1939 24 Hours of Le Mans

{{Short description|16th 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race}}

{{Refimprove|date=August 2018}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2018}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}{{Le Mans Races

| Previous = 1938

| Current = 1939

| Next = 1949

}}

File:Le_Mans_Circuit_de_la_Sarthe_1932-1967.png

The 1939 24 Hours of Le Mans ({{Langx|fr|24 Heures du Mans 1939}}) was the 16th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place at Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans, France, on 17 and 18 June 1939. The 1939 programme cover depicted the raising of six nations' flags: France, Italy, Great Britain (its civil Red Ensign), Belgium, Germany, and the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinterest.com/pin/339177415678674379|title=1939 Le Mans Programme Cover|website=Pinterest|access-date=2018-02-10}}

By June 1939, the outbreak of World War II was less than three months away. The following year's 24 Hours of Le Mans was originally planned for June 1940, but due to the invasion of France in May the race was called off. Endurance racing would not return to Le Mans until 1949, four years after V-E day ended World War II in Europe.

Official results

Class winners are denoted with bold.

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

!{{Tooltip|Pos|Position}}

!Class

!{{Tooltip|No.|Car number}}

!Team

!Drivers

!Chassis

!Engine

!Tyre

!{{Tooltip|Laps|Laps completed}}

!Distance/Retired

1

| 8.0

| 1

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Wimille

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Wimille
{{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre Veyron

| Bugatti Type 57C Tank

| Bugatti 3.3L Supercharged I8

|{{Dunlop}}

| 249

|{{Convert|3346.106|km|mi|abbr=on}}

2

| 3.0

| 21

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ecurie Walter Watney

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Louis Gérard
{{flagicon|FRA}} Georges Monneret

| Delage D6-3L

| Delage 3.0L I6

|

| 245

| +4 laps

3

| 5.0

| 5

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Lagonda Ltd.

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Arthur Dobson
{{flagicon|GBR}} Charles Brackenbury

| Lagonda V12

| Lagonda 4.5L V12

|

| 239

| +10 laps

4

| 5.0

| 6

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Lord Selsdon

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Lord Selsdon
{{flagicon|GBR}} Lord William Waleran

| Lagonda V12

| Lagonda 4.5L V12

|

|239

| +10 laps

5

| 2.0

| 26

| {{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} BMW

| {{Nowrap|{{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Max zu Schaumburg-Lippe}}
{{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Fritz Hans Wenscher

| BMW 328 Touring Coupe

| BMW 2.0L I6

|

| 236

| +13 laps

6

| 5.0

| 12

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Louis Villeneuve

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Louis Villeneuve
{{flagicon|FRA}} René Biolay

| Delahaye 135CS

| Delahaye 3.6L I6

|

| 235

| +14 laps

7

| 2.0

| 27

| {{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} BMW

| {{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Ralph Röese
{{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Paul Heinemann

| BMW 328

| BMW 2.0L I6

|

| 230

| +19 laps

8

| 5.0

| 20

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Count Heyden

| {{flagicon|GBR}} R.R.C. Rob Walker
{{flagicon|GBR}} Ian Connell

| Delahaye 135CS

| Delahaye 3.6L I6

|

| 224

| +25 laps

9

| 2.0

| 28

| {{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} BMW

| {{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Willi Breim
{{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Rudolf Scholtz

| BMW 328

| BMW 2.0L I6

|

| 220

| +29 laps

10

| 1.1

| 39

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Gordini

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Amédée Gordini
{{flagicon|FRA}} José Scaron

| Simca Huit

| Fiat 1.1L I4

|

| 213

| +36 laps

11

| 5.0

| 14

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Joseph Chotard

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Joseph Chotard
{{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Seylair

| Delahaye 135CS

| Delahaye 3.6L I6

|

| 202

| +47 laps

12

| 2.0

| 29

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Robert Peverell Hichens

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Robert P. Hichens
{{flagicon|GBR}} Mortimer Morris-Goodall

| Aston Martin Speed Model

| Aston Martin 2.0L I4

|

| 199

| +50 laps

13

| 1.1

| 41

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Gordini

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Guy Lapchin
{{flagicon|FRA}} Charles Plantivaux

