{"title":"100 Years of Le Mans","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"mercedes-benz-300-sl-w194-24h-le-mans-100th-anniversary-1952","title":"Mercedes-Benz 300 SL (W194) | 1952 100th Anniversary | 24h Le Mans Poster","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe return of Mercedes-Benz to international motor racing was set to be sealed by the renowned French endurance race. Having won almost all the world-famed races of that year, the only one left, 24 Hours of Le Mans, was predestined for the 300 SL (W194). The car had made a considerable stir at its presentation on March 12, 1952, leading to the building of ten racing cars for the 1952 season. The anticipation and excitement surrounding the race were immense, as the world watched the blue-striped silver W194 prepare for its historical run, which would change the course for the Mercedes brand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 300 SL (W194), as unveiled in March 1952, was built using only existing components such as the axles, transmission, and basic engine from the Mercedes-Benz 300 representative saloon. The unique design of the W194 featured a space frame that reached quite far up the sides, which made it impossible to have conventional doors. This could have potentially disqualified the car for the Le Mans race. However, the sports marshal of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, Monsieur Acat, presented a sketch proposing an entry hatch that extended downwards. As a goodwill gesture towards the organizer, Mercedes changed the design of the chassis, thus giving birth to the iconic gullwing doors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the 1952 Le Mans, Mercedes-Benz prepared three teams, all sporting the W194. One car in particular, chassis number 0007 with starting number 21, set the course of motorsport history for Mercedes. Piloted by Hermann Lang and Fritz Riess, the car was powered by a 3-litre 125 kW (170 hp) in-line six-cylinder engine, the first of its kind to win the Le Mans race. After a long battle, the German manufacturer achieved a one-two finish, proving their return to be a resounding success. Mercedes-Benz had made an unforgettable comeback and had solidified its position as a dominant force in the motorsports world.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Automobilist","offers":[{"title":"50 x 70 cm (19 ¾ x 27 ½ in) | Edition of 200","offer_id":46675752190281,"sku":"PROD01004237","price":99.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"40 x 50 cm (15 ¾ x 19 ¾ in) | Open edition","offer_id":46675752223049,"sku":"PROD01004239","price":49.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/1584\/1811\/files\/100LM_Mercedes-W194-1952_LimitedEdition_ProductMain.jpg?v=1743658022"},{"product_id":"sauber-mercedes-c9-24h-le-mans-100th-anniversary-1989","title":"Sauber Mercedes C9 | 1989 100th Anniversary | 24h Le Mans Poster","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Sauber Mercedes C9, a Group C prototype race car, was used for three seasons (1987-1989) in the World Sportscar Championship and the 24 hours of Le Mans. In 1989, the Sauber C9 achieved its greatest success by winning both the drivers' and teams' WSC titles and the Le Mans 24h race. It was the second and last Mercedes car to win at Le Mans after the 300 SL in 1952.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe C9 was an evolution of the C8 design. Featuring changes to both the aerodynamics and the chassis, the engine was also lightened compared to the previous generation as KKK turbochargers became more efficient. It produced approximately 800 hp, an outstanding number for a car weighing only 905 kilos. The team also changed the car's color scheme to the traditional Mercedes \"Silver Arrows\" design for the 1989 season. Repeating the result of the original Le Mans’ Silver Arrow 300 SL, the C9 managed to win the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the 1989 Le Mans race, the Sauber Mercedes finished first, second, and fifth. The #63 car won the race with 389 laps around Circuit de la Sarthe during 24 hours of racing, with Mass, Reuter, and Dickens as the drivers. Mauro Baldi, Kenny Acheson, and Gianfranco Brancatelli finished second in the #61 car, five laps behind the winners. The car reached a top speed of 400 km\/h (248 mph) on the Mulsanne Straight, one of the highest top speeds in the competition's history at Le Mans. In 1990, two chicanes were introduced at Mulsanne Straight due to this speed and the WM Peugeot's 1988 record of 405 km\/h.