	44	W.M. Aerem	GTP+3.0	2
DNF	Bill Whittington, Don Whittington, Franz Konrad	Porsche 935 /77A, #94	Accident	41	Whittington Brother Inc. Racing	Gr.5+2.0	6
DNF	Teddy Pilette, Nick Faure, "Jean Beurlys", Raymond Touroul	Ferrari 512 BB, #85	Gearbox	39	"Beurlys"	IMSA+2.5	8
DNF	Willy Braillard, Jean-Louis Ravenel, Jacky Ravenel, Philippe Dagoreau	Porsche 934, #69	Injection pump	35	Jean Louis Ravenel-V.S.D.	GT+3.0	5
DNF	Martin Raymond, "Steve", Mike Franey	Porsche 935 /77A, #46	Engine	34	Porsche Kremer Racing	Gr.5+2.0	7
DNF	Michel Leclere, Sam Posey	Mirage M9, #11	Electrics	33	Grand Touring Cars Inc.	S+2.0	12
DNF	Brad Frisselle, Robert Kirby, John Hotchkis	Chevrolet Monza, #84	Head	30	Wynn's International Belgium	IMSA+2.5	9
DNF	Bob Evans, Richard Down	Lola T294S, #33	Puncture, broken chassis	23	Cloud Engineering Ltd. - Dorset	S2.0	14
DNF	John Fitzpatrick, Toine Hezemans	Porsche 935 /77A, #47	Piston	19	Weisberg Gelo Team	Gr.5+2.0	8
DNQ	John Cooper, Bob Evans, Pete Lovett	De Cadenet Lola LM, #9	Reserve	0	Alain de Cadenet	S+2.0	13
DNQ	Guy Chasseuil, Hubert Striebig	Toj SC303, #14	Reserve	0	BP Racing	S+2.0	14
DNQ	Jean Belliard, Thierry Perrier	Porsche 911 Carrera RS, #98	Reserve	0	Thierry Perrier	IMSA+2.5	10
DNQ	Pierre Dieudonne	BMW 3.0 CSL, #96	Reserve	0	Garage du Bac	IMSA+2.5	11
DNQ	Clemens Schickentanz, Hans Heyer	Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC, #40	Reserve	0	A.M.G. Motorenbau GmbH	Gr.5+2.0	9
DNQ	Anna Cambiaghi	Lola T296 /7, #22	Reserve	0	Agence Locomotiv	S2.0	15
DNQ	Guy de Saint-Pierre, Marcel Mignot	Alpine A310, #73	Reserve	0	Bernard Décure	GTP3.0	4
DNQ	Simon De Lautour, Gérard Bleynie, Roland Ennequin	Porsche 934, #60	Did not qualify	0	Meccarillos Cégécol Racing Team	GT+3.0	6
DNQ	Christian Gouttepifre, Raymond Touroul, Robert Boubet	Porsche 911 Carrera RS, #63	DQ: illegal engine	0	Christian Gouttepifre	GT3.0	3

Qualifying Results for the 1978 Le Mans 24 Hours on the Le Mans circuit

Position	Name	Car	Result	Team
1	Jacky Ickx, Henri Pescarolo, Jochen Mass	Porsche 936 /78, #5	3:27.600	Martini Racing Porsche System
2	Jean-Pierre Jabouille, Patrick Depailler	Alpine A443, #1	3:28.400	Equipe Renault Elf Sport
3	Manfred Schurti, Rolf Stommelen	Porsche 935 /78, #43	3:30.900	Martini Racing Porsche System
4	Bob Wollek, Jürgen Barth, Jacky Ickx	Porsche 936 /78, #6	3:35.200	Martini Racing Porsche System
5	Didier Pironi, Jean-Pierre Jaussaud	Alpine A442 B, #2	3:35.700	Equipe Renault Elf Sport
6	Hurley Haywood, Peter Gregg, Reinhold Jöst	Porsche 936 /77, #7	3:37.300	Martini Racing Porsche System
7	Jean-Pierre Jarier, Derek Bell	Alpine A442 A, #3	3:37.900	Equipe Renault Elf Sport
8	Jean Ragnotti, Guy Fréquelin, José Dolhem, Jean-Pierre Jabouille	Alpine A442 A, #4	3:42.700	Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson
