MovieChat Forums > Le Mans (1971) Discussion > Driver change allowed to drive the other...

Driver change allowed to drive the other team car?

posted 19 years ago by gucciphile
9 replies | jump to latest

Delaney totalled his own car and was asked to drive the other team car. Was it allowed in those days?

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jrv-3 19 years ago

A few years earlier (not sure precisely how many) Levegh has attempted to drive the entire 24hrs.

Unfotunately, in a dazed and almost unconscious condition he missed a gear with an hour or so left to go and blew the engine.

This of course was entirely unconnected with the terrible tragedy of '55 in which he was also involved, although blameless. The debate still continues as to whether it was Hawthorn or Macklin who precipitated the terrible events.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] RPD 18 years ago

I think at the time a driver was allowed to drive 2 cars, possibly only after their original one had retired. Jacky Ickx won the 1977 Le Mans after his original car broke down & was transferred to another one.

[–] rem483-1 18 years ago

Yes, it was allowed. It would enable a particular car to win the race (and that's all the constructors wanted) but a driver had to complete a certain number of laps in that car in order to be awarded credit for that car's placing. Hence, even if McQueen had jumped in the 2nd Porsche and won, he would not have been credited as a winning driver.

[–] rubberducknl77 18 years ago

As a matter of fact, this is still allowed at Le Mans. As long as the driver doesn't exceed (if I'm not mistaken) 14 hours total and 4 hours per driver stint. It has happened in modern times as well on a few occasions.

[–] hauptmann6 18 years ago

Not anymore, they outlawed that in the 90s. Martin Brundell took advantage of it with the Jaguar win in 88(IIRC)

[–] E_Mcgraw 14 years ago

in todays nascar u can still do it (even if u drive for a different team-the points and money are still awarded to who starts the race). yes, i know most of u don't even like that i brought nascar up, but i'm just saying that in todays top level racing it still happens.

[–] Three_Cats_Movies 13 years ago

Incorrect, it was Martin Brundle in 1990 after his car retired with electrical problems 14 hrs into the race. He took over Eliseo Salazar's place, who had to transfer to another car that retired 20 hrs into the race. Brundle moved to the eventual winning car as he was Walkinshaw's star driver

From what I read in Le Mans Series and Sportscar Racer magazine back somewhere in 2000 was that that move strained Salazar's relationship with Walkinshaw