In 1978, the Renault V6 turbo, which had lost in 1976 and 1977 to the Porsche 936, finally managed to beat the German cars. Each company had brought no less than four cars, which after qualifying shared the first four rows. After Renault's hare, the brand new A443, holed a piston late on Sunday morning, the modified A442B with its bubble roof was able to hold off Jacky Ickx and the remaining factory Porsches in the closing stages. Mission accomplished at Le Mans, Renault concentrated their efforts on Formula One.
Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Laps | Engine |
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1 | S +2.0 | 2 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Renault Sport | {{flagicon|FRA}} Didier Pironi {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Jaussaud | Renault Alpine A442B | 369 |
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Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 |
2 | S +2.0 | 6 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Martini Racing Porsche System | {{flagicon|FRA}} Bob Wollek {{flagicon|DEU}} Jürgen Barth {{flagicon|BEL}} Jacky Ickx | Porsche 936/78 | 364 |
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Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6 |
3 | S +2.0 | 7 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Martini Racing Porsche System | {{flagicon|USA}} Hurley Haywood {{flagicon|USA}} Peter Gregg {{flagicon|DEU}} Reinhold Joest | Porsche 936/77 | 362 |
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Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6 |
4 | S +2.0 | 4 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Equipe Renault Elf Sport Calberson | {{flagicon|FRA}} Guy Fréquelin {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean Ragnotti {{flagicon|FRA}} José Dolhem {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Jabouille | Renault Alpine A442A | 358 |
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Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 |
5 | IMSA +2.5 | 90 | {{flagicon|USA}} Dick Barbour Racing | {{flagicon|GBR}} Brian Redman {{flagicon|USA}} Dick Barbour {{flagicon|USA}} John Paul Sr. | Porsche 935/77 | 337 |
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Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
6 | Gr.5 +2.0 | 44 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Porsche Kremer Racing | {{flagicon|USA}} Jim Busby {{flagicon|USA}} Chris Cord {{flagicon|USA}} Rick Knoop | Porsche 935/77 | 336 |
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Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
7 | Gr.5 +2.0 | 41 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Mondelo ASA Cachia {{flagicon|BRA}} Team Pace | {{flagicon|BRA}} Alfredo Guaraná {{flagicon|BRA}} Paulo Gomes {{flagicon|BRA}} Mário Amaral | Porsche 935/77 | 329 |
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Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
8 | Gr.5 +2.0 | 43 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Martini Racing Porsche System | {{flagicon|LIE}} Manfred Schurti {{flagicon|DEU}} Rolf Stommelen | Porsche 935/78 | 326 |
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Porsche 3.2L Turbo Flat-6 |
9 | GTP 3.0 | 72 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean Rondeau | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean Rondeau {{flagicon|FRA}} Bernard Darniche {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacky Haran | Rondeau M378 | 294 |
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Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 |
10 | S +2.0 | 10 | {{flagicon|USA}} Grand Touring Cars Inc. | {{flagicon|AUS}} Vern Schuppan {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Laffite {{flagicon|USA}} Sam Posey | Mirage M9 | 293 |
---|
Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 |
11 | S 2.0 | 31 | {{flagicon|FRA}} ROC La Pierre du Nord | {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Pignard {{flagicon|FRA}} Lucien Roussiaud {{flagicon|CHE}} Laurent Ferrier | Chevron B36 | 284 |
---|
ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 |
12 | GT 3.0 | 66 | {{flagicon|FRA}} BP Racing / Anne-Charlotte Verney | {{flagicon|FRA}} Anne-Charlotte Verney {{flagicon|FRA}} Xavier Lapeyre {{flagicon|FRA}} François Servanin | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 279 |
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Porsche 3.0L Flat-6 |