9	Vern Schuppan, Jacques Laffite, Sam Posey	Mirage M9, #10	3:45.800	Grand Touring Cars Inc.
10	Chris Craft, Alain De Cadenet	De Cadenet Lola LM, #8	3:46.200	Alain de Cadenet
11	John Fitzpatrick, Toine Hezemans	Porsche 935 /77A, #47	3:46.500	Weisberg Gelo Team
12	Michel Leclere, Sam Posey	Mirage M9, #11	3:48.300	Grand Touring Cars Inc.
13	Ian Grob, Guy Edwards	Ibec P6, #19	3:50.200	Ibec Racing Developments Hesketh Team
14	Jim Busby, Rick Knoop, Chris Cord	Porsche 935 /77A, #44	3:50.700	Porsche Kremer Racing
15	Nick Faure, John Beasley, Simon Phillips, Martin Raymond	De Cadenet Lola T380, #12	3:51.900	Simon Phillips Racing with Batco France
16	Brian Redman, John Paul, Dick Barbour	Porsche 935 /77A, #90	3:52.600	Dick Barbour Racing
17	Bill Whittington, Don Whittington, Franz Konrad	Porsche 935 /77A, #94	3:52.800	Whittington Brother Inc. Racing
18	Xavier Mathiot, Marc Sourd, Christian Debias	WM P78, #78	3:52.900	W.M. Aerem
19	Andre Chevalley, François Trisconi	Inaltera LM, #71	3:53.900	A. Chevalley Racing
20	Martin Raymond, "Steve", Mike Franey	Porsche 935 /77A, #46	3:54.800	Porsche Kremer Racing
21	Herbert Muller, Claude Haldi, "Nico"	Porsche 935, #48	3:55.800	Meccarillos Cégécol Racing Team
22	Dieter Quester, Rad Dougall, Tom Walkinshaw	Osella PA6, #34	3:56.200	BMW (G.B.) Racing-Tolemans Racing
23	Paulo Gomes, Marinho Amaral, Alfredo Guaraná Menezes	Porsche 935, #41	3:59.500	A.S.A. Cachia-Team Pace
24	Marc Surer, Eugen Strahl, Harry Blumer	Sauber C5 B, #23	4:00.100	Francy Sauber PP AG
25	Brad Frisselle, Robert Kirby, John Hotchkis	Chevrolet Monza, #84	4:02.300	Wynn's International Belgium
26	Tony Charnell, Robin Smith, Fréderic Alliot, Richard Jones	Chevron B31, #27	4:03.300	Mogil Motors Ltd. with Kores Racing
27	Jean-Daniel Raulet, Max Mamers	WM P77, #77	4:03.500	W.M. Aerem
28	John Winter, Dieter Schornstein, Philippe Gurdjian	Porsche 935 K2, #45	4:04.200	Porsche Kremer Racing
29	Michel Pignard, Laurent Ferrier, Lucien Rossiaud	Chevron B36, #31	4:04.200	R.O.C. La Pierre du Nord
30	Michel Lateste, Jean-François Auboiron, Dominique Lacaud	Lola T297, #28	4:04.500	Dominique Lacaud
31	Bob Garretson, Bob Akin, Steve Earle	Porsche 935 /77A, #91	4:05.200	Dick Barbour Racing
32	Edgar Dören, Romain Feitler, Hervé Poulain, Gerhard Holup	Porsche 934, #68	4:07.000	Hervé Poulain
33	Claude Ballot-Lena, Jean-Louis Lafosse	Ferrari 512 BB, #89	4:07.100	Pozzi-Thompson J.M.S.
34	Jean-Claude Andruet, Spartaco Dini	Ferrari 512 BB, #88	4:07.300	Pozzi-Thompson J.M.S.
35	Michel Dubois, Daniel Gache, Julien Sanchez	Chevron B36, #29	4:07.800	R.O.C. Modylock
36	Jean-Pierre Delaunay, Jacques Guérin, Gregg Young	Ferrari 512 BB, #87	4:16.300	Luigi Chinetti Sr.
37	Willy Braillard, Jean-Louis Ravenel, Jacky Ravenel, Philippe Dagoreau	Porsche 934, #69	4:08.000	Jean Louis Ravenel-V.S.D.
