What was the winning margin in meters for the 1969 Le Mans?

The winning margin at the 1969 Le Mans was 120 meters. Jacky Ickx and Jackie Oliver won for JW Automotive Engineering in a Ford GT40, edging Hans Herrmann and Gérard Larrousse in a Porsche 908 by that tiny distance after 24 hours of racing.

The finish was decided during an extraordinary final-lap duel. The Ford had greater straight-line speed, while the Porsche could challenge through the corners, and the cars repeatedly exchanged the advantage during the closing stages. Ickx crossed the line only seconds ahead, producing one of the most famous finishes in endurance-racing history.

The race is also remembered for Ickx’s protest against the traditional Le Mans running start. He deliberately walked to his car rather than sprinting across the track, then stopped to fasten his safety belts before setting off. He initially lost time but went on to win. The margin is often misreported as 120 yards; the official Le Mans figure is 120 metres, while the 1966 Ford finish was much closer at 20 metres.