13 | GTP 3.0 | 71 | {{flagicon|CHE}} André Chevalley Racing | {{flagicon|CHE}} André Chevalley {{flagicon|FRA}} François Trisconi | Inaltera LM | 279 |
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Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 |
14 | IMSA +2.5 | 97 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Charles Ivey Racing | {{flagicon|AUS}} Larry Perkins {{flagicon|GBR}} Gordon Spice {{flagicon|USA}} John Rulon-Miller | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 278 |
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Porsche 3.0L Flat-6 |
15 | S +2.0 | 8 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Alain de Cadenet | {{flagicon|GBR}} Alain de Cadenet {{flagicon|GBR}} Chris Craft | De Cadenet-Lola LM | 273 |
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Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 |
16 | IMSA +2.5 | 86 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Écurie Grand Competition Cars {{flagicon|USA}} North American Racing Team | {{flagicon|FRA}} François Migault {{flagicon|FRA}} Lucien Guitteny | Ferrari 365 GT4/BB | 262 |
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Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 |
17 | GT +3.0 | 62 | {{flagicon|FRA}} "Ségolen" | {{flagicon|FRA}} Christian Bussi {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Claude Briavoine {{flagicon|FRA}} "Ségolen" | Porsche 934 | 259 |
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Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
18 NC | S 2.0 | 23 | {{flagicon|CHE}} Artos Francy Sauber PP AG | {{flagicon|CHE}} Marc Surer {{flagicon|CHE}} Eugen Strähl {{flagicon|CHE}} Harry Blumer | Sauber C5 | 257 |
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BMW 2.0L I4 |
19 NC | S 2.0 | 20 | {{flagicon|CHE}} C.H. Graeminger | {{flagicon|CHE}} Sandro Plastina {{flagicon|CHE}} Mario Luini {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Daniel Grandjean | Cheetah G601 | 250 |
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Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4 |
20 NC | GT 3.0 | 64 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Georges Bourdillat | {{flagicon|FRA}} Georges Bourdillat {{flagicon|FRA}} Alain-Michel Bernhard {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Luc Favresse | Porsche 911 Carrera RSR | 241 |
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Porsche 3.0L Flat-6 |
21 NC | S 2.0 | 25 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Team Pronuptia | {{flagicon|FRA}} Bruno Sotty {{flagicon|FRA}} Gérard Cuynet {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Claude Dufrey | Lola T294/6 | 238 |
---|
Ford Cosworth FVC 1.9L I4 |
22 NC | S 2.0 | 24 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Team Pronuptia | {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Elkoubi {{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre Yver {{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe Streiff | Lola T296 | 232 |
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Ford Cosworth FVC 1.9L I4 |
23 NC | S 2.0 | 28 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Dominique Lacaud | {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Lateste {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-François Auboiron {{flagicon|FRA}} Dominique Lacaud | Lola T297 | 217 |
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BMW 2.0L I4 |
24 NC | Gr.5 +2.0 | 45 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Porsche Kremer Racing | {{flagicon|DEU}} Louis Krages {{flagicon|DEU}} Dieter Schornstein {{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe Gurdjian | Porsche 935/77 | 182 |
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Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
25 NC | S 2.0 | 27 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Mogil Motors Ltd. with Kores Racing | {{flagicon|GBR}} Tony Charnell {{flagicon|GBR}} Robin Smith {{flagicon|FRA}} Fréderic Alliot {{flagicon|GBR}} Richard Jones | Chevron B31 | 180 |
---|
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4 |
26 DNF | S +2.0 | 1 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Renault Sport | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Jabouille {{flagicon|FRA}} Patrick Depailler | Renault Alpine A443 | 279 |
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Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 |
