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Le Mans Classic 2004 - preliminary entries revealed

The first Le Mans Classic was regarded as one of the highlights of 2002 as an event for classic car enthusiasts all over the world. While representative cars from fifty years of the world’s most famous 24-Hour race were on-track, a host of classics, from all the famous marques, could be seen in in-field displays and visitors could browse trade stands for models, books and automobilia. In 2004 the race has been brought forward to July and the organisers, Peter Auto, have just announced the first entries.


Held in September, the 2002 inaugural event drew a total of 30,000 spectators to watch over 300 racing cars and 1000 drivers re-enact the battles of the past. For 2004 the organisers have extended the cut-off date to 1978, added a sixth grid and reduced the laps required per grid to three – a measure designed to give drivers more track time and prevent some of the problems in 2002 that meant later races being reduced to just one lap. The meeting will be spread over three days with the familiar 24 Hour circuit closing to public traffic on the Friday night – rather than Saturday morning as in 2002. This will give competitors more practice time (a complaint from 2002) leading to greater car reliability and a safer racing environment.


For those unfamiliar with the format it can be summarised thus; the maximum 366 car entry (+72 reserves) is divided up into six grids (or ‘plateaux’) by date, with the object of completing 3 races per grid within a 24-hour period starting at 16.00 on Saturday and finishing 16.00 Sunday. In 2002 the oldest cars (Grid 1, cars from 1923 to 1939) started the event, then Grid 2 (1946 to 1956) and so on until 18 individual races have been completed.

In addition to the racing, Owners Clubs are actively encouraged to put on displays - the meeting is supported by the FFVE and the FIVA federations - a large range of trade stands will be available, and there will also be an auction of classic cars and automobilia.

The dates for the 2004 event are 23/24/25 July.

Further information can be obtained from – www.lemansclassic.com


The first entries have been announced by the organisers as follows - as the entry form did not include a deadline, some room will be left until the end of Retromobile (13 - 22 February) where the Le Mans Classic will have a stand -

Grid 1 1923 - 1929

Driver(s)NationalityCar
EMMERLINGDRILEY Brooklands 1928
SWETE/SCHUMACHERGB/GBTALBOT GB 90 1930
KNÖCHLEINDBMW 328 1938
BROOKSUSABUGATTI 37 A 1927
ZIMMERNLTALBOT 105 1931
ASHMEADGBASTON MARTIN LM 4 1930
BUTLER/WALFORDUSA/GBMG Magnette K3 1934
BARRS/GUYATTGB/GBSTUZ Blackhawk 1929
HONEGGER/BURTUSA/USAINVICTA S 1931
ACKLAM/CLARKEGB/GBMORGAN 4-4 1938
HOLMAN/HOLMAN/REEDUSA/USA/USASTUTZ Blackhawk 1928
HINE/BARNESGB/GBLAGONDA LG 45 1937
SADELER/BURNETT/RUSTON/BURNETTGB/GB/GB/GBTALBOT 105 1935
BURNETT/MORRIS/BURNETTGB/GB/GBTALBOT 105 1934
FREEMAN/BÜSSTGB/GBASTON MARTIN Speed Model 1936
PEROUFDELAGE DE 1923
ELLIOT PYLE/EVANSGB/GBLEA FRANCIS 1930
du BOUCHERON/du BOUCHERON/ du BOUCHERON B/F/FTHEO SCHNEIDER 25 SP 1928
DA COSTA GOMESPAMILCAR G 36 1936
SAGEFDELAHAYE 135 S 1935

Grid 2 1946 - 1956
Driver(s)NationalityCar
FLATT/FLATT GB/GBASTON MARTIN DB 2/4 1953
ROUET/BARDINON F/FALLARD J2X 1952
ZWEIFLERDMASERATI 200 S 1955
PINELLIFLOTUS IX 1955
WALFORD/BUTLERGB/USAALLARD J2R 1953
BESSADE/LAURENT/MAGNIN F/F/FGORDINI T24S 1953
DAVIES/FITZGERALD GB/GBLOTUS XI 1956
BURANIIFERRARI 750 Monza 1954
ROGERSGBAUSTIN HEALEY 100 1956
ARNOLDGBAC ACE 1955
VANANTY/BLANPAINCH/BAUSTIN HEALEY 100 1955
TOMASETTI/PERROUDI/FMASERATI 150 S 1955
HADFIELDGBJAGUAR Type C 1952
SELLYEIUSAJAGUAR Type D 1955
BIEKENS/FAWENL/BFERRARI 500 1955
JAQUESGBJAGUAR XK 120 1951
ELOY/ELOYF/FAUSTIN HEALEY 100 1953
DELIGNY/DELIGNY/DELIGNY F/F/FPANHARD Monopole 1956
SPADINI/BLANPAIN/LANGERCH/B/AUTJAGUAR XK 140 1955
RUCHETON/RUCHETON/RUCHETONF/F/FDB Sport 1945
LANCKSWEERTBFERRARI 375 Plus 1954
LAINGGBASTON MARTIN DB2 1952
FLOODGBAUSTIN HEALEY 100 1954
MIDY/CARONF/FFERRARI 121 LM 1955
CRIPPAIFERRARI 340 MM 1953
KAHNFALLARD J2 1950

