1998 saw a significant increase in manufacturer involvement. Porsche and Mercedes-Benz remained, with upgraded cars in both GT1 and LMP. Toyota sent three of their new, extremely fast GT-One racing cars, while BMW, in association with WilliamsF1, launched the new BMW V12 LM. Nissan sent 4 of their new R390 GT1s. The United States was also represented properly with a two car team from Panoz, with Ford powered Esperante GTR-1s, and factory-backed Chrysler Viper GTS-R in the GT2 class entered by Oreca.
Porsche won the race as the faster cars from Mercedes, BMW and Toyota retired with mechanical difficulties and accident damage. The remaining Nissans and outdated McLarens were unable to match the pace of the upgraded 911 GT1s. Following this race, Porsche went into a sabbatical, rumored to be part of a plan to allow Porsche's partner Audi to develop their own sportscar without competition from within the alliance.
Porsche would return to Le Mans in 2014; they would eventually win the 2015 race.
The GT2 class win by the Chrysler Viper GTS-R was the first GT class win for an American made car since the Shelby Daytona Coupe won in 1964.
Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Tyre | Laps | Engine |
---|
1 | LMGT1 | 26 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Porsche AG | {{flagicon|FRA}} Laurent Aïello {{flagicon|GBR}} Allan McNish {{flagicon|MCO}} Stéphane Ortelli | Porsche 911 GT1-98 | {{Michelin}} | 351 |
---|
Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 |
2 | LMGT1 | 25 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Porsche AG | {{flagicon|DEU}} Jörg Müller {{flagicon|DEU}} Uwe Alzen {{flagicon|FRA}} Bob Wollek | Porsche 911 GT1-98 | {{Michelin}} | 350 |
---|
Porsche 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 |
3 | LMGT1 | 32 | {{flagicon|JPN}} Nissan Motorsport | {{flagicon|JPN}} Aguri Suzuki {{flagicon|JPN}} Kazuyoshi Hoshino {{flagicon|JPN}} Masahiko Kageyama | Nissan R390 GT1 | {{Bridgestone}} | 347 |
---|
Nissan VRH35L 3.5 L Turbo V8 |
4 | LMGT1 | 40 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren | {{flagicon|GBR}} Steve O'Rourke {{flagicon|GBR}} Tim Sugden {{flagicon|USA}} Bill Auberlen | McLaren F1 GTR | {{Pirelli}} | 343 |
---|
BMW S70 6.0 L V12 |
5 | LMGT1 | 30 | {{flagicon|JPN}} Nissan Motorsport | {{flagicon|DNK}} John Nielsen {{flagicon|DEU}} Michael Krumm {{flagicon|FRA}} Franck Lagorce | Nissan R390 GT1 | {{Bridgestone}} | 342 |
---|
Nissan VRH35L 3.5 L Turbo V8 |
6 | LMGT1 | 31 | {{flagicon|JPN}} Nissan Motorsport | {{flagicon|NLD}} Jan Lammers {{flagicon|FRA}} Érik Comas {{flagicon|ITA}} Andrea Montermini | Nissan R390 GT1 | {{Bridgestone}} | 342 |
---|
Nissan VRH35L 3.5L Turbo V8 |
7 | LMGT1 | 45 | {{flagicon|USA}} Panoz Motor Sports | {{flagicon|AUS}} David Brabham {{flagicon|GBR}} Andy Wallace {{flagicon|GBR}} Jamie Davies | Panoz GTR-1 | {{Michelin}} | 335 |
---|
Ford-Roush 6.0 L V8 |
8 | LMP1 | 12 | {{flagicon|USA}} Doyle-Risi Racing | {{flagicon|ZAF}} Wayne Taylor {{flagicon|BEL}} Eric van de Poele {{flagicon|ESP}} Fermín Velez | Ferrari 333 SP | {{Pirelli}} | 332 |
---|
Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12 |
9 | LMGT1 | 27 | {{flagicon|JPN}} Toyota Motorsport | {{flagicon|JPN}} Ukyo Katayama {{flagicon|JPN}} Toshio Suzuki {{flagicon|JPN}} Keiichi Tsuchiya | Toyota GT-One | {{Michelin}} | 326 |
---|
Toyota R36V 3.6 L Turbo V8 |
10 | LMGT1 | 33 | {{flagicon|JPN}} Nissan Motorsport | {{flagicon|JPN}} Satoshi Motoyama {{flagicon|JPN}} Takuya Kurosawa {{flagicon|JPN}} Masami Kageyama | Nissan R390 GT1 | {{Bridgestone}} | 319 |
---|