27 DNF | S +2.0 | 5 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Martini Racing Porsche System | {{flagicon|BEL}} Jacky Ickx {{flagicon|FRA}} Henri Pescarolo {{flagicon|DEU}} Jochen Mass | Porsche 936/78 | 255 |
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Porsche Type-935 2.1L Turbo Flat-6 |
28 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 88 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Claude Andruet {{flagicon|ITA}} Spartaco Dini | Ferrari 512BB | 251 |
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Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 |
29 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 87 | {{flagicon|USA}} Luigi Chinetti Sr. | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Guérin {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Delauney {{flagicon|USA}} Gregg Young | Ferrari 512BB | 232 |
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Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 |
30 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 89 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing | {{flagicon|FRA}} Claude Ballot-Léna {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Louis Lafosse | Ferrari 512BB | 218 |
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Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 |
31 DNF | S +2.0 | 19 | {{flagicon|GBR}} IBEC Racing Developments, Ltd. | {{flagicon|GBR}} Guy Edwards {{flagicon|GBR}} Ian Grob | Ibec-Hesketh 308LM | 195 |
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Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 |
32 DNF | S 2.0 | 30 | {{flagicon|FRA}} ROC La Pierre du Nord | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jacques Henry {{flagicon|FRA}} Albert Dufrene {{flagicon|MAR}} Max Cohen-Olivar | Chevron B36 | 195 |
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ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 |
33 DNF | GTP +3.0 | 78 | {{flagicon|FRA}} WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl | {{flagicon|FRA}} Christian Debias {{flagicon|FRA}} Xavier Mathiot {{flagicon|FRA}} Marc Sourd | WM P78 | 186 |
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Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6 |
34 DNF | GTP 3.0 | 76 | {{flagicon|FRA}} WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl | {{flagicon|FRA}} Christine Dacremont {{flagicon|FRA}} Marianne Hoepfner | WM P76 | 171 |
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Peugeot PRV 2.7L V6 |
35 DNF | GT +3.0 | 68 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Hervé Poulain | {{flagicon|DEU}} Edgar Dören {{flagicon|DEU}} Gerhard Holup {{flagicon|FRA}} Hervé Poulain {{flagicon|LUX}} Roman Feitler | Porsche 934 | 167 |
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Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
36 DNF | S +2.0 | 3 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Renault Sport | {{flagicon|GBR}} Derek Bell {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Jarier | Renault Alpine A442A | 162 |
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Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 |
37 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 91 | {{flagicon|USA}} Dick Barbour Racing | {{flagicon|USA}} Bob Garretson {{flagicon|USA}} Steve Earle {{flagicon|USA}} Robert Akin | Porsche 935/77 | 159 |
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Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
38 DNF | S 2.0 | 29 | {{flagicon|FRA}} ROC Modylook | {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Dubois {{flagicon|FRA}} Daniel Gache {{flagicon|FRA}} Julien Sanchez | Chevron B36 | 142 |
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ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 |
39 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 48 | {{flagicon|CHE}} Haberthur {{flagicon|CHE}} Mecarillos-Cégécol Racing Team | {{flagicon|CHE}} Herbert Müller {{flagicon|CHE}} Claude Haldi {{flagicon|CHE}} "Nico" | Porsche 935/76 | 140 |
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Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
40 DNF | S 2.0 | 26 | {{flagicon|FRA}} G.V.E.A. | {{flagicon|FRA}} Georges Morand {{flagicon|FRA}} Eric Vaugnat {{flagicon|CHE}} Christian Blanc | Lola T296 | 130 |
---|
Ford Cosworth BDG 2.0L I4 |
41 DNF | S 2.0 | 21 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Marie Lemerle | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Marie Lemerle {{flagicon|FRA}} Alain Levié {{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre-François Rousselot | Lola T294 | 126 |
