Which French constructor won Le Mans in 1980 with a car bearing his own name?
Answer
Jean Rondeau
Answer
Jean Rondeau
Jean Rondeau was the French constructor who won Le Mans in 1980 with a car bearing his own name.
Rondeau shared the winning car with Jean-Pierre Jaussaud. Their Ford-powered Rondeau M379B defeated the Porsche 908/80 of Jacky Ickx and Reinhold Joest after a demanding 24-hour contest that included heavy rain and difficult track conditions.
The achievement remains unique: Rondeau is the only driver to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a car carrying his own name and design. He had developed his own marque after the earlier Inaltera project lost its sponsorship.
Henri Pescarolo was also a major French Le Mans figure and drove for Rondeau, but he was not the constructor named in the question. Jean Todt and Yves Courage likewise became important motorsport figures, but neither fits this specific 1980 victory.
Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026