#089 Rondeau

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Published April 25, 2025 | Last update February 10, 2026 | 19 models online

Jean Rondeau was a French race car driver and constructor, who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1980 in a car bearing his own name, an achievement which remains unique in the history of the race.

Inaltera

1976 Le Mans 24h, Inaltera LM
Jean Rondeau had participated several times in the 24-hour race in his home town. In 1976 he had constructed his own cars and entered two of these in the GTP-category. His sponsor Inaltera, a producer of wallpaper, insisted on using its name as brand name. The car with Formula 1 drivers Beltoise and Pescarolo finished eight and won the GTP-class.
Inaltera #1: Jean-Pierre Beltoise (F) / Henri Pescarolo (F)
Results: Start-grid 12th / time 3:56.900 / race 8th – 306 laps / 1st GTP
Inaltera LM – GTP: Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV, approximately 430 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 815 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. Rondeau #001

  • BIZARRE BZ 223 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

1977 Le Mans 24h, Inaltera LM77
The Rondeau made its debut last year as Inaltera and this year the local team entered three cars. All cars finished, #1 and #2 both outside the top 10, but this car with the rather high number #88 finished in a fine 4th spot. It managed to do as many laps as the 3rd placed Porsche. 4th in the overall result meant of course 1st in the GTP category.
Inaltera #88: J Jean Rondeau (F) / Jean Ragnotti (F)
Results: Start-grid 20th / time 4:00.700 / race 4th – 316 laps / 1st GTP
Inaltera LM – GTP: Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV, approximately 430 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 815 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. Rondeau #001

  • IXO – ALTAYA Monstres sacrés de l’endurance #37 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

Rondeau GTP and Group 6

1979 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M379
Local hero Jean Rondeau once again proved how reliable his cars are. The Rondeaus were entered as Group 6 prototypes for the first time. Ragnotti and Darniche piloted the #5 car which finished 10th overall and 2nd in class.
Jean Rondeau #4: Jean-Pierre Beltoise (F) / Henri Pescarolo (F)
Results: Start-grid 9th / time 3:45.500 / race 10th – 275 laps / 2nd group 6

Jean Rondeau #5: Jean Ragnotti (F) / Bernard Darniche (F)
Results: Start-grid 6th / time 3:43.280 / race 5th – 288 laps / 1st group 6
Rondeau M379 – Group 6 Sportscars > 2L: Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 90º, approx 450 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 765 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. M379 #002

  • QUARTZO QLM 99044 & QLM 99018 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • #5 Also appears in #109 Canon

1979 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M378
The third Rondeau, an older M378, was driven by Jean Rondeau himself and was entered in GTP. He did not make it to the end due to a crash. To be able to participate in GTP, the car has to have a large windscreen over the entire width of the car and Group 6 allows somewhat larger rear spoilers. The minimum weight of a GTP car is about 50 kg higher than that of a Group 6, but basically the design of the M378 and M379 allows Rondeau to participate in both categories except that the GTP has a fuel limit.
Jean Rondeau #55: Jean Rondeau (F) / Jacky Haran (F)
Results: Start-grid 19th / time 3:54.280 / race DNF accident – 207 laps
Rondeau M378 – GTP: Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 90º, approx 450 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 815 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. M378 #001

  • IXO Classic Le Mans & GT Cars LMC 021 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appears in this collection

1980 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M379B
Jean Rondeau and veteran Jean-Piere Jaussaud won the 1980 Le Mans race with the futuristic looking Rondeau M379B. Their decision to stay on slick tires during a short shower gave him victory over the Joest Porsche 936 that made two additional pitstops. Jean Rondeau is still the only driver that won Le Mans in a car bearing his own name.
Jean Rondeau #16: Jean Rondeau (F) / Jean-Piere Jaussaud (F)
Results: Start-grid 5th / time 3:50.200 / race 1st – 339 laps

Jean Rondeau #15: Henri Pescarolo (F) / Jean Ragnotti (F)
Results: Start-grid 1st / time 3:47.900 / race DNF head gasket – 124 laps
Rondeau M379B – Group 6: Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 90º, approx 450 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 765 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. M379 #004 & #003

