60 years ago. Aston Martin's only success in the general classification

1. Curiously, the Englishman Roy Salvadori and the American Carroll Shelby had never finished the Sarthoise race in six and one participations prior to 1959 before this famous 1959 edition!

2. Three Aston Martin DBR1 were entered in 1959. No. 4 was given to Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman, No. 5 for the future winners and No. 6 for Maurice Trintignant and Paul Frère. 

Just as in 1959, when @Aston Martin took a famous victory in the @ 24hoursoflemans with the legendary DBR1, we're ready to fight among the greatest sportscar manufacturers in the world for @FIAWEC GTE Pro and Am glory.https://t.co/VPhpUjlYKO#Aston Martin #VantageGTE # LeMans24 pic.twitter.com/hC3u6J4j4H

— Aston Martin Racing (@AMR_Official) 10th June 2019

3. The Aston Martin DBR1 claimed a power of around 250 horsepower for a weight of 800 kg. In 2017 it became the most expensive British car ever produced with a price of $22 at an auction.

4. Stirling Moss and Jack Fairman battled during the first 12 hours for the lead of the event against the Ferrari 250 GT driven by Jean Behra and Dan Gurney, until the English duo retired due to a mechanical incident. “Moss was unlucky, Roy Salvadori would later explain. He was very gentle with the car and didn't attack too much. He could have easily won. »

5. The David Brown Racing Department team was responsible for entering the three Aston Martin cars. David Brown used his initials for the name of the DBR1.

6. It was so hot in June 1955 that the team decided to relax at the swimming pool of the Hôtel de France in Chartre-sur-le-Loir (Sarthe). While diving into the water, Stirling Moss broke several teeth in his front jaw! He asked his secretary to cross the Channel to get a pair of false teeth before the race.

7. Still due to the heat, Roy Salvadori and Maurice Trintignant had their feet very seriously burned. In question, the aluminum chassis and the clutch pedal above the exhaust pipes. Carroll Shelby escaped with a virus that he carried from the sixth hour of the race.

8. Roy Salvadori estimated the amount of the overall victory bonuses, the Performance Index and second place at… 10 pounds.

9. The winning Aston Martin was in near-new condition after arrival. “The oil pressure remained the same from start to finish.” according to Roy Salvadori!