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Le Mans race was not part of the 1989 World Sportscar Championship. In the championship, Sauber Mercedes won seven out of eight races, missing only a victory at Dijon-Prenois. Jean-Louis Schlesser won the driver's championship that season, with three other drivers (Mass, Baldi, and Acheson) occupying positions from P2 to P4. In the teams' standings, Sauber Mercedes dominantly took the title.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Automobilist","offers":[{"title":"50 x 70 cm (19 ¾ x 27 ½ in) | Edition of 200","offer_id":46677087846729,"sku":"PROD01004277","price":99.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"40 x 50 cm (15 ¾ x 19 ¾ in) | Open edition","offer_id":46677087879497,"sku":"PROD01004278","price":49.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/1584\/1811\/files\/100LM_SauberMercedesC9-1989_LimitedEdition_ProductMain_1.jpg?v=1743658008"},{"product_id":"aston-martin-dbr1-300-24h-le-mans-100th-anniversary-1959","title":"Aston Martin DBR1\/300 | 1959 100th Anniversary | 24h Le Mans Poster","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Aston Martin DBR1's victory at the 1959 Le Mans 24-hour race marked a significant achievement in the face of Ferrari's dominance. The car, which replaced the Aston Martin DB3S, was developed by a small team led by Ted Cutting, who designed the bodywork, chassis, and engine. The DBR1 initially had a 2.5-liter inline 6 engine, but later featured a 3-liter inline 6, producing 250 bhp in the 1957 specification. With an alloy engine block and rear transaxle, the DBR1 was cutting-edge technology at the time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the 1959 Le Mans race, three DBR1s were entered by David Brown Racing, with a fourth as a private entry. The drivers were Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman in the number 4 car, Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby in the number 5 car, and Maurice Trintignant and Paul Frére in the number 6 car. Graham Whitehead and Brian Naylor drove the number 7 car.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMoss's fast pace lured the Ferraris into speeding up, while the other two DBR1s stayed back. Behra and Gurney's 250 TR was leading in the early stages, but the Moss and Fairman DBR1 was forced to retire due to engine problems, followed by the Behra and Gurney 250 TR due to a headlight problem. Salvadori and Shelby's DBR1 took the lead, followed by Trintignant and Frere's DBR1, resulting in a comfortable 1-2 finish 25 laps ahead of the third-place car. The DBR1's Le Mans victory, coupled with its win at the World Sports Car Championship, was a remarkable accomplishment for Aston Martin, making it one of the company's most important models ever.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Automobilist","offers":[{"title":"50 x 70 cm (19 ¾ x 27 ½ in) | Edition of 200","offer_id":46741476573513,"sku":"PROD01004334","price":99.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"40 x 50 cm (15 ¾ x 19 ¾ in) | Open edition","offer_id":46741476606281,"sku":"PROD01004335","price":49.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/1584\/1811\/files\/100LM_Aston-Martin-DBR1-1959_LimitedEdition_ProductMain.jpg?v=1743657984"},{"product_id":"porsche-962-c-24h-le-mans-100th-anniversary-1986","title":"Porsche 962 C | 1986 100th Anniversary | 24h Le Mans Poster","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Porsche 962, also known as Porsche 962 C, is one of the most successful and iconic prototype racing cars in the history of motorsports. The Porsche 962 C was an evolution of the highly successful 956 model, which was the first Porsche race car with an aluminium chassis. The newer 962 C model utilised different variants of the flat-six engine with turbochargers. With its sleek aerodynamic design, innovative engineering, and impressive racing achievements, the 962 C remains a beloved symbol of Porsche's dominance in motorsport history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Porsche 962 C made its debut at the 1984 24 Hours of Daytona, where it was driven by Mario and Michael Andretti. While the car led the race until it retired with engine and gearbox problems, it set the tone for the 962's impressive racing career. Over the years, the 962 C would go on to win numerous races and championships, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans back-to-back wins in 1986 and 1987. In the end, Porsche produced 91 examples of the 962 between 1984 and 1991.