40 years ago: Schuppan gives Australia Le Mans glory

As the Centenary Le Mans 24 Hours race continues at the Circuit de la Sharthe, Vern Schuppan delivered Australia victory in the famous race four decades ago.

The 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans belonged to Mount Barker’s Schuppan, who pushed Porsche to a famous win alongside American co-drivers Al Holbert and Hurley Haywood.

The trio driving the Rothmans Porsche 956 denied teammates Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell victory in a tense finish where both cars completed 371 laps.

Porsche was the car to have with the entire top eight saturated by the German brand.

Al Holbert, Vern Schuppan and Hurley Haywood celebrate on the podium after winning the 1983 24 Hours of Le Mans. Photo by LAT Images

Despite Porsche’s dominance, the AUTO ACTION report written by David Segal that documented the success explained why it was far from a walk in the park.

“Vern Schuppan won the classic Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race in France, but the car just made it,” read the front-page review.

“Late in the race after taking the lead as early as quarter distance, Schuppan had the door of his racer blow off at full speed down the long Maulsanne straight. The Australian was doing over 210mph at the time!”

“A pitstop restored the car to a closed machine once more, but then Holbert had the replacement door hall off as well.

“A second pitstop further eroded their lead, but still three seemed to have it won.

“However, the third door was fitted incorrectly and partly blocked the engine intake.

“The car gradually overheated as the race end drew near, and then on the final lap the hot engine blew out an old seal.

“The factory Rothmans backed Porsche finished with clouds of smoke pouring from the exhausts!”

Vern Schuppan behind the wheel of the Porsche 956. Photo by LAT Images

Schuppan recently reflected on his triumph 40 years ago and the nerves he experienced during the final stint are very much still with him as a two-lap lead was trimmed to seconds.

“Hurley and I were standing there on the podium looking at a TV monitor, and we suddenly thought ‘christ! Our car is smoking!,” he recalled in 2021.

“We’re looking at each other thinking ‘blimey, if we don’t win this now at the finish, we’re going to jump off the podium!’

“We were so on tender hooks that Al wasn’t going to make it back. 

The sleek Porsche 956 that Vern Schuppan, Al Holbert and Hurley Haywood steered to victory 40 years ago. Photo by LAT Images

“The engine actually seized on Al at Arnage, but he managed to drop the clutch and he had enough momentum when that happened during the last quarter of a lap.

“He made it across the line before it seized up completely!”

On that special day in June 1983, Schuppan joined Bernard Rubin (1928) as Aussies to win at Le Mans outright.

Brothers Geoff and David Brabham have since joined them as Aussies to conquer Le Mans in 1993 and 2009 respectively.

In 2023 Australia is represented by Ryan Briscoe (#708 Glickenhaus) and James Allen (#45 Algrave Pro Racing).

1983 Le Mans 24 Hours results

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Andrew Clarke and Auto Action’s Bruce Williams and ARG’s Barry Rogers sat down for a candid chat ahead of the SpeedSeries trip to Winton.

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