I happened to be in the ACO Hospitality area near the Dunlop bridge when McNish had his terrible crash in 2011, literally right in front of where we were watching the race at this time…….gosh he was a very lucky chap.

I’ve been to over 20 Le Mans 24 Races over the years starting back in 1983….this race in 2011 was one of the most exciting……lots of action right to the end…..and below it, the 2008 race. I was in the US so missed in 2008….

Its the 50th Anniversary this year of the first 917 win at La Sarthe……..The no 23 car wins mainly because its actually a 1969 car with the smaller 4.5 litre engine that proved to be better in the rain. 20 hours of the 24 hours it rained….alot….

Checking out a couple of other Porsche facts I discovered the first ever Porsche Win in class in the 1100 cc engine size, was way… way back in 1951. A heavily modified 356 chase no.063 won No 46. It was 20th overall, averaged 74 mph and did around 1,700 in the 24 hours.

Check out the fascinating history of this car. It’s been in Southern California since 1952 and first raced at Peeble Beach, Laguna Seca and even Torrey Pines in La Jolla before the golf course was built……