Looking back with Paul Frere: writer, racer, Le Mans winner
Just occasionally, to keep a sense of perspective over the subject about which they are writing, motoring journalists try their hand at active motor racing. Some in recent years have…
The rear wing was wound down and the boost wound up. Duct tape was strapped across almost every bodywork orifice and some brave soul was strapped into the cockpit. The…
The Porsche 917 is one of the machines in the running to be named Race Car of the Century; will it get your vote? Click below or scroll to the…
The writing was on the wall. Thousands of British enthusiasts made the ritual visit to the famous Restaurant des Hunaudieres, to find that this bastion of French cuisine, right alongside…
Michael Burn is 92, a former Times correspondent, poet and playwright. But when Henry Birkin met him he was a young student who had never written anything. A mere three…
This, the greatest race for cars in touring trim, took place at Le Mans on June 20th, 1925, finishing 24 hours later. Arriving at the circuit six days before the…
The one nightmare shared by Jaguar's board members was the possibility of defeat at Le Mans. Last year the three entries were prepared beautifully, but lasted only 16 hours effectively,…
Before Williams and BMW tied the knot in Formula 1 they underwent a trial marriage in sports car racing. Unlike the F1 enterprise it quickly proved successful, adding a Le…
My lamented friend Jabby Crombac always considered the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hours to have been the greatest in the long history of the race. The quality of the entry,…
Even when they announced their boycott of the Le Mans 24-hour race in March, Porsche must have known that success was assured. Did not they take the top eight places…
There is something indescribably exciting about seeing these two Porsches parked next to each other. While any Porsche 956 or 962 is a pretty special device, these specific chassis are…
Any decent reference book will tell you why the 1953 Le Mans was a significant race; mere figures say that, for the first time in the history of the event,…
Its been many years since Grand Prix was an endurance event, but it's not long since rallying's old guard complained that compulsory night-stops mollycoddled the crews. In the great days…
Take yourself back thirty years to Spa, May 1, 1967. It's a little before 1.00pm and the 1000 kilometres of Francorchamps is about to be begin. Dickie Attwood, sitting on…
Countless schoolboys have fantasised about winning Le Mans, perhaps in a car painted in patriotic dark green; perhaps – even better – in a self-built car carrying their own name.…
What was the greatest moment in sports car racing? Some might well say Pedro Rodríguez’s win in the ’71 Österreichring 1000Km was unassailable for its sheer spectacle, other’s that the…
More than half a century ago a young man called Philip Toll Hill Jr turned his back on California sunshine and came to England, joining Jaguar as a trainee. He'd…