Video: Group C heaven on the Mulsanne Straight

23rd October 2023

Simon Ostler

In many ways, 2023 signified the revival of the Le Mans 24 Hours. It’s felt like a long time since the race held such significant gravitas as it did when a field of 16 Hypercars lined up on the starting grid ready to fight for ultimate victory at the Circuit de la Sarthe, with a list of manufacturers that included Ferrari, Porsche and Toyota.

The 2024 running looks set to go even further as we expect the arrival of the likes of BMW, Lamborghini and Alpine. Suddenly, we’re on the verge of returning to something that might look a little bit like the video we’ve been watching today.

Here we have close to five remarkable minutes of trackside footage from the 1988 Le Mans 24 Hours. We’re positioned somewhere along the Mulsanne Straight, which in those days was an uninterrupted 3.7 miles long, and watching on as the Group C cars of the time absolutely rocket by. Their speed is one thing, the sound they make is simply unholy.

Of the cars we can just about make out, more by listening than watching the flashes of colour, we’re being treated to the flat-six roar of Porsche 962s, the howl of the 7.0-litre Jaguar V12 in the back of the XJR-9, and the utterly ludicrous wail of the Mazda 757’s rotary engine. There’s no other word for it, it’s biblical.

Having experienced the sound of the Group C Porsches at the 79^th Member’s Meeting presented by Audrain Motorsport, we’ve had something of a first-hand insight into what these cars sounded like, but here, where they’re playing with the realms of 200mph, the noise is unlike anything we’ve ever heard.

Welcome to Goodwood Elevenses, a helping of motoring-related amusement to help break up your day. Watch the last video: Incredible GTE racers at Le Mans 2014

Main image courtesy of Motorsport Images.