  • #15 IXO Classic Le Mans & GT Cars LMC022 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
  • #16 QUARTZO QLM 99018 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Only appear in this collection

1980 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M379B
Belgian touring car veterans Martin-brothers drove this Belga Rondeau together with Gordon Spice to 3rd place, making it two Rondeaus to the podium.
Jean Rondeau #17: Gordon Spice (GB) / Jean-Michel Martin (B) / Philippe Martin (B)
Results: Start-grid 19th / time 3:59.000 / race 3rd – 330 laps
Rondeau M379B – Group 6. Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 90º, approx 450 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 765 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. M379 #002

  • QUARTZO QLM 99046 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Also appears in #061 Bastos & Belga

1981 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M379C
After the win in 1980, Rondeau entered no less than 5 cars this year. Two in GTP and three in the faster Group 6 category. The GTP’s did exceptionally well finishing 2nd and 3rd overall. Victory went to the new factory prepared Porsche 936/81.
Jean Rondeau #7: Jean Louis Schlesser (F) / Phillippe Streif (F) / Jacky Haran (F)
Results: Start-grid 15th / time 3:59.000 / race 3rd – 341 laps / 1st GTP

Jean Rondeau #8: Gordon Spice (GB) / François Migault (F)
Results: Start-grid 28th / time 3:50.610 / race 2nd – 336 laps / 2nd GTP
Rondeau M379C – GTP. Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 90º, approx 450 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 815 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. M379 #003 & #002

  • IXO Classic Le Mans & GT Cars LMC050 & LMC051 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Also appear in #107 Group C

1981 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M379C
After the win in 1980, Rondeau entered no less than 5 cars this year. All three group 6 Rondeau’s failed to finish. Sadly the unfortunate Jean-Louis Lafosse had a fatal accident in the #25 car, he blew a tire at 350 km/h and had no chance …
Jean Rondeau #25: Jean Ragnotti (F) / Jean-Louis Lafosse (F)
Results: Start-grid 10th / time 3:40.320 / race DNF fatal accident – 28 laps

Jean Rondeau #26: Henri Pescarolo (F) / Patrick Tambay (F)
Results: Start-grid 4th / time 3:40.320 / race DNF fuel pump – 41 laps
Rondeau M379C – Group 6: Powered by 33.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 90º, approx 450 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 765 kg. Steel space frame, chassisnr. M379 #004 & #006

  • SPARK S 2266 & S 2267 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Only appear in this collection

Group C

1983 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M482
Ford killed the C100 project after only one season and officially supported Rondeau that was the last Le Mans winner using Ford’s engine. The Rondeau M482 Group C car looked very spectacular with the huge venturis but the chassis had big troubles with porpoising due to the ground effect just like modern Formula 1 cars. Also, the strong vibrating Cosworth DFL engine made it no match for the Porsches. All three cars went out with engine related problems.
Ford France #24: Henri Pescarolo (F) / Thierry Boutsen (B)
Results: Start-grid 16th / time 3:36.060 / race DNF engine / 174 laps
Rondeau M482 – Group C1. Powered by 3.9 liter Cosworth DFL V8 90º, approx. 550 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 820 kg. Aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. M482 #002

  • BIZARRE BZ24 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 5 STARS | Quality details: 5 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #107 Group C / #040 Ford Prototypes

1983 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M379C
Rondeau developed a new group C car, the M482. Three cars were entered by Ford France but all retired with engine problems. Rondeau also took this old group 6 M379 to Le Mans, it was adapted to the group C rules by adding weight among others. It was no match for the real group C cars and only qualified 32nd despite the presence of Vic Elford who returned to Le Mans after 9 years. It also retired with a broken Cosworth engine.
Jean Rondeau #28: Joël Gouhier (F) / Anne-Charlotte Verney (F) / Vic Elford (GB)
Results: Start-grid 32nd / time 3:49.900 / race DNF engine / 136 laps
Rondeau M379C – Group C1. Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 90º approx. 480 hp. Avon tires. Weight 800 kg. Aluminium space frame, chassisnr. M379 #002