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot only was the 962 C a beast of a car, but it was also a thing of beauty. Equipped with the Type-935 2.6L Turbo Flat-6 engine producing a staggering 620 bhp (462 kW), the car was capable of top speeds a little shy of 350 km\/h (217 mph). The blue and white Rothman's livery is also widely acknowledged as one of the prettiest of all time, cementing the car's legendary status. Our tribute poster to the Porsche 962 C captures the car's legendary design at high speeds around the Circuit de la Sarthe, making it a must-have for any endurance racing enthusiast.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Automobilist","offers":[{"title":"50 x 70 cm (19 ¾ x 27 ½ in) | Edition of 200","offer_id":46769728880969,"sku":"PROD01004381","price":99.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"40 x 50 cm (15 ¾ x 19 ¾ in) | Open edition","offer_id":46769728913737,"sku":"PROD01004382","price":49.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/1584\/1811\/files\/LM100_Porsche-962C_1986_LimitedEdition_ProductMain.jpg?v=1743657967"},{"product_id":"porsche-911-gt1-24h-le-mans-100th-anniversary-1998","title":"Porsche 911 GT1 | 1998 100th Anniversary | 24h Le Mans Poster","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn 1998, Porsche celebrated its 50th Anniversary and it was a memorable one, as they achieved an impressive 1-2 victory at the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race. However, it was also a bittersweet year for the company as they mourned the loss of Ferry Porsche, who had passed away earlier that year. Dr Porsche was present at the race, witnessing the team's 16th overall victory and celebrating the legacy of his late son.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe winning Porsche was a remarkable machine, powered by a 3.2-litre twin-turbo engine that produced 550 horsepower. The mid-engine layout and lightweight construction, with a total weight of only 970 kilograms, allowed the car to achieve impressive speeds and cornering capabilities.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eIn order to participate in the race, the car had to meet certain road homologation requirements. To fulfill this requirement, Porsche had to build at least one example of the car before the season started to get approved. This made the winning car even more special, as it was one of a kind.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eThe car was also notable for being the first full carbon monocoque built by Porsche. This innovative construction technique allowed for a lighter and more rigid chassis, contributing to the car's exceptional performance. The car's gullwing doors also added to its uniqueness, providing enough space for the driver to get in and out of the car, a feature that was especially important since it had to be homologated for road use as well.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Automobilist","offers":[{"title":"50 x 70 cm (19 ¾ x 27 ½ in) | Edition of 200","offer_id":46784453443913,"sku":"PROD01004468","price":99.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false},{"title":"40 x 50 cm (15 ¾ x 19 ¾ in) | Open edition","offer_id":46784453476681,"sku":"PROD01004475","price":49.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/1584\/1811\/files\/LM100_Porsche-911-GT1-1998_LimitedEdition_ProductMain.jpg?v=1743657956"},{"product_id":"ferrari-499p-24h-le-mans-winners-100th-anniversary-2023","title":"Ferrari 499P | 2023 100th Anniversary | 24h Le Mans Winners Poster","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eWith the 2023 World Endurance Championship season-ending, it is time to reflect on the biggest event of the year – the Centenary race at Le Mans. The legendary race celebrated its 100th Anniversary this year, which commenced grand celebrations and a return of a former endurance racing icon – Ferrari. After five long decades of absence, Scuderia Ferrari returned in ferocious style, winning the Centenary race. Due to popular demand, we commemorate the success with a dedicated poster, this time featuring a golden foil embossing layer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Automobilist","offers":[{"title":"50 x 70 cm (19 ¾ x 27 ½ in) | Large \/ Unframed","offer_id":52269419004233,"sku":"PROD01004809","price":99.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"50 x 70 cm (19 ¾ x 27 ½ in) | Large \/ Framed","offer_id":49196531876169,"sku":"PROD01005137","price":149.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/1584\/1811\/files\/LM100_Ferrari-499P_CollectorsEdition_ProductMain.jpg?v=1743657810"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0679\/1584\/1811\/collections\/ATM_Collection_100_Le__Mans.jpg?v=1687421554","url":"https:\/\/automobilist.com\/en-ca\/collections\/100-years-of-le-mans.oembed","provider":"Automobilist","version":"1.0","type":"link"}