DENNE BART PETITCLERC



A largely unheralded American author and journalist, Petitclerc wrote the original treatment on which the script for ‘Le Mans’ is based, a script he later adapted into a novel entitled ‘24’.

Steve’s interest in Petitclerc’s work was piqued by the unusual conceit that the hero did not win the story’s central race - he felt the plot twist might second-guess the pre-conceptions of the audience; especially one watching a film with him as its star. This particular plot-point ended up remaining key to the film - and caused Alan R. Trustman, who had previously written the screenplays for ‘Bullitt’ and ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’, to walk away from the project…

After Trustman’s departure, Petitclerc was seen to attend 1967 Le Mans 24 Hour race in the company of Steve’s business partner Bob Relyea, and became the first of many writers to be commissioned by Solar Productions to compose a screenplay with ‘Le Mans’ in mind. Therefore, until his untimely death in 2006, Denne could always claim to have been one of the few key men that made Le Mans - however unknown his name may have been to the general public…

JACK REDDISH



Many of those that worked alongside Steve McQueen on ‘Le Mans’ had highly



interesting, colourful backgrounds – but few more so than producer Jack Reddish. In a previous life, he had been known as ‘Red Dog’ - a man who not only competed for the USA at two Winter Olympics, but also served in Korea with the US Navy.

Upon his return to the States, Reddish set his sights on a career in film and television. By the time he was 35, Jack was working as assistant director on ‘The Great Escape’ with Steve McQueen and Bob Relyea. The trio then reconvened in 1970 for ‘Le Mans’, a film where Jack’s previous experience in high-speed ski-racing and sporting photography was felt to be especially relevant.

Nominally the film’s producer, he most often served as second unit director - overseeing many of the movie’s exhilarating racing sequences. However, Jack’s time on set - as was the case with many involved - was not always a happy one, as he suffered from stress-related blisters to his hands throughout filming. Photos of a glove-wearing Reddish onset at the Circuit de la Sarthe bear witness to this…

After returning to America for a much-needed break, Reddish bounced back in spectacular style, combining the roles of producer and assistant director whilst working on 1973’s mould-breaking ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’. Tellingly though, he never worked with Steve McQueen again…

JO SIFFERT

Tragically, Jo Siffert would never live to see the success of the film to which he contributed so much. After dying at the wheel when his BRM caught fire in 1971, his loss reverberated around the world of motorsport, and spurred a radical driver safety overhaul by the FIA.



As a Swiss racing-driver from a modest background, Jo Siffert was a rare breed - and a lifelong wheeler-dealer. How else could a contracted Porsche driver have helped to lease and supply the Ferraris that were used during filming?

A flat-out, balls-to-the-wall racer with a distinctive moustache to boot, Jo was one of the many professional drivers that spent months filming at the Circuit de la Sarthe, racking up hundreds of hours behind the wheel – whilst somehow finding the time to drive in the World Sportscar Championship and Formula 1. Unsurprising then that he was one of the drivers that Steve seemed most keen to try and impress…