Nissan VRH35L 3.5 L Turbo V8 |
11 | LMGT2 | 53 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Viper Team Oreca | {{flagicon|GBR}} Justin Bell {{flagicon|USA}} David Donohue {{flagicon|ITA}} Luca Drudi | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | {{Michelin}} | 317 |
---|
Chrysler 8.0 L V10 |
12 | LMP1 | 16 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Kremer Racing | {{flagicon|ITA}} Rocky Agusta {{flagicon|ITA}} Almo Coppelli {{flagicon|FRA}} Xavier Pompidou | Kremer K8/2 Spyder | {{Goodyear}} | 314 |
---|
Porsche Type-935 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 |
13 | LMGT2 | 51 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Viper Team Oreca | {{flagicon|MCO}} Olivier Beretta {{flagicon|PRT}} Pedro Lamy {{flagicon|USA}} Tommy Archer | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | {{Michelin}} | 312 |
---|
Chrysler 8.0 L V10 |
14 | LMP1 | 3 | {{flagicon|USA}} Moretti Racing Inc. | {{flagicon|ITA}} Gianpiero Moretti {{flagicon|ITA}} Mauro Baldi {{flagicon|BEL}} Didier Theys | Ferrari 333 SP | {{Yokohama}} | 311 |
---|
Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12 |
15 | LMP1 | 15 | {{flagicon|FRA}} La Filière | {{flagicon|FRA}} Henri Pescarolo {{flagicon|FRA}} Olivier Grouillard {{flagicon|FRA}} Franck Montagny | Courage C36 | {{Michelin}} | 304 |
---|
Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6 |
16 | LMP1 | 24 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Courage Compétition | {{flagicon|JPN}} Yojiro Terada {{flagicon|FRA}} Franck Fréon {{flagicon|FRA}} Olivier Thévenin | Courage C41 | {{Michelin}} | 300 |
---|
Porsche Type-935 3.0 L Turbo Flat-6 |
17 | LMGT2 | 64 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Roock Racing Motorsport | {{flagicon|DEU}} Claudia Hürtgen {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Ligonnet {{flagicon|GBR}} Robert Nearn | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Yokohama}} | 285 |
---|
Porsche 3.8 L Turbo Flat-6 |
18 | LMGT2 | 69 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Nourry | {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Nourry {{flagicon|FRA}} Thierry Perrier {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Louis Ricci | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Goodyear}} | 276 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
19 | GT2 | 56 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Chamberlain Engineering | {{flagicon|GBR}} Gary Ayles {{flagicon|USA}} Matt Turner {{flagicon|NLD}} Hans Hugenholtz | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | {{Dunlop}} | 270 |
---|
Chrysler 8.0 L V10 |
20 | LMGT2 | 68 | {{flagicon|CHE}} Elf Haberthur Racing | {{flagicon|FRA}} Éric Graham {{flagicon|FRA}} Hervé Poulain {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Luc Maury-Laribière | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Dunlop}} | 268 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
21 | LMGT2 | 55 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Chamberlain Engineering | {{flagicon|PRT}} Ni Amorim {{flagicon|PRT}} Gonçalo Gomes {{flagicon|PRT}} Manuel Mello-Breyner | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | {{Dunlop}} | 264 |
---|
Chrysler 8.0 L V10 |
22 | LMGT2 | 65 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Roock Racing Motorsport | {{flagicon|GBR}} Rob Schirle {{flagicon|DEU}} André Ahrlé {{flagicon|GBR}} David Warnock | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Yokohama}} | 247 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
