In 1997, the ACO, the organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, gathered all the ingredients for a good edition of the race, with GT1s which were actually real prototypes. The big manufacturers were present and they all chose the GT1. The Joest team remained faithful to the TWR chassis with the Porsche 6-cylinder engine. A cocktail that once again proved to be a winning one, allowing Alboreto / Johansson / Kristensen to win the race in front of two McLarens. The Joest team thus achieved its fourth victory after those of 1984, 1985 and 1996.