2000 24 Hours of Le Mans
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The 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 68th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 17 and 18 June 2000.
Pre-race
After the 1999 race, most of the manufacturers in the top classes went in different directions. BMW and Toyota went into Formula One, while Mercedes-Benz left sportscar racing after the CLR accidents, returning to the DTM. Nissan also left due to financial difficulties.
Other than the French privateers Pescarolo, Oreca and DAMS, only Audi and Panoz remained from the previous year, while newcomer Cadillac joined.
Race notes
Approximately 200,000 people attended the race.[1] The 1-2-3 finish of the Audi LMP900s marked the beginning of two dynasties, Audi's and Tom Kristensen's in the top-finishing Audi.[2]
The Oreca team's GTS class winning, seventh place, 333 lap finish with the Chrysler Viper was the best ever with that car. It faced serious competition within its class from Corvette Racing's new C5.R.,[3] which would within the next two years top the Viper's distance record and establish itself as the car to beat among the GT classes.
Race results
Class winners are denoted in bold.[4][5]
† - #83 Dick Barbour Racing was disqualified for an illegally sized fuel tank in post-race inspection.
Statistics
- Pole Position — Allan McNish, #9 Audi Sport Team Joest - 3:36.124
- Fastest Lap — Allan McNish, #9 Audi Sport Team Joest - 3:37.359
- Distance - 5007.99 km
- Average Speed - 207.00 km/h
- Highest Trap Speed — Audi R8 - 337 km/h (race)
References
- ^ "Audi 1-2-3 at Le Mans" (Press release). Audi MediaCenter. 18 June 2000. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "It's twenty years since Audi's first 24 Hours of Le Mans win". Automobile Club de l'Ouest. 18 June 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Panighini, Philippe (18 June 2000). "GTS : le grand chelem des Chrysler" [GTS: the Chrysler grand slam]. Ouest-France (in French). Archived from the original on 19 September 2000. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "2000 24 Hours of Le Mans". Racing-Reference. NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "2000 Le Mans 24 Hours". Motor Sport. Retrieved 19 February 2024.