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ROC-Chrysler 2.0L I4 |
42 DNF | GT 3.0 | 65 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Joël Laplacette | {{flagicon|CHE}} Antoine Salamin {{flagicon|CHE}} Gerard Vial {{flagicon|FRA}} Yves Courage {{flagicon|FRA}} Joël Laplacette | Porsche 930 | 116 |
---|
Porsche 3.3L Turbo Flat-6 |
43 DNF | S 2.0 | 34 | {{flagicon|GBR}} BMW Great Britain {{flagicon|GBR}} Toleman Delivery | {{flagicon|AUT}} Dieter Quester {{flagicon|GBR}} Tom Walkinshaw {{flagicon|ZAF|1928}} Rad Dougall | Osella PA6 | 113 |
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BMW 2.0L I4 |
44 DNF | S 2.0 | 32 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Dorset Racing Associates with Kelly Girl | {{flagicon|GBR}} Ian Harrower {{flagicon|GBR}} Tony Birchenhough {{flagicon|GBR}} Miss Juliette Slaughter {{flagicon|GBR}} Brian Joscelyn | Lola T294 | 61 |
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Ford Cosworth FVC 2.0L I4 |
45 DNF | GT +3.0 | 61 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Auto Daniel Urcun | {{flagicon|FRA}} Guy Chasseuil {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Claude Lefévre {{flagicon|FRA}} Marcel Mignot | Porsche 934 | 61 |
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Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
46 DNF | GTP +3.0 | 77 | {{flagicon|FRA}} WM A.E.R.E.M. / Team Esso Aseptogyl | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Daniel Raulet {{flagicon|FRA}} Marcel Mamers | WM P77 | 44 |
---|
Peugeot PRV 2.7L Turbo V6 |
47 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 94 | {{flagicon|USA}} Whittington Bros. Racing | {{flagicon|USA}} Don Whittington {{flagicon|USA}} Bill Whittington {{flagicon|AUT}} Franz Konrad | Porsche 935/77 | 41 |
---|
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
48 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 85 | {{flagicon|BEL}} Ecurie Francorchamps | {{flagicon|BEL}} Teddy Pilette {{flagicon|BEL}} Jean Blaton {{flagicon|FRA}} Raymond Touroul | Ferrari 512BB | 39 |
---|
Ferrari 4.9L Flat-12 |
49 DNF | GT +3.0 | 69 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Ravenel Frères | {{flagicon|BEL}} Willy Braillard {{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe Dagoreau {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Louis Ravenel {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean Ravenel | Porsche 934 | 35 |
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Porsche 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
50 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 46 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Porsche Kremer Racing | {{flagicon|GBR}} Martin Raymond {{flagicon|BEL}} "Steve" {{flagicon|GBR}} Mike Franey | Porsche 935/77 | 34 |
---|
Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
51 DNF | S +2.0 | 11 | {{flagicon|USA}} Grand Touring Cars Inc. | {{flagicon|USA}} Sam Posey {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Leclère | Mirage M9 | 33 |
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Renault 2.0L Turbo V6 |
52 DNF | IMSA +2.5 | 84 | {{flagicon|USA}} Brad Frisselle Racing {{flagicon|BEL}} Wynn's Belgium | {{flagicon|USA}} Brad Frisselle {{flagicon|USA}} Robert Kirby {{flagicon|USA}} John Hotchkis | Chevrolet Monza | 30 |
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Chevrolet 5.7L V8 |
53 DNF | S 2.0 | 33 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Dorset Racing Associates {{flagicon|GBR}} Cloud Engineering | {{flagicon|GBR}} Bob Evans {{flagicon|IRL}} Martin Birrane {{flagicon|GBR}} Richard Down {{flagicon|GBR}} Richard Bond | Lola T294 | 23 |
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Ford Cosworth FVC 2.0L I4 |
54 DNF | Gr.5 +2.0 | 47 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Weisberg Gelo Team | {{flagicon|GBR}} John Fitzpatrick {{flagicon|NLD}} Toine Hezemans | Porsche 935/77 | 19 |
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Porsche Type-935 3.0L Turbo Flat-6 |
DQ | S +2.0 | 12 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Simon Phillips Racing {{flagicon|FRA}} BATCO France | {{flagicon|GBR}} Nick Faure {{flagicon|USA}} John Beasley {{flagicon|GBR}} Simon Phillips {{flagicon|GBR}} Martin Raymond | De Cadenet-Lola T380 | 99 |
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Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0L V8 |