When it comes to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Jacky Ickx knows better than almost everyone else what it takes to be a success.
From 1969-1982, the Belgian speedster claimed six gruelling editions of the prestigious race to place second on the list of all-time winners – only Denmark’s Tom Kristensen with nine betters him.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the fact it was contiguous with a fine Formula One career, containing eight wins band 25 podium finishes.
Sport360 caught up with the venerable motorsport figure at the Circuit de la Sarthe to talk about his cherished Le Mans memories, the event’s future and the prospects of his country’s latest great hope.
Q) How do you rate the health of the Le Mans race, compared to other years?
A) I think it has been a great show and when you produce a great show, you have a lot of spectators. The level is about the same, as that. The reason it is so special is because you are living some moments that we are living. The leading car just stopped and now it is out of the race, so there are plenty of surprises. In the Le Mans Prototype (LMP), there was a big battle. In the GT class you have Aston Martin, Corvette etc. all fighting. Within a minute, there are three or four cars fighting after three or four thousand kilometres – that is Le Mans.
Q) How important is Le Mans to the motorsports world of today?
A) Long distance racing, a long time ago, was considered to be more important than Formula One. They then became professional before endurance racing and they took the whole show. One survivor is the Le Mans race, partly because it always has big constructors. It is also a race where amateurs can participate, as you need a large number of cars –you need about 60. This gives the people plenty of emotions and there are plenty of emotions when you do it.
Jack in the box: Legend Ickx.
Q) Of your six triumphs, which was your most memorable and what does it take to become a Le Mans winner?
A) If you offer a driver to win Le Mans once, I am absolutely convinced he will sign the paper and say, ‘I am ready’. So you can imagine, if you win six times. You have to be grateful to the people who give you the right chance.
My number one win was 1977, this is because we were far away and thought the race was lost. We went flat out for probably 10 hours. The lesson is never give up. There is no limitation or strategy, the only rule is go as fast as you can.
Q) You have people like Mark Webber, who also jumped from F1 to endurance. Why don’t people often do this transition?
You can only do one thing at a time. The difference before was that there was no exclusivity. You were not linked to a sponsor exclusively, or a car. You could drive many different things at the same time. Endurance today is a grand prix for 24 hours, it is flat out.
Q) Your fellow Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne is currently in Formula One with McLaren-Honda. Are you close to him?
Stoffel (left) is a very talented driver, he did everything right to reach Formula One. He won all his classes, very talented. But the misfortune is that he arrived at McLaren at the wrong moment. I have no advice to give him, as he is very talented. McLaren are fighting for their survival at the moment. The team is concentrating number one on Fernando Alonso, Vandoorne is just secondary.
Interview by Elias El-indari.
Lightness, efficiency, technicality: the new Chopard high-frequency watch epitomises pure performance. The Superfast Power Control Porsche 919 HF Edition is a tribute from the Maison to its partner Porsche Motorsport’s success in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). It has a lot in common with the car that has been monopolising the podium at the various championship events: the Porsche 919 Hybrid. Further proof of the technical and performance-oriented culture defining Chopard watchmaking.
