Following the 1955 Le Mans disaster, the ACO limited prototype engine capacity for the 1956 24-hour race. Because Ferrari could not enter the 860 Monza and 290 MM, it fitted three 500 TR barchettas with the 2.5-liter engine and entered them as the 625 LM. The engine was derived from the 625 F1 with slightly modified specifications. Only the car driven by Gendebien and Trintignant finished, taking third place behind a Jaguar D-Type and an Aston Martin DB3S, which were exempt from the restriction as production cars.
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Learn moreEngineering and coachwork · A loophole in the regulations
Engineering and coachwork
The engine of the 625 LM was only slightly modified compared to the powerplant of the 625 F1: compression dropped to 9:1, with two Weber 42DCO/A carburetors supplying the mixture. On some cars, the bodywork was crafted by Carrozzeria Touring; its lines echoed the 750 Monza, including the integrated headrest.
A loophole in the regulations
The regulations for Le Mans in 1956 did not affect everyone equally. Prototypes were capped at 2.5 liters, but the Jaguar D-Type and the Aston Martin DB3S counted as production cars because they had been built and sold in sufficient numbers. They therefore raced without this restriction. Third place went to the 625 LM of Gendebien and Trintignant behind a privately entered Ecurie Ecosse Jaguar and a factory Aston Martin.
Summarized from the cited sources; every figure was automatically verified against the sources.
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