1979 Rondeau M379 #5
Pilots: J. Ragnotti, B. Darniche
Team: VSD Canon Jean Rondeau
Race: 5th overall (1st in S +2.0 class) at Le Mans in 1979
Spark - S8453 (resin)
Published 08/20/24
Ever heard the term “Mr. Le Mans”? The term first started circulating in the media in 1982, when Jacky Ickx won Le Mans for the sixth time. However, in 2005 Ickx lost the title, when Tom Kristensen won the 24 hours race a seventh time. And not content with just seven wins, he won again in 2008 and 2013 – a total of nine wins! Impressive doesn’t begin to describe the man’s awesomeness. Yet, I disagree with that title. As much as Kristensen’s achievements are spectacular, in my humble opinion, the true Mr. Le Mans is someone else. In my eyes the one and only real Mr. Le Mans is none other than the late Jean Rondeau. And why would I say that, you may ask? MANY reasons.
First of all, the man was born in the city of Le Mans. For a few years he raced in Formula Renault and even participated in a few 24 Heures du Mans. However, he got tired of bad results due to (in his words) “bad cars”. So, he decided to build one himself. With that, he rented a space just a few minutes away from the circuit and opened a shop. With the help of some friends and after securing sponsorship funding, in 1976, his first car was ready. He built two Inaltera LM and went to race. The Inaltera LM #1 came in eight overall and first place in the GTP class. The LM #2, with him behind the wheel, came in 21st overall. In resume: Rondeau built his own car at Le Mans and won its class on its first race.
Yet, a class win was not enough for him, he wanted first place overall. He kept working on the LM and in 1977 the new Inaltera LM77 was ready. And once again his car came first in GTP, this time with himself at the wheel. Right after that he had some serious financial issues, however he managed a new sponsor and kept working. The following year he debuted the Rondeau M378. With Rondeau piloting, M378 #72 won the GTP class. Again. For 1979, he evolved the M378 into the M379. And when I say evolved, I mean it in its true sense. In other words, this year’s cars were last year’s chassis with increments and a few new parts. Money was always short, yet in 1979 he managed to put together three cars, two “evolutions” and one older M378B. This last one was a 1978 car with some upgrades.
I can’t say Rondeau “arrived at La Sarthe” like I always say because he lived there. Therefore, he arrived at scrutineering (😉) with the three cars. Henri Pescarolo and Jean-Pierre Beltoise would pilot M379 #4, while Jean Ragnotti and Bernard Darniche would handle M379 #5. And of course, the man himself and Jacky Haran would pilot the older M378B #55. Due to torrential rain, on lap 207 Rondeau’s #55 crashed out. Conversely, M379 #4 finished in 10th and M379 #5 in 5th, winning the S+ 2.0 class. If you’re keeping count, that is four class victories in four consecutive years. Finally, in 1980, his M379B #16 (with himself piloting) came in first overall. And as an extra, M379B #17 came in first in GTP. Moreover, 1981 would bring another GTP victory, with M379C-L #8.
So, if you’re paying attention, he was born in Le Mans and built his cars there. Moreover, he scored six class wins and one overall win in only five years. In cars that HE built and piloted… And that, my friends, is how you truly earn the title of Mr. Le Mans. Unfortunately, we will never see something like this again. Not even close… The archetypal garagista, Jean Rondeau died in 1985, in a car accident 😥. Nonetheless, his cars disputed Le Mans until 1987. With all that, his cars are automatic must buys for the W-143 Garage. And fortunately, Spark offers M379 #5 here in 1:43. In model form it’s a true gem, another overall great model from Spark, and I’m ecstatic to have one.
*All three are the same chassis (#002) 😁