Grid 3 1957 - 1961
Driver(s)NationalityCar
HAQUETTEFFERRARI 250 GT 1960
WHALE/GUEST GB/GBJAGUAR Type E 1961
BATT/FLOYDGB/GBJAGUAR Type E 1961
FRANKE/SALEWSKI D/DALFA ROMEO Zagato 1959
PENILLARD/ROCHERF/FPORSCHE 356 Coupé 1958
WANTYBLOTUS XI 1958
THORNTON/GARRETTGB/GBASTON MARTIN DB4 GT 1960
CHARAGIONI/DROULISCOSGR/GRLOTUS Elite 1961
MAHMOUDGBASTON MARTIN DB 4 GT 1960
THOULOUZE/GRAVIERF/FLOTUS XI 1958
DUDLEYUSAFERRARI 250 GT TdF 1958
THALMANUSAPORSCHE 356 A GT 1959
PATERSON ACKLAM GBLOTUS XI 1957
SADELEER CHFERRARI 250 GT 1960
LA HAYE JOUSSELINFASTON MARTIN DB4 GT 1961
CANEFLOTUS XI 1959
RICKETTS/SEWELLGB/GBLOTUS Elite 1961
BURT/HONEGGERUSA/USALOTUS XI 1958
CARONFAUSTIN HEALEY 3000 1961
PEROUFAUSTIN HEALEY 3000 1961
PASOLD/ROCHATGB/CHAUSTIN HEALEY 3000 1961
GREEN/DAGGITT/PHILLIPS ZA/ZA/ZAM.G A "Twin Cam" 1960

Grid 4 1962 - 1965
Driver(s)NationalityCar
HANDSGBLOTUS Elan 26R GT 1964
BESSADE/LAURENT/MAGNIN F/F/FCD PANHARD LM 64 1964
NAHUM/THUNERTR/CHFORD Shelby 350 GT R 1965
HOOPER/WOODGB/GBTVR Grantura MK III 1963
WANTYBALFA ROMEO Giulia T21 1964
GOLDUSAPORSCHE 904/6 1964
BELLMGBFORD GT 40 1965
FOUANFJAGUAR Type E 1962
DEVISBAC COBRA MK II 4,7L 1963
THOULOUZE/GRAVIERF/FALFA ROMEO TZ 1965
COTTERET/REICHERF/FRENE BONNET Djet II CRB/ 1L 1963
LAIDLAWGBPORSCHE 904/6 1965
MERLINFLOTUS Elan 1964
MORICEAUFLOTUS Elan 1964
d’ANSEMBOURGBBIZZARRINI A3/C 1965
BRATKE/LOUISODERD/DFORD Shelby 350 GT 1965
HUBIN/LERICHEF/FFORD Shelby 350 GT 1965
NEWEYGBFORD GT 40 1965
BENDALLGBAC Shelby Cobra 1962
GUTZWILLER/BÜRGIN/SALVADORICH/CH/CHALFA ROMEO Giulietta SZ 1962
NOBLETFFERRARI 275 GTB 1965

Grid 5 1966 - 1971
Driver(s)NationalityCar
GOODMANUSACHEVROLET Corvette 1969
MERIAN/DEGANDB/FLIGIER JS 1 1969
NAHUM/THUNER TR/CHFORD GT 40 1968
LUCOFPORSCHE 908/3 1968
STEUER/de MIGUEL/CORTES/ORJUELACOL/E/COL/EFORD Mustang 1966
SCHACHTSCHNEIDERDPORSCHE 914/6 GT 1969
DEVISBALFA ROMEO Tipo 33/2B 1968
ROCHERFPORSCHE 906 1966
MERLINFLOLA T70 MKIIIB 1969
LAWRENCE/SZYKOWSKI BALDWIN GB/F/GBDEEP SANDERSON 302 1968
LAWRENCE/MORGAN/BALDWINGB/GB/GBDEEP SANDERSON 301 1962
COLL/CRUVELIERF/FPORSCHE 911 1966
BARBOT/BAKERP/GBLOLA T70 MKIIIB 1969

Grid 6 1972 - 1978
Driver(s)NationalityCar
TITFORD/RAVENGB/GBFORD Capri 2600 RS 1972
BESSADE/LAURENT/MAGNIN F/F/FMATRA MS 670 1972
LUCOFPORSCHE 936 1978
MORTIERBBMW 3.0 CSL 1977
KNAPFIELGBFERRARI 365 GTB/4 Comp 1973
LECOURTFPORSCHE 911 RSR 2.8 1973
THEVENETFPORSCHE 911 RS 1974

Editor's note; I greatly enjoyed the Le Mans Classic 2002 and can thoroughly recomend a visit in 2004. We are indebted to Classic Driver's regular contributing photographer Alexander Davidis for permission to use his 2002 shots. He has produced a short 'art-film' DVD of the event, and examples of other work that has been featured on Classic Driver include -

AMOC Silverstone 2003 Photo-gallery

2002 Le Mans Classic photo-gallery

More great shots from Le Mans 2002

Original photos