23 | LMGT2 | 72 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Larbre Compétition | {{flagicon|FRA}} Patrice Goueslard {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Luc Chéreau {{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre Yver | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Michelin}} | 240 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
DNF | LMGT1 | 29 | {{flagicon|JPN}} Toyota Motorsport | {{flagicon|BEL}} Thierry Boutsen {{flagicon|DEU}} Ralf Kelleners {{flagicon|GBR}} Geoff Lees | Toyota GT-One | {{Michelin}} | 330 |
---|
Toyota R36V 3.6 L Turbo V8 |
DNF | LMGT2 | 71 | {{flagicon|PRT}} Estoril Racing | {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Maisonneuve {{flagicon|FRA}} Manuel Monteiro {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Monteiro | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Pirelli}} | 277 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
DNF | LMGT1 | 44 | {{flagicon|USA}} Panoz Motor Sports | {{flagicon|FRA}} Éric Bernard {{flagicon|FRA}} Christophe Tinseau {{flagicon|USA}} Johnny O'Connell | Panoz GTR-1 | {{Michelin}} | 236 |
---|
Ford-Roush 6.0 L V8 |
DNF | LMP1 | 13 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Courage Compétition | {{flagicon|FRA}} Didier Cottaz {{flagicon|BEL}} Marc Goossens {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Philippe Belloc | Courage C51 | {{Michelin}} | 232 |
---|
Nissan VRH35Z 3.0 L Turbo V8 |
DNF | LMGT1 | 41 | {{flagicon|GBR}} Gulf Team Davidoff McLaren | {{flagicon|DEU}} Dr. Thomas Bscher {{flagicon|ITA}} Emanuele Pirro {{flagicon|ITA}} Rinaldo Capello | McLaren F1 GTR | {{Goodyear}} | 228 |
---|
BMW S70 6.0 L V12 |
DNF | LMP1 | 8 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Porsche AG | {{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre-Henri Raphanel {{flagicon|USA}} David Murry {{flagicon|GBR}} James Weaver | Porsche LMP1-98 | {{Michelin}} | 218 |
---|
Porsche Type-935 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 |
DNF | LMP1 | 10 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Pilot Racing | {{flagicon|FRA}} Michel Ferté {{flagicon|FRA}} Pascal Fabre {{flagicon|FRA}} François Migault | Ferrari 333 SP | ? | 203 |
---|
Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12 |
DNF | LMGT2 | 67 | {{flagicon|CHE}} Elf Haberthur Racing | {{flagicon|BEL}} Michel Neugarten {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Claude Lagniez {{flagicon|FRA}} David Smadja | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Dunlop}} | 198 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
DNF | LMGT1 | 28 | {{flagicon|JPN}} Toyota Motorsport | {{flagicon|GBR}} Martin Brundle {{flagicon|FRA}} Emmanuel Collard {{flagicon|FRA}} Éric Hélary | Toyota GT-One | {{Michelin}} | 191 |
---|
Toyota R36V 3.6 L Turbo V8 |
DNF | LMP1 | 5 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jabouille-Boursche | {{flagicon|ITA}} Vincenzo Sospiri {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Christophe Boullion {{flagicon|FRA}} Jérôme Policand | Ferrari 333 SP | {{Michelin}} | 187 |
---|
Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12 |
DNF | LMGT2 | 60 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Société Chereau | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Jarier {{flagicon|SWE}} Carl Rosenblad {{flagicon|GBR}} Robin Donovan | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Michelin}} | 164 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
DNF | LMGT2 | 62 | {{flagicon|CAN}} CJ Motorsport | {{flagicon|USA}} John Morton {{flagicon|CAN}} John Graham {{flagicon|DEU}} Harald Grohs | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Goodyear}} | 164 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