38	Jacques Henry, Albert Dufréne, Max Cohen-Olivar	Chevron B36, #30	4:08.300	R.O.C. La Pierre du Nord
39	Guy Chasseuil, Jean-Claude Lefebvre	Porsche 934, #61	4:09.100	Auto Daniel Urcun
40	Jean Rondeau, Bernard Darniche, Jacky Haran	Rondeau M378, #72	4:09.400	Jean Rondeau
41	Ian Harrower, Juliette Slaughter, Brian Joscelyne, Tony Birchenhough	Lola T294S, #32	4:10.400	Dorset Racing Association with Kelly Girl
42	Teddy Pilette, Nick Faure, "Jean Beurlys", Raymond Touroul	Ferrari 512 BB, #85	4:10.900	"Beurlys"
43	Michel Elkoubi, Philippe Streiff, Pierre Yver	Lola T296, #24	4:11.700	Pronuptia M.R.E.
44	Bob Evans, Richard Down	Lola T294S, #33	4:12.000	Cloud Engineering Ltd. - Dorset
45	Georges Morand, Christian Blanc, Eric Vuagnat	Lola T296, #26	4:12.200	G.V.E.A.
46	Pierre-François Rousselot, Jean-Marie Lemerle, Alain Levié	Lola T294 /6, #21	4:13.700	Jean-Marie Lemerle
47	Gordon Spice, John Rulon-Miller, Larry Perkins	Porsche 911 Carrera RSR, #97	4:14.700	Charles Ivey Engineering
48	Bruno Sotty, Gérard Cuynet, Jean-Claude Dufrey	Lola T294 /6, #25	4:15.800	Pronuptia
49	François Migault, Lucien Guitteny	Ferrari 365 GT4/BB, #86	4:15.900	Ecurie Grand Compétition Car
50	Sandro Plastina, Jean-Daniel Grandjean, Mario Luini	Cheetah G601, #20	4:19.300	C. H. Graemiger
51	Anny-Charlotte Verney, Xavier Lapeyre, Francois Servanin	Porsche 911 Carrera RSR, #66	4:19.600	Anny-Charlotte Verney
52	Christian Bussi, "Segolen", Jean-Claude Briavoine	Porsche 934, #62	4:21.600	"Ségolen"
53	Marianne Hoepfner, Christine Dacremont	WM P76, #76	4:22.800	W.M. Aerem
54	Antoine Salamin, Gérard Vial, Yves Courage, Joël Laplacette	Porsche 930, #65	4:25.000	Joël Laplacette
55	Georges Bourdillat, Alain-Michel Bernard, Jean-Luc Favresse	Porsche 911 Carrera, #64	4:28.200	Georges Bourdillat
56	John Cooper, Bob Evans, Pete Lovett	De Cadenet Lola LM, #9	3:52.900	Alain de Cadenet
57	Guy Chasseuil, Hubert Striebig	Toj SC303, #14	4:14.800	BP Racing
58	Anna Cambiaghi	Lola T296 /7, #22	4:27.800	Agence Locomotiv
59	Clemens Schickentanz, Hans Heyer	Mercedes-Benz 450 SLC, #40	4:26.100	A.M.G. Motorenbau GmbH
60	Guy de Saint-Pierre, Marcel Mignot	Alpine A310, #73	4:34.400	Bernard Décure
61	Jean Belliard, Thierry Perrier	Porsche 911 Carrera RS, #98	4:23.500	Thierry Perrier
62	Pierre Dieudonne	BMW 3.0 CSL, #96	4:25.300	Garage du Bac
63	Simon De Lautour, Gérard Bleynie, Roland Ennequin	Porsche 934, #60	no time	Meccarillos Cégécol Racing Team
64	Christian Gouttepifre, Raymond Touroul, Robert Boubet	Porsche 911 Carrera RS, #63	no time	Christian Gouttepifre