Jean-Louis Schlesser, heading up the all-French driver lineup in car #62, put the Sauber-Mercedes C9 on pole with a blistering qualifying lap. The pole had actually been gained using a special qualifying chassis and engine. Thanks to a loophole in the regulations, this special chassis, wearing #62, had been officially entered in the race but was used only for qualifying, to be replaced by a race chassis and engine that had been designated as the 'T' car.
Pole position at Le Mans, however, doesn't guarantee victory. Not by a long shot. Schlesser was jumped by Baldi in #61 at the start and though the pair set a blistering pace in the opening laps, they both settled into a more sustainable rhythm at the direction of team manager, Max Welti. Minor incidents throughout the afternoon, including a collision with a slower car and electrical problems, dropped #62 outside the top 20.
Careful driving through the night by the French trio allowed them to move steadily up through the field. The Silver Arrows were charting new territory, the Sauber C9 having not lasted nearly so long in previous years. Schlesser, the most experienced driver, took the wheel for the final stint. Much to the delight of Peter Sauber, Max Welti, Mercedes-Benz and thousands of fans, he located the #61 and #63 cars during the closing laps, in time to stage one of the most memorable and historic formation finishes that have ever been seen at Le Mans.
