STORY OF THE DAY: Vaccarella and Guichet Lead a Ferrari Sweep

Nino Vaccarella and Jean Guichet won the 1964 24 Hours of Le Mans in works Ferrari 275 P number 20. They completed 349 laps, five more than the second-placed 330 P, and led Ferrari cars across all three podium positions in the World Sportscar Championship round.

The crew’s disciplined run prevailed over faster-looking challenges and the attrition inherent in a record-distance race. Their 4,695-kilometre performance represented a new event distance record, underlining how sustained pace and reliability had become inseparable at the front of Le Mans.

The 275 P developed the successful 250 P concept with a 3.3-litre V12 mounted behind the cockpit. Its tubular chassis and light open body offered balanced handling, while the larger engine improved acceleration and high-speed performance without the greater fuel and mechanical demands of the four-litre 330 P.

Vaccarella was a Sicilian schoolteacher turned racing driver, celebrated for his mastery of the Targa Florio and valued by Ferrari in prototypes. Frenchman Guichet was a leading GT and endurance competitor with extensive Ferrari experience. Their measured styles proved ideally matched to a demanding 24-hour contest.