It seems like a long time ago now, such has been Toyota’s recent domination of the event. But prior to its breakthrough in the 2018 edition of the Le Mans 24 Hours, mention of the Japanese manufacturer was often followed by reference to its ‘curse’.
Toyota’s late failures at the world’s most famous endurance race used to be an annual talking point, and began with the misfortunes of the privateer SARD team in 1994 when seemingly on course for a poignant victory. Yet unlike other fateful conclusions in 1998, 1999 and 2016, not to mention the 2014 disappointment of a melted loom in an FIA sensor, the 62nd edition of the race would at least end with the unfortunate Toyota crew enjoying a champagne shower.
The loss of SARD team regular Roland Ratzenberger at Imola earlier that year meant Jordan grand prix driver Eddie Irvine was drafted into the lineup alongside Mauro Martini and Jeff Krosnoff, who had previously shared a TWR Jaguar XJR-12 at Le Mans in 1991 during a season as team-mates aboard an XJR-11 in Japan’s Group C championship. They had also spent two seasons together with the Suntec Lola team in the national Formula 3000 series and collaborated in Group A touring cars.
The unforgiving 94C-V was qualified fourth by Martini, but moved into the lead after both Courages including polewinner Alain Ferte, were sidelined by engine failure, the Trust Toyota that featured perennially unfortunate Bob Wollek broke an undertray after relentless bottoming out and the Dauer Porsches suffered delays. But Le Mans rarely sticks to the script, and a dream win to honour Ratzenberger would be snatched away 90 minutes from the finish when Krosnoff stopped in front of the pits. What happened next became a part of Le Mans folklore.
“In a flash the American was out of the car, running around to the back,” reported Adam Cooper in Autosport. “His hand disappeared under the rear bodywork before he jumped back into the cockpit and headed off towards the Dunlop Bridge. He had selected third gear from the back of the car to get back to the pits.”
The 13 minutes lost to replacing the broken gear linkage meant Irvine rejoined third, but he retook second on the penultimate lap from Thierry Boutsen’s Dauer Porsche. To Martini, the result would not have been possible without Krosnoff’s heroics. He’s certain that the car would have retired had the Californian not been aboard at the time.
Source: Autosport