Mobil 1 @ 24 heures du Mans
Motorsport has always been a key element of Mobil 1’s enduring heritage and pedigree – nowhere more so that at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans. In the world of endurance racing, Le Mans is the one that every driver and manufacturer wants to win. As the ultimate test bed, Mobil 1 has been keenly involved in the gruelling event for many years – and has enjoyed significant success. Here’s a snapshot of some of the more memorable Mobil 1 partners to taste outright victory in the greatest race of them all.
Porsche 911 GT1-98, 1998 Le Mans winner
1996
TWR Porsche-95 Spyder
Drivers: Manuel Reuter – Davey Jones – Alexander Wurz
Born from a joint venture between Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR) and Joest Racing – with Porsche power, this car delivered Scotsman, Tom Walkinshaw his third and fourth Le Mans victories.
1997
TWR Porsche-95 Spyder
Drivers: Michele Alboreto – Stefan Johansson – Tom Kristensen
Joest Racing returned with the 1996 winning car – and took outright victory yet again. Known as chassis 791, this car now resides in Reinhold Joest’s private museum.
1998
Porsche 911 GT1-98
Drivers: Laurent Aiello – Allan McNish – Stephane Ortelli
Having come home second outright in 1997, Porsche’s famous GT1 went one better in 1998. #26 crossed the finish line one full lap ahead of #25 – the second placed sister car. This was the last road-based car to win outright at Le Mans.
2015
Porsche 919 Hybrid
Drivers: Nico Hulkenberg – Earl Bamber – Nick Tandy
In only Porsche’s second year back in top-flight, prototype LMP1 racing, #19 secured victory number 17 for Stuttgart.
2016
Porsche 919 Hybrid
Drivers: Romain Dumas – Neel Jani – Marc Lieb
With rivals, Toyota Gazoo Racing faltering in the dying stages, the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid was able to sweep past to score a second successive victory for Porsche.
2017
Porsche 919 Hybrid
Drivers: Timo Bernhard – Brendon Hartley – Earl Bamber
Having snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on the last lap in 2016, the #2 Porsche 919 Hybrid returned to score an emphatic victory in 2017.
2018
Toyota TS050 Hybrid
Drivers Sebastien Buemi – Fernando Alonso – Kazuki Nakajima
After the heartbreak of 2016 and 2017, Toyota Gazoo Racing proved their class with a triumphant one/two victory in 2018. It also delivered double F1 World Champion, Fernando Alonso an historic win at his first attempt at Le Mans!
2019
Toyota TS050 Hybrid
Drivers Sebastien Buemi – Fernando Alonso – Kazuki Nakajima
The Toyota dream team made it two-from-two in 2019. Troubles beset the #7 sister car, which clearly had the better pace. However, it was a mistake-free run that delivered the #8 TS050 back-to-back victories.
2020
Toyota TS050 Hybrid
Drivers Sebastien Buemi – Brendon Hartley – Kazuki Nakajima
As the only major manufacturer in the top LMP1 category, Le Mans 2020 was Toyota’s to lose. The now highly-refined TS050 was scintillatingly quick and steadfastly reliable – easily securing its third successive victory. It was also Japan’s Kazuki Nakajima, third straight win at Circuit de la Sarthe. Typically, Le Mans attracts around 250,000 spectators. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 restrictions, there were no trackside spectators at the delayed 2020 race.