  • SPARK S2269 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #020 BP

1983 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M382
The M382 made its debut already in 1982 and was the first Rondeau developed to comply with the Group C technical regulations, the 379C was originally a GTP / Group 6 design. Nevertheless, the M382 was still largely based on the most successful Rondeau, the M379 model, with which Jean Rondeau was able to win the 1980 24 Hours of Le Mans together with Jean-Pierre Jaussaud. This team was disqualified because they pushed the car over the finish line …
Primagaz #30: Pierre Yver (F) / Bernard de Dryver (B) / Lucien Guitteny (F)
Results: Start-grid 28th / time 3:43.940 / race DSQ – 266 laps
Rondeau M382 – Group C1: Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV, approx. 520 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 820 kg. Aluminium monocoque, chassisnr. #05

  • SPARK S 2286 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #095 Hawaiian Tropic / #107 Group C

1985 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M382
This all French crew lead by Pierre Yver didn’t make it to the finish because the Cosworth engine quit, it was a 3.0 liter DFV and not the feared 3.9 liter.
Primagaz #31: Pierre Yver (F) / Pierre-François Rousselot (F) / François Servanin (F)
Results: Start-grid 31st / time 3:49.520 / race DNF engine – 286 laps
Rondeau M382 – Group C1. Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV, approx. 520 hp. Dunlop tires. Weight 820 kg. Aluminium monocoque, chassisnr. #05

  • SPARK S 8464 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS
    • Also appears in #107 Group C

1988 Le Mans 24h, Rondeau M379C
The last Rondeau to run at Le Mans was this old 379C. It was entered in group C2, a category that was occupied by many privateer teams and drivers that used cars such as Spice, Tiga, ALD and Argo, many of these with normally aspirated engines. The Rondeau reached the finish but wasn’t classified because it didn’t covered enough distance.
Lombardi #151: Pierre-Alain Lombardi (CH) / Bruno Sotty (F) / DNS Rolando Vaglio (CH)
Results: Start-grid 43rd / time 3:53.740 / race DNC – 271 laps
Rondeau M379C – Group C2: Powered by 3.0 liter Ford Cosworth DFV V8 90º approx. 480 hp. Avon tires. Weight 800 kg. Aluminium space frame, chassisnr. M379 #006

  • SPARK S2269 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS

Rondeau racing in other teams

After the debacle in 1983, Jean Rondeau didn’t have an engine supplier and ran out of sponsors. He sold the cars and equipment and closed his workshop. Since then all Rondeaus were entered by privateer teams. Jean Rondeau competed two more times in Le Mans in other cars before he had a fatal accident when is car got hit by a train ...

1984 Le Mans 24h, Porsche 956L
Former winner Jean Rondeau raced for the Porsche team from Preston Henn this year. They finished second, only 2 laps behind the Joest team in a similar car.
Preston Henn #26: Jean Rondeau (F) / John Paul Jr. (USA) / Preston Henn (USA)
Results: Start-grid 25th / time 3:44.050 / race 2nd -358 laps
Porsche 956L- Group C1: Powered by 2.6 liter Porsche 935/79 flat-6 twin turbo, approx. 620 hp. Goodyear tires. Weight 840 kg. Aluminum monocoque, chassisnr. #956 103

  • QUARTZO Q 3073 (diecast)
    • Overall rating: 3 STARS | Quality details: 3 STARS | Estimated value: 3 STARS
    • Also appears in #095 Hawaiian Tropic

1985 Le Mans 24h, WM-Peugeot P83B
WM was one of the first makes to build a group C car, but it didn’t develop much over the years. The 1985 car was still a P83B, originally built in 1982. Despite the presence of Jean Rondeau – winner in 1980 in his own car – the team could not impress.
#42 Jean Rondeau (F) / Michel Pignard (F) / Jean-Daniël Raulet (F) – 17th
time 3:43.070
WM P83B – 2.6 liter Peugeot PRV V6 twin turbo, approx. 600 hp. Michelin tires. Weight 900 kg. Aluminium monocoque, chassisnr. #P82-01

  • BIZARRE BZ 382 (resin)
    • Overall rating: 4 STARS | Quality details: 4 STARS | Estimated value: 4 STARS

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