Aston Martin

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Lore & Background

The path to the 1959 Le Mans title was paved by years of development and heartbreaking failures. Debuting in 1956, the DBR1 initially suffered gearbox failure after 246 laps while lying seventh. The following year saw both entries retire at La Sarthe, shattering hopes for a World Championship title. By 1958, all three DBR1s failed to finish again despite Moss breaking lap records. However, the team returned in 1959 with four chassis, including DBR1/4 converted from a DBR3 and DBR1/5 sold to privateer Graham Whitehead. The season began slowly with retirements at Sebring, but momentum built when DBR1/1 won the 1000 km Nürburgring with Moss and Jack Fairman. At Le Mans, DBR1/2 took the lead while DBR1/4 finished second, leaving the next competitor a distant 25 laps behind.

In Their Own Story

The 1959 race concluded in dramatic fashion at the final round, the Tourist Trophy at Goodwood, which decided the World Sports Car Championship. During the event, the leading DBR1/3 caught fire while refuelling, damaging it beyond repair and leaving the factory without a pit stall to service their remaining cars. In a display of sportsmanship, privateer Graham Whitehead withdrew his entry (DBR1/5) from the race to allow Aston Martin to use his pits. This strategic move enabled Stirling Moss to take over DBR1/2, which had been driven by Shelby and Fairman, securing victory for the team. The remaining car, DBR1/4, finished fourth with Trintignant and Frere. These three victories across the season earned Aston Martin 24 points, beating Ferrari's net 18 points to claim their only World Sports Car Championship title.

Reader's Guide

The definitive statistic for Aston Martin at Le Mans is the single overall victory recorded in 1959. The winning car was DBR1/2, piloted by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori. The team also achieved a second-place finish with DBR1/4, driven by Maurice Trintignant and Paul Frere. Prior to this success, the team suffered three consecutive years of retirement at Le Mans between 1956 and 1958 due to mechanical failures, primarily gearbox issues. In 1957, despite a strong performance where DBR1/2 won the Spa Sportscar Race and the 1000 km Nürburgring, both cars failed at La Sarthe. The 1959 victory was particularly significant as it equalled the record of three consecutive wins set by Ferrari's 250TR earlier in the decade, achieved at the Nürburgring, Le Mans, and the Tourist Trophy.

Did You Know?

• The 1959 Le Mans winner was DBR1/2, which finished 25 laps ahead of the next closest competitor.
• Aston Martin's only World Sports Car Championship title came in 1959, scoring 24 points against Ferrari's net 18.
• DBR1/3 caught fire during a pit stop at the 1959 Tourist Trophy, forcing privateer Graham Whitehead to withdraw his car so Aston Martin could use his pits.
• Between 1956 and 1958, all DBR1 entries failed to finish the 24 Hours of Le Mans due to gearbox failures or other mechanical issues.
• DBR1/4 was converted from a DBR3 chassis before being entered in the 1959 season.