The 1991 race marked the inaugural season of new 3.5-litre non-turbo regulations for Sports Cars, though the entry list also included cars from the older Group C category. In the close-season, FISA (Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile) and the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) reached an agreement, with the ACO accepting FISA’s demands over media, commercial and timekeeping rights. FISA decreed that the top ten grid spots had to be taken by cars in the new class, regardless of qualifying time, with the Group C cars arranged behind them. The piston-engine Group C cars were penalised to carry 100 kg extra ballast, but the rotary-engine Mazdas were not. This regulatory difference proved advantageous for Mazda.
The 1991 race was anticipated as a showdown between Jaguar and Sauber-Mercedes, with Porsche, Mazda and Peugeot expected to play supporting roles. Mazda entered three 787Bs, with Nigel Stroud at Mazdaspeed developing the improved model. The Peugeot 905 had been designed and built at the Peugeot Talbot Sport factory near Paris, with its monocoque chassis and shell tested at the Dassault aircraft wind-tunnel. Mazda had been successful in IMSA racing, and the 1991 race represented a chance to achieve success at Le Mans.
The race began with the two Peugeots jumping into the lead, but reliability issues soon hampered their progress. The Mercedes cars then took the lead, running in the top three positions for several hours. The Jaguars were hampered by fuel consumption and had to temper their pace. By the halfway point, the Schlesser/Mass/Ferté Mercedes had a one-lap lead over their teammates, and a three-lap lead over the leading Mazda.
Later in the race, the leading Mercedes encountered overheating issues. The belt on the waterpump had come off and stopped the engine cooling, causing terminal damage. This allowed the Mazda to take the lead with three hours remaining. The Jaguars attempted to close the gap, but Herbert brought the Mazda home to win by two laps over the IMSA-team Jaguar of Jones/Boesel/Ferté. The Mercedes-Junior team finished fifth and won the Index of Energy Efficiency.
Michael Schumacher set a new lap record of 3:35.6, beating the previous record by five seconds.
The Sauber-Mercedes team closed its Sportscar program and withdrew from the World Championship at the end of 1991, focusing on a planned move into Formula 1. Brun Motorsport, after an unsuccessful season, was also wound up at the end of the year.
The 1991 race marked the first victory for a Japanese manufacturer at Le Mans, and the only win for a rotary-engined car.
Johnny Herbert, after the race, was exhausted and dehydrated and collapsed after getting out of the car, requiring medical attention. He continued to race in Formula 1 and other motorsport categories.
Gallery · 4 related images
