Four-Time Le Mans Winner Dalmas Named Grand Marshal

Photo: MPS Agency

Four-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Yannick Dalmas has been named Grand Marshal for this year’s running of the French endurance classic.

Dalmas, 63, will lead the field to green when the blue riband round of the FIA World Endurance Championship gets underway on June 14, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest announced on Wednesday.

The Frenchman, who succeeds Toyota Gazoo Racing Europe vice-chairman Kazuki Nakajima in the role, became one of the most successful drivers at the Circuit de la Sarthe after his Formula 1 career came to an end.

He took his first of four victories for Peugeot in 1992, before adding back-to-back triumphs in 1994 and ’95, at the wheel of a Dauer Porsche 962 and McLaren F1 GTR respectively.

Dalmas’ final win came for BMW in 1999, with his last Le Mans start coming in 2002.

He remains a prominent figure in the WEC paddock as race advisor and safety car driver.

The ACO has also revealed that the Spirit of Le Mans award will be given to Francois Perrodo, who has been a mainstay of the GTE Am and LMP2 divisions at Le Mans since his 2013 debut, scoring class wins in 2021 (GTE Am) and last year (LMP2 Pro-Am).

Perrodo, 48, is set for his 13th start this year as he shares the No. 155 AF Corse Oreca 07 Gibson with Matthieu Vaxiviere and Antonio Felix da Costa.

ACO President Pierre Fillon commented: “We are delighted to pay tribute to Yannick Dalmas and Francois Perrodo at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“Yannick Dalmas is an endurance racing legend who has won Le Mans four times, with four different manufacturers. His track record and his ongoing commitment made him the ideal candidate to be Grand Marshal this year.

“Francois Perrodo represents the Spirit of Le Mans to perfection. A champion amateur driver, he radiates enthusiasm, and his sense of commitment is a real strength in this discipline. We are proud to celebrate their contribution to endurance racing this year.”