September 2019 Classic & Sports Car 9THE BIG PICTURE
The Aston Martin DB3S didn’t give Jaguar the bloody
nose that boss David Brown might have hoped for
(p106), but at Le Mans in 1956 it got close to causing
an upset. Here the works Aston of Brits Stirling Moss
and Peter Collins chases the Ecurie Ecosse D-type
of Ninian Sanderson and Ron Flockhart watched by
marshals, gendarmes and a scattering of spectators.
The two cars would finish in the same positions, with
the Jaguar’s extra 45bhp – and resultant 156.8mph
top speed on the Mulsanne to the Aston’s 142.6mph –
giving a significant advantage. However, the guile of
Moss and Collins meant that the Aston completed just
one lap fewer than the Jag, six more than the Ferrari of
Olivier Gendebien and Maurice Trintignant in third. AC
MOTORSPORT IMAGES