| Simca Huit

| Fiat 1.1L I4

|

| 195

| +54 laps

14

| 1.5

| 32

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Ecurie Lapin Blanc

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Peter Clark
{{flagicon|GBR}} Marcus Chambers

| HRG 1500

| Singer 1.5L I4

|

| 192

| +57 laps

15

| 1.1

| 37

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Mrs. Majorie Fawcett

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Geoffrey White
{{flagicon|GBR}} C.M. Anthony

| Morgan 4/4

| Coventry Climax 1.1L I4

|

| 184

| +65 laps

16

| 1.5

| 34

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Just-Emile Vernet

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Just-Emile Vernet
{{flagicon|FRA}} Carl de Bodard

| Riley Sprite TT Pourtout

| Riley 1.5L I4

|

| 180

| +69 laps

colspan="10" |70% of winner's race distance: 175 laps
17

| 1.1

| 38

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Victor Camerano

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Victor Camerano
{{flagicon|FRA}} Henri Louveau

| Simca Huit

| Fiat 1.1L I4

|

| 163

|

18

| 1.1

| 45

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Arthur W. Jones

| {{flagicon|GBR}} Arthur W. Jones
{{flagicon|GBR}} Gordon Wilkins

| Singer Le Mans Replica

| Singer 1.0L I4

|

| 154

|

19

| 750

| 48

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Gordini

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Adrien Alin
{{flagicon|FRA}} Albert Alin

| Simca Cinq

| Fiat 0.6L I4

|

| 148

|

20

| 750

| 49

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Gordini

| {{flagicon|FRA}} Maurice Aimé
{{flagicon|FRA}} Albert Leduc

| Simca Cinq

| Fiat 0.6L I4

|

| 147

|

DNF

|3.0

|25

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Raymond Sommer

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Raymond Sommer
{{flagicon|THA}} Prince Bira

|Alfa Romeo 6C 2500SS

|Alfa Romeo 2.4L I6

|

|173

|Engine

DNF

|5.0

|18

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Ecuria Francia

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Marcel Contet
{{flagicon|FRA}} Robert Brunet

|Delahaye 135CS

|Delahaye 3.6L I6

|

|171

|Suspension

DNF

|1.5

|31

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Victor Polledry

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Victor Polledry
{{flagicon|FRA}} R. Robert

|Aston Martin 1½ Ulster

|Aston Martin 1.5L I4

|

|155

|

DNF

|5.0

|3

|{{flagicon|ITA|1861}} Luigi Chinetti

|{{flagicon|ITA|1861}} Luigi Chinetti
{{flagicon|GBR}} Donald Mathieson

|Talbot T26

|Talbot 4.5L I6

|

|154

|Contact

DNF

|3.0

|22

|{{flagicon|GBR}} Ecurie Walter Watney

|{{flagicon|CHE}} Armand Hug
{{flagicon|FRA}} Roger Loyer

|Delage D6-3L

|Delage 3.0L I6

|

|152

|Contact

DNF

|5.0

|15

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Robert Mazaud

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Robert Mazaud
{{flagicon|FRA}} Marcel Mongin

|Delahaye 135CS

|Delahaye 3.6L I6

|

|115

|Fire

DNF

|1.1

|44

|{{flagicon|GBR}} Archie Scott

|{{flagicon|GBR}} Archie Scott
{{flagicon|GBR}} Tommy Wisdom

|Singer Nine Le Mans Replica

|Singer 1.0L I4

|

|105

|Dirty fuel

DNF

|5.0

|9

|{{flagicon|ITA|1861}} Luigi Chinetti

|{{flagicon|FRA}} René Le Begue
{{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre Levegh

|Talbot-Lago SS

|Talbot 4.0L I6

|

|102

|Ignition

DNF

|5.0

|19

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Ecurie Francia

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Eugène Chaboud
{{flagicon|FRA}} Yves Giraud-Cabantous

|Delahaye 135CS

|Delahaye 3.6L I6

|

|99

|

DNF

|5.0

|8

|{{flagicon|GBR}} T.A.S.O. Mathieson

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe de Massa
{{flagicon|FRA}} Norbert Jean Mahé

