LE MANS: Triple Crown Winners, Part 5

Betcha Y’all are saying Hallelujah! We’ve finally crossed the Finish line on this lumbering endurance story multiple 24 Hours round Ye clock later!

 

Yeah, if you’re still reading this five part No Fenders story? Which I definitely appreciate Y’all doing so! Especially since if Yuhs cannot tell, I’m runnin’ outta Steam.

 

Thus it seems overly Apropos that we’ve begun with a German and we end with another two Germans. As Germany and the United States ties with three drivers apiece. Followed by two Bloody Brit’s and Uno Italian’s…

 

Marco Werner

Birthplace: Dortmund, Germany

DOB: April 27, 1966, Age: 57

Wins: Daytona1995; Sebring, (3) 2003, 2005, 2007 and Le Mans, (3) 2005-07

 

Marco Werner is another Sports Car driver I tend to remember nothing about, albeit His name sounded vaguely familiar and I should have remembered Him for racing in the American Le Mans Series for the All conquering Audi’s.

 

Reportedly Werner finished runner-up in the Opel Euroseries and German Formula 3 Championships behind somebody named tom Kristensen…

 

Unable to graduate to thee Pinnacle ‘O Motorsports, ergo Formula 1, Werner focused upon Sports Car racing instead.

 

After toiling in Porsche Supercup, Marco scored His first major endurance race event upon winning the 1995 Rolex 24 driving a Kremer Porsche 962.

 

Werner then won the first of His eventual three 12 Hours of Sebring victories in ’03. Dovetailing His latter two Sebring W’s while completing a rare Hat trick at Circuit de la Sarthe. Winning the prestigious 24 Heurs du Mans between 2005-07 for Audi. With Sebring being part of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) which ran a similar rules package to the ACO, governing body of Le Mans.

 

As Werner’s first victory at Le Mans alongside JJ Letho, claiming His second and final Le Mans win. Presumably were overshadowed by co-driver Tom Kristensen claiming His sixth consecutive 24 Hours of Le Mans victory and seventh overall, surpassing Jacky Ickx’s previous record…

 

With Audi primarily racing in ALMS and Le Mans, albeit Audi’s dominant R8 LMP1 chassis did contest the Le Mans Endurance Series. Werner’s winning Daytona was rare for drivers of this era, since the 24 Hours of Daytona was under the auspices of first the United States Road Racing Championship. (USRRC) And then the rival Grand American Road Racing Championship, later becoming the Rolex Sports Car Series sanctioning bodies. Better know  simply as Grand Am between 1998-2013.

 

Timo Bernhart

Birthplace: Homburg, West Germany

DOB: February 24, 1981, Age: 42

Wins: Daytona 2003; Sebring 2008 and Le Mans, (2) 2010, 2017

 

What stands out to me about Timo Bernhard, our youngest and most current Triple Crown winner is His Porsche RS Spyder links.

 

As I fondly recall Him being part of El Capitano’, nee Roger Penske’s Werks’ AMLS LMP2 Porsche RS Spyder team between 2006-08. As this was one of the tteams I rooted for, since I quickly tired of Audi winning everything!

 

Having seen the winning Porsche RS Spyder multiple times at the Penske Racing Museum in Scottsdale, AZ. Although I don’t recall it being on display during my most recent visit to The Valley of the Sun.

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2023/03/another-enjoyable-visit-to-my-favourite.html

 

As Bernard won the ’08 12 Hours of Sebring as alongside fellow  Factory Porsche drivers Romain Dumas and Emmanuel Collard, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

 

Like most current day racing drivers, Timo cut His teeth in Go Karts, before making His single seater debut in 1998 in Formula Ford. The following year He finished third overall in the German Formula ford Championship before moving onto Sports Cars.

 

Bernhard raced in Porsche Supercup and made His ALMS debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2001, finishing second in the GT Clas for alex Job Racing.

 

In 2002 He claimed His first GT Class victory at Le Mans driving for Kevin Buckler’s The Racer’s Group in a Porsche 911 GT3-RS.

 

The following year, Buckler and Company surprised the racing world by winning the 24 Hours of Daytona outright in the aforementioned Porsche 911 GT3-RS racecar. As this was the debut season for the Grand Am’s Daytona Prototypes (DP) class, leaving the door open for the ultra reliable Porsche 911 to claim victory.

