From underdogs to champions: Aston Martin's historic triumph at Le Mans 24 Hours

This year the Automobile Club de l’Ouest introduced a new feature in the running of the Le Mans 24-hour race by holding a test-day on the circuit as long ago as last April, and at which various competitors were able to try their new cars. At that time the speed of the 3-litre V12 Ferraris was so impressive that it seemed certain that they would win the race, as the only likely opposition was going to come from Aston Martin and they were not quick enough to be taken seriously. Practice during the week before the race rather confirmed this view, for even with Moss at the wheel of the Aston Martin any of the six Ferrari drivers seemed able to cope with him.

After making his usual flashing getaway, Moss led at the end of the opening lap but not by any great margin, and Gendebien and Silva Ramos had him well in sight. Behra had made a very poor start in the third works Ferrari and was catching up fast, so it seemed certain that the Ferrari team could deal with the only fast Aston Martin. The Feltham team had made strict tactics for their three cars, whereas the Ferrari team had been told nothing in the way of race strategy. Moss was given a free hand on the leading Aston to do as he wished, and he was obviously going to try and do another Nürburgring by building up an enormous lead before handing over to Fairman, but with the Le Mans circuit demanding engine power rather than driving skill, this tactic was not working. Salvadori was running to a fixed lap time, irrespective of what the leaders were doing, and Shelby was to do likewise when he took over. Trintignant in the third works Aston Martin, and his co-driver Frère, were expected to lap consistently 2sec slower than the number two car, and in this manner Reg Parnell anticipated having his cars spread through the head of the field in strategic positions, each one being stressed less than the one ahead of it. Ferraris obviously had no such idea and all three cars were straining to catch Moss. After 1¼ hours of racing Behra took the lead and the other two Ferraris were close together in third and fourth positions and, realising he did not have the maximum speed of the Italian cars, Moss made no attempt to hold on to Behra, preferring to run a consistent yet fast race, rather than strain the car unnecessarily.

The winning car passes signalling post after Mulsanne,