Opportunity for privateers

The 1987 24 Hours of Le Mans took place on 13 and 14 June 1987. It was the fifth round of the 1987 World Sports-Prototype Championship and the most important race of the endurance season.

The factory Rothmans Porsche team was clear favorite, and the German car brand was supported by very competent privateers such as Porsche Kremer and Primagaz Competition. Opposition came from Jaguar, Courage and Mazda.

Porsche 962C cars suffered from piston failure due to the wrong microchip fitted for fuel management, causing burned pistons. The #17 car of Derek Bell (GB), Hans Stuck (D) and Al Holbert (USA) escaped this fate with a new chip fitted, running largely uncontested to the finish (picture below).

It was an opportunity for the privateers to shine and the #72 Primagaz Competition Porsche 962C  (picture above) of Jurgen Lässig (D), Pierre Yver (F) and Bernard de Dryver (B) took a fine second place, albeit 20 laps (!) behind the winners.