1980 Rondeau M379B #17 Pilots: G. Spice, P. Martin, J-M. Martin Team: Belga Jean Rondeau Race: 3rd overall (1st in GTP class) at Le Mans in 1980 Spark - S8456 (resin)
Published 10/06/23
Jean Rondeau, ”l’enfant du Mans”, began racing his own cars at La Sarthe in 1976. And when I say “his own cars”, I mean that he designed AND built his cars. The archetypal garagista, he was born in Le Mans and had his shop close by. From the beginning, his intent was to achieve an overall win at the 24 Heures du Mans. So he designed and built a Group 6 car, the Inaltera LM, and enrolled two cars in the 1976 race. The Inaltera LM #1, piloted by Henri Pescarolo and Jean-Pierre Beltoise came in eighth overall, winning in the GTP class. Rondeau himself, in car #2, finished in 21st. To build a car from scratch and on your first race at Le Mans you achieve a class victory 😲? Impressive to say the least. Yet, Rondeau’s goal was first place overall, so he kept on working.
With the result of the Inaltera LM, things looked good. He developed the car further and for 1977 he had the Inaltera LM77, and again came in first in GTP. And this time he was at the wheel. Things got grim for 1978, however, when his main sponsor pulled out. Fortunately though, Rondeau managed a new sponsor, and for the 1978 race he unveiled the M378. In the 1978 race he piloted the M378 #72, and again came in first in GTP. So far, three races and three class wins… For 1979 Rondeau further developed the M378 into the M379. Like all its previous versions, the M379 used the Ford-Cosworth DFV engine. The DFV was a 2998 cm³ V8 with DOHC and 4 valves/cylinder, delivering over 298 kW (408 hp). For a chassis it used a steel space frame reinforced with aluminum panels, covered by a fiberglass body.
By 1979 Jean Rondeau’s good results attracted investors, so for 1979 he had three cars enrolled with different sponsors. Two cars were in the S+ 2.0 class and one in GTP, and M379 #5 came first in S+ 2.0. That’s four races and four class wins. The following year he slightly enhanced the M379 into the M379B, basically tweaking the car’s aerodynamics. He arrived at the 1980 Le Mans with three cars, two enrolled in the S+ 2.0 class (Group 6) and one in GTP. And he finally did it: piloting M379B #16, he came in first place overall. Nine laps after came M379B #17, in third place overall and first in GTP. With that, it was five races with one overall win and five class victories, in a row 😲😲😲. With cars he designed and built himself. Impressive? Mind-boggling, in fact.
With a result like that, Jean Rondeau became a legend at Le Mans. None had done anything remotely similar to that before, and doubtfully will ever do again. I’m a massive Rondeau fan – even though he was known for being somewhat of a prima donna. Difficult character aside, he was a garagista and what he accomplished was nothing less than extraordinary. Therefore, I was thoroughly excited when Spark announced the M379B #17 here. In 1:43rd, it’s just as nice as the winning #16, with its very quirky looks. Being far from pretty and “only” a class winner perhaps it won’t appeal to many. For the W-143 Garage though, it was a must buy.
And here’s why Spark is simply THE BEST. Belga was a cigarette brand, therefore nowadays it wouldn’t be “politically correct” to make a toy (???) with tobacco advertising. That being so, Spark makes the M379B #17 historically accurate by sending the necessary decals inside the model’s box. However, the decal job was not exactly easy, due to some complex surface curvatures on the model. Nonetheless, see why it’s hard not to be a Spark fan boy? 😍