Although American muscle cars aren’t usually regarded for their ability to corner, this ex-Team Stratagraph Chevrolet Camaro driven by Andreas Wüest surprised everyone by finishing second in class at the demanding 1982 24 Hours of Le Mans.
When you hear the phrase “Le Mans 24 Hours,” you may immediately think of the car brands that are known for taking home the trophy: Bentley in the 1920s, Jaguar in the 1950s with the C-Type, Ford and Ferrari in the 1960s, and Porsche in the early 1970s with the formidable 917. Even while the aforementioned vehicles have come to represent the storied race at La Sarthe, the most inspirational anecdotes are frequently associated with the less well-known vehicles that competed in the event.
Automobiles like this one, a 1982 Le Mans GTO class winner and an almost more remarkable 17th overall out of a grid of 55 starters, are examples of the venerable American iron, the Team Stratagraph Chevrolet Camaro, which is currently for sale with Swiss dealer Andreas Wüest
Not only was it the 50th anniversary of the 24 Hours, but it was also the first year of the Group C open capacity engine formula; Jacky Ickx recorded a record-breaking sixth win in this edition; additionally, it was one of the toughest ever in terms of true “endurance” testing, with 38 competitors failing to finish and multiple spectacular on-track incidents. The two Camaros entered by Stratagraph persevered throughout the race, with the car with number 81 achieving the previously mentioned outcome and its number 80 teammate ending up ‘not classified’ after only completing 141 laps, which is less than the required 70% of the 359 laps completed by the Porsche 956 of Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell, which took first place.
Billy Hagan, the proprietor of Stratagraph, an oil field services company situated in Louisiana, was a well-known and rugged figure in the industry, known for his Stetson-wearing, country boy persona. In 1961, at the age of thirty, he founded Stratagraph. After initially specializing in mud-logging, it grew to become the biggest company of its kind globally, allowing Hagan to lead Hagan Racing and the Stratagraph team for forty years.
Along with his incredible performance at Le Mans in 1982 (with much younger co-driver Gene Felton), Hagan finished eighth in his very first race, the 1969 Talladega 500. He also went on to win the 1984 Winston Cup Series championship, secured numerous pole positions and individual race victories, and mentored a number of rookie racers.
Open-minded and passionate about exploring new places, Hagan saw the benefit of racing as a means of seeing and learning about the world. By 1982, he had already participated in races throughout Europe and, the year before, had attempted Le Mans for the first time with triple NASCAR champion Cale Yarborough as a teammate.
The 390 cubic inch aluminum “stock block” V8 engine of the 1981 Stratagraph Camaro produced 620 horsepower and could reach speeds of nearly 200 mph on the Mulsanne straight. However, catastrophic brake failure occurred just two hours and thirteen laps into the race, ending any chance of success.