DNF | LMP1 | 21 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe Gache | {{flagicon|FRA}} Philippe Gache {{flagicon|AUS}} Wayne Gardner {{flagicon|BEL}} Didier de Radiguès | Riley & Scott Mk III | {{Pirelli}} | 155 |
---|
Ford 5.1 L V8 |
DNF | LMP1 | 14 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Courage Compétition | {{flagicon|SWE}} Fredrik Ekblom {{flagicon|FRA}} Patrice Gay {{flagicon|JPN}} Takeshi Tsuchiya | Courage C51 | {{Michelin}} | 126 |
---|
Nissan VRH35Z 3.5 L Turbo V8 |
DNF | LMP1 | 7 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Porsche AG | {{flagicon|ITA}} Michele Alboreto {{flagicon|SWE}} Stefan Johansson {{flagicon|FRA}} Yannick Dalmas | Porsche LMP1-98 | {{Michelin}} | 107 |
---|
Porsche Type-935 3.2 L Turbo Flat-6 |
DNF | LMP2 | 22 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Didier Bonnet | {{flagicon|FRA}} Lionel Robert {{flagicon|FRA}} Édouard Sezionale {{flagicon|FRA}} Pierre Bruneau | Debora LMP296 | {{Michelin}} | 106 |
---|
BMW S50 3.2 L I6 |
DNF | LMGT2 | 61 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Krauss Race Sports International | {{flagicon|DEU}} Bernhard Müller {{flagicon|DEU}} Michael Trunk {{flagicon|DEU}} Ernst Palmberger | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Dunlop}} | 71 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
DNF | LMP1 | 1 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Team BMW Motorsport | {{flagicon|DEU}} Hans-Joachim Stuck {{flagicon|GBR}} Steve Soper {{flagicon|DNK}} Tom Kristensen | BMW V12 LM | {{Michelin}} | 60 |
---|
BMW S70 6.0 L V12 |
DNF | LMP1 | 2 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Team BMW Motorsport | {{flagicon|ITA}} Pierluigi Martini {{flagicon|DEU}} Joachim Winkelhock {{flagicon|Venezuela|1930}} Johnny Cecotto | BMW V12 LM | {{Michelin}} | 43 |
---|
BMW S70 6.0 L V12 |
DNF | LMGT1 | 36 | {{flagicon|DEU}} AMG-Mercedes | {{flagicon|FRA}} Jean-Marc Gounon {{flagicon|BRA}} Ricardo Zonta {{flagicon|FRA}} Christophe Bouchut | Mercedes-Benz CLK-LM | {{Bridgestone}} | 31 |
---|
Mercedes-Benz GT108B 5.0 L V8 |
DNF | LMGT2 | 50 | {{flagicon|FRA}} Viper Team Oreca | {{flagicon|AUT}} Karl Wendlinger {{flagicon|BEL}} Marc Duez {{flagicon|NLD}} Patrick Huisman | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | {{Michelin}} | 28 |
---|
Chrysler 8.0 L V10 |
DNF | LMGT2 | 70 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Konrad Motorsport | {{flagicon|AUT}} Franz Konrad {{flagicon|USA}} Larry Schumacher {{flagicon|USA}} Nick Ham | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Dunlop}} | 24 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
DNF | LMGT1 | 35 | {{flagicon|DEU}} AMG-Mercedes | {{flagicon|DEU}} Bernd Schneider {{flagicon|AUS}} Mark Webber {{flagicon|DEU}} Klaus Ludwig | Mercedes-Benz CLK-LM | {{Bridgestone}} | 19 |
---|
Mercedes-Benz GT108B 5.0 L V8 |
DNF | LMGT2 | 73 | {{flagicon|DEU}} Konrad Motorsport | {{flagicon|CHE}} Toni Seiler {{flagicon|USA}} Peter Kitchak {{flagicon|ITA}} Angelo Zadra | Porsche 911 GT2 | {{Dunlop}} | 2 |
---|
Porsche 3.6 L Turbo Flat-6 |
1. ^{{Cite web |url=http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/retro/p_palm_tableau_2_gb.html |title=The overall winners' list from the official site of Le Mans |access-date=2010-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914152958/http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/retro/p_palm_tableau_2_gb.html |archive-date=2009-09-14 |dead-url=yes |df= }}
{{24 Hours of Le Mans}}