|Talbot 150SS Figoni

|Talbot 4.0L I6

|

|88

|

DNF

|5.0

|7

|{{flagicon|ITA|1861}} Luigi Chinetti

|{{flagicon|FRA}} André Morel
{{flagicon|GBR}} Jim Bradley

|Talbot T26

|Talbot 4.5L I6

|

|88

|

DNF

|5.0

|10

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Jean Trémoulet

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Jean Trémoulet
{{flagicon|FRA}} Raoul Forestier

|Talbot-Lago SS

|Talbot 4.0L i6

|

|68

|

DNF

|1.1

|36

|{{flagicon|USA}} Miles Collier

|{{flagicon|USA}} Miles Collier
{{flagicon|GBR}} Lewis Welch

|MG PA Midget

|MG 0.8L I4

|

|63

|

DNF

|5.0

|16

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Ecurie Francia

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Joseph Paul
{{flagicon|FRA}} Jean Trévoux

|Delahaye 135CS

|Delahaye 3.6L I6

|

|62

|

DNF

|5.0

|11

|{{flagicon|FRA}} André Bellecroix

|{{flagicon|FRA}} André Bellecroix
{{flagicon|FRA}} Gaston Serraud

|Delahaye 135CS

|Delahaye 3.6L I6

|

|50

|Contact

DNF

|1.1

|43

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Just-Emile Vernet

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Robert Cayeux
{{flagicon|FRA}} Gaston Tramar

| Simca Huit

|Fiat 1.1L I4

|

|50

|

DNF

|5.0

|4

|{{flagicon|ITA|1861}} Luigi Chinetti

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre Louis-Dreyfus
{{flagicon|FRA}} Antoine Schumann

|Talbot T26

|Talbot 4.5L I6

|

|45

|

DNF

|1.1

|47

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Claude Bonneau

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Claude Bonneau
{{flagicon|FRA}} Max Mathieu

|MG PB Midget

|MG 1.0L I4

|

|40

|Carbuerator

DNF

|1.1

|40

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Gordini

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Jean Breillet
{{flagicon|FRA}} Albert Debille

| Simca Huit

|Fiat 1.1L I4

|

|29

|Contact

DNF

|1.1

|42

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Mme Anne-Cécile Rose-Itier

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Anne-Cécile Rose-Itier
{{flagicon|FRA}} Suzanne Largeot

| Simca Huit

|Fiat 1.1L I4

|

|26

|Contact

DNF

|1.5

|30

|{{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Adler

|{{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Otto Löhr
{{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Paul von Guilleaume

|Adler Trumpf

|Adler 1.5L I4

|

|6

|Piston

DNF

|1.1

|46

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Savoye

|{{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Savoye
{{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre Savoye

|Singer Nine Le Mans Replica
"Savoye Special"

|Singer 1.0L I4

|

|4

|

DNS

|1.5

|

|{{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Adler

|{{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Fritz Huschke von Hanstein
{{flagicon|DEU|Nazi}} Karkmann

|Adler Trumpf

|Adler 1.5L I4

|

| -

| -

colspan="10" |Sources:{{Cite web|url=http://www.racingsportscars.com/results/Le_Mans-1939-06-18.html|title=Le Mans 24 Hours 1939 - Race Results - Racing Sports Cars|website=www.racingsportscars.com|access-date=2018-02-10}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259456162|title=Le Mans 24-Hour Motor Race: French Team Wins|last=Press Association Foreign Special|date=1939-06-11|work=The Guardian|access-date=2018-02-10|page=11|language=en|via=Newspapers.com}}

Statistics

  • Fastest Lap: #15 Robert Mazaud – 5:12.1 (average speed {{convert|155.6|kph|mph|abbr=on}}
  • Distance: {{Convert|3346.106|km|mi|abbr=on}}
  • Average Speed: {{Convert|139.781|kph|mph|abbr=on}}

Trophy winners

  • 14th Rudge-Whitworth Biennial Cup – #39 Gordini
  • Index of Performance – #39 Gordini

{{24 Hours of Le Mans}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1939 24 Hours Of Le Mans}}

Category:24 Hours of Le Mans races

Le Mans

Category:1939 in French motorsport