When Nissan should have won Le Mans
The 1990 Le Mans 24 Hours is famous for a popular Jaguar victory. But it almost certainly should have been won by Nissan. GARY WATKINS looks back
Think Le Mans 1990, and what springs to mind?
A Silk Cut Jaguar one-two after Martin Brundle switched cars, for sure. Maybe Jesus Pareja collapsing into the arms of his team down at the old signalling pits after his Porsche lost second place with 15 minutes to go. And almost certainly Mark Blundell's big-boost pole lap for Nissan.
What you probably don't recall is that this was a race that the Japanese manufacturer could - and arguably should - have won.
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Gary Watkins has, for reasons best known to himself, devoted all his working life to covering sportscar racing. This season is his 33rd as a motorsport journalist, during which time he has reported on major long-distance events on four continents and approaching 80 24-hour races. He reckons a degree in political philosophy makes him well qualified for covering the sometimes Machiavellian world of international sportscars.
Gary, who also writes for Motor Sport, Autocourse, RACER and others, lives in Surbiton close to the former workshops of the Cooper Formula 1 team but spends more time on the road than at home for most of the year.
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