Slipstreaming at 380 km/h!

Belgian Didier Theys, a two-time 24 Hours of Daytona and Sebring 12 Hours winner, now a resident in Phoenix Arizona, recalls the 1985 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he drove for Brun Motorsport.

Didier Theys: “In 1985, I drove for Walter Brun, in the number 18 Porsche 956 that I shared with Walter himself and with the French driver Joël Gouhier. I remember vividly having a fantastic fight with the Argentinian Oscar Larrauri in the sister Brun-entered car”.

He continues: “We had so much fun slipstreaming on the Hunaudières straight at more than 380 km/h! People might not know it, but this long straight is bumpy, so its not easy to keep the car straight at these speeds.”

Theys concludes: “We passed each other more than 25 times during the double stint we both did. Unfortunately, we could not finish the race, both cars had to retire with technical problems”.

Victory went to the New-Man Joest Racing 956 of Ludwig, Barilla and ‘Winter’ (picture below).