No safety cars, no drivers’ aides…

Le Mans 1970: The Hans Herrmann/Dick Attwood Porsche 917K en route to victory in a deluge (main picture). For Herrmann, a veteran of 13 Le Mans, it was particularly sweet having lost by the narrowest margin (120 metres) to Ickx’s Ford GT40 the previous year.

No safety cars, no radio communications, no traction control, no electronic driver aids, no air-conditioning, no chicanes, no slow zones, no decent headlights, no useful wipers, just two (great drivers) flat out during 24 hours.

Porsche’s dominance was complete – winning all three places on the podium and taking all the class-wins. The only dark spot was Ickx’s (Ferrari 512S) accident at the Ford Chicane during the night which killed a track marshal.

Picture below: The Salzburg-Porsche 917K, fitted with the 4.5L Flat 12 Porsche engine, of Hans Herrmann and Richard Attwood, crosses the finishing line after 343 laps, to take victory at the 1970 Le Mans 24 Hours.