 

Paired with Jorg Bergmeister, timo and Jorg won their class at the season ending Petit Le Mans. And then the duo romped to six wins in nine races to win the 2004 ALMS GT Class, which included victories at Sebring and Petit Le mans.

 

After His three year stint at Penske ended, when the team’s contract expired and Penske wound down it’s ALMS programme. Bernard and Dumas joined the Joest racing team, better known as Audi Sport Team Joest. With Bernhard, Dumas and Mike Rocky’ Rockenfeller winning the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans aboard an Audi R15 TDI Plus.

 

Arse-sumedly Timo became part of Porsche’s return to top flight LMP1 prototype racing in the FIA World Endurance Championship between 2015-2017. Driving one of the Porsche 919 Hybrid’s to it’s third and final victory at Le Mans, in what became a survival of the fittest in the 919 Hybrid’s final outing at Circuit de la Sarthe.

 

Coming from behind, at the 20 Hours mark, Bernard’s No. 2 Porsche was fifth overall, before first Bernard unlapped the entry back onto the lead lap and then took the lead with one hour remaining! As Bernard and co-drivers Earl Bamber and Brendon Hartley won the 2017 24 Heurs du Mans, giving Porsche it’s 19th and most current overall victory at Le Mans. 

LE MANS: Triple Crown Winners, Part 4

As Hang On to your Hollyhocks Folks! We’re two thirds of the way done…

 

Positions 6-7 on the “Depth Chart” of the informal Triple crown of Sports Car endurance racing includes our second and final Bloody Brit’. Along with the lone Italian to have accomplished this feat.

 

Andy Wallace

Birthplace: Oxford, England

DOB: February 19, 1961, Age: 62

Wins: Le Mans 1988; Daytona, (3) 1990, 1997, 1999 and Sebring 1992-93

 

When I began to scribble ‘bout Messer Wallace, our sixth driver to win the Triple Crown. I immediately remembered having posted something here upon No Fenders about enjoying Racer’s Richard S. James article upon Hall of Famer Andy Wallace Taming the Bumps at Sebring.

 

As Bad Arse’ Sports Car Ace Andy Wallace was inducted into last year’s Sebring Hall of Fame. With the stellar class of inductees including ‘lil Stevie Johnson, aka Stefan Johansson, the original Mr. Le Mans, nee Jacky Ickx, ‘Ol Hobbo’, nee HobbsCapp’, ergo David Hobbs and Oh Yeah, that Walter Cronkite! For which I never knew that Cronkite actually contested the 12 Hours of Sebring in a bloody Lancia!

 

And for those of Y’all who still Don’t think Racing Drivers are Athletes! I especially loved the part about Wallace not telling His Boss, the late Dan Gurney about his two broken Ribs for fear of being replaced prior to winning that year’s Sebring 12 Hours race aboard the All conquering All American Racers (AAR) Toyota Eagle MkIII!

 

As here’s James article that triggered thoust memory about Wallace…

 

https://racer.com/2022/03/25/sebring-hall-of-famer-wallace-reflects-on-a-career-spent-taming-the-bumps/

 

Very little seems to be known about Wallace’srise thru the ranks of motor racing. Other than He began His racing career by taking part in the Jim Russell Racing Drivers School in 1976. Meaning I’ve got zero clue if Andy raced single seaters or not afterwards? Or if He progressed thru the ranks of Saloons before reaching top flight prototypes?

 

Amazingly Wallace won the prestigious 24 Heurs du Mans on His debut at Circuit de la Sarthe driving for Tom Walkinshaw Racing’s eponymous Silk cut Jaguar’s. Behind the keyboard of an XJR-9.

 

What I like about Wallace’s winning of these most iconic endurance races is that He did so driving threetotally different racecars. From the closed top mighty Jag’s with it’s V-12 normally aspirated lump’. To the high revving 2.1-litre “four-banger” turbocharged Toyota eagle. And then later winning aboard Dyson Racing’s riley & Scott Mk III normally aspirated Ford V8 open top “Spyder”prototype.  

 

As it was certainly Foggy Bottoms for Mwah, as the more I Hunt ‘N Pecked at my keyboard, the more I slowly recalled about Messer Wallace from ye Wayback’ machine.

 

Like remembering that Andy had gotten married to Catherine Crawford, daughter of then Andy’s Boss Max Crawford of Crawford Composites while driving for Howard-Boss Motorsports. Where one of His regular season teammates was thee Wanderin’ Milka, aka Milka Duno.

And then I also remembered that Wallace had driven with “Smoke”, aka tony Stewart at the Rolex 24, the year being 2004 Me Thinks? When I think Stewart must have Hit the Wall when leading? Since I vaguely recall Stewart trying to limp to the finish on Sunday morning when a two by four had been inserted to try fixing the damaged suspension…

 

Yes, it was the ’04 Rolex 24 where the Crawford’s DP’s rear tyre inexplicably came off with some 17 minutes remaining in the race. Where Stewart spun but apparently didn’t Hit anything!

 

Hence the reason for the temporary fix for the car that had reportedly been leading the past 17 Hours. For which the stricken car failed to finish. (DNF) But apparently Wallace, Stewart and some other driver named ‘lil E’, aka Dale Earnhardt Jr’s lead was so big that they still finished fifth overall in their Crawford DP03 Chevrolet V-8 Daytona Prototype.

 

As I love the typical sardonic, British understatement in Wallace’s Bio’. Simply noting that He’s won over 25 major international Endurance races during His career…

 

Meanwhile, Wallace was the man behind the wheel of the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport  as Bugatti’s Test Driver who officially cracked the 300mph mark, with an astounding record of 304.77mph in 2019

 

As that’s His second official Speed record, since Andy also set the record prior in March, 1998. Driving a McLaren five year old F1 prototype at VW’s Ehra-Lexxien test track in Germany to a speed of 240.1mph! With said recordstanding for eleven years, but still retains the record for fastest normally aspirated production road car.

 

Mauro Baldi

Birthplace: Reggio Emilia, Italy

DOB: January 31, 1954, Age: 69

Wins: Le Mans, 1994; Daytona, (2) 1998, 2002 and Sebring 1998

 

Funny how much you forget over the years. Like my having forgotten that Mauro Baldi is a former Formula 1 driver, the third on this list of Triple Crown winners.

 

Mauro began as a Rally driver in 1972 before switching to pavement racing in ’75. By 1980 He was a top notch Formula 3 driver, winning the 1981 F3 Monaco Grand Prix and European F3 Championship.

 

For ’82 Mauro drove for Jacky Oliver’s Arrows Grand Prix team, before stints with Alfa Romeo and Spirit between 1982-85, making 36 starts.

 

Baldi then switched to Sports Cars, first winning at Le Mans in ’94 with Yannick Dalmas and Hurley Haywood in that modified Dauer 962 Le Mans “Street Car”.

 

Ah, it’s Ah-comin’ back to me now, with Baldi’s name being synonomous with Giampiero Moretti’s Momo Corse racing team. Specifically behind the wheel of one of my favourite Ferrari’s, the evocative 333 SP.

 

Baldi swept the ’98 Florida endurance races for Doran Moretti Racing with the likes of Gentleman racer Moretti, Arie Luyendyk and Didier Theys. And then won again at Daytona four years later aboard Kevin Doran’s Dallara Judd V-10.

 

As Doran was the late Al Holbert’s Chief Mechanic before going onto form His own successful race team.

For the conclusion of this multi-part story, please visit the following No Fenders link below.

 

LE MANS: Triple Crown Winners, Part 5

                

LE MANS: Triple Crown Winners, Part 3

Time for the crossed Flag symbol, as we’ve reached the Halfway point of this arduous story Ladies  and Germs…

 

Otay, we’ve finally gotten to the Yank’ driver Y’all were expecting to be on this informal list of Triple Crown Sports Car winners. With another forgotten Great behind Him…

 

A.J. Foyt

Birthplace: Houston, Texas

DOB: January 16, 1935, Age: 88

Wins: Le Mans, 1967; Daytona, (2) 1983, 1985 and Sebring 1985

 

Arguably known as thee “GOAT”, nee Greatest Of All time racing driver, Anthony Joesph Foyt Jr’s feat of accomplishments in motor racing are simply too long to attempt typing! Not to mention Y’all cannot adequately put into words everything ‘Ol SuperTex’ has done!

 

We All know that Foyt became the first driver to win the Indianapolis 500 four times between 1961-1977, for which only three other drivers had joined A.J. in this rarefied club of Four-times winners, i.e.; foyt, Al Unser, Rick Mears and Groan, Helio Castroneves.

 

Foyt is the only driver to have won the Indