14th -15th June

55 starters 30 classified finishers

CIRCUIT :

Unchanged, the same 13.640 km layout being used.

REGULATlONS : The event did not count for Ihe World Championship for Makes. Thermal Efficency lndex suppressed. An interval of 20 laps minimum between refuelling stops. Drivers had to set their qualifying times after 2IH00. Maximum cubic capacity for sports cars limted to 3 litres, free for Ihe other categories. Engine marking cancelled and the competitor's word of honour was accepted conceming the mechanical characteristics of his vehicle. Freedom to change the mechanical organs of the car provided that the scrutineers were informed and the defective parts put at their disposal. Creation of a so - called combined classification resulting from the positions of each car in the Index of Performance and the fuel consumption classitication.

STARTERS :

55 cars 6 nations 17 makes

France : 1 Alpine, 3 Ligiers, 1 Moynet, 1 Tecma.

Germany : 3 BMWs, 27 Porsches.

Great Britain : 1 De Cadenet, 6 Lolas, 1 March, 2 Mirages.

Italy : 2 Ferraris, 2 De Tomasos.

J apan : 1 Datsun, 1 Mazda, 1 Sigma.

United States : 1 Chevrolet, 1 Ford.

SUMMARY :

The April test session was cancelled but even so there were 70 cars at scrutineering. No Ferraris, Matras or Alfa Romeos. On the initiative of Herve Poulain, an auctioneer, BMW had their works 3 litre CSL Coupe decorated by the American artist, Alexander Calder, and entrusted to the trio of Poulain -Posey - Guiche!. Drama on the grid 90 minutes before the start as the scrutineers decided not to allow the NART enlered Dino to start. Luigi Chinetti then modified the composition of his three driver line - ups which the ACO refused to accept. In a fit of rage, the triple winner withdrew his entries. This made the day of a Porsche, the Datsun and the Sigrna. A Soulh American entered unqualified Porsche look advantage of the general confusion to do 3 laps! From the start the Mirages went to the front, first the Schuppan - Jassaud car and then the Ickx - Bell one which was to lead for 23 hours. Ligier, Porsche and De Cadenet's waiting game met with little reward as 2 of the JS2s were eliminaled by accidents before midnight, and the Joesl 908/4 lost three - quarters of an hour at half - distance after a coming - together with an open 2 seater. The De Cadenet lost its bonnel twice before running into suspension and exhaust problems but struggled on to finish fourteenth. In the under 2 litre calegory, victory fell to the Simca engined Moynel driven by the all ladies team of Mrs Dacremonl, Mrs Hoepffner and a certain Michele Moulon. The other all - ladies crew of Lella Lombardi and Marie Claude Beaumonl went out early on in their Alpine. In the GT category the main interest was provided by an all- out war between the Gelo Racing, Kremer and Buchel Porsche Carrera RSRs wilh victory going to Gelo Racing thanks to John Fitzpatrick and Gijs van Lennep. There was a brief alert in the Mirage camp on Sunday aftenoon when the leading car slopped twice for 15 minules allowing the pursuing Ligier to come even closer. But not close enough as a lap separated it from the winners at 16H00.

RECORDS :