Despite the presence of three Maserati, perhaps still short of preparation, and two Aston Martin DBR1s, Ferrari showed up at the 1961 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a favorite brand position, if only for the number of cars registered, for the development and organization of the team. The race did not contradict the forecasts and it was Gendebien and Phil Hill who won with the works TR61. But it was the Ferrari TR61 registered by NART for the Rodriguez brothers, very unfortunate and forced to retire an hour. Ferrari finished also second with Mairesse / Parkes (TR61) and third with Noblet / Guichet, first in the GT category at the wheel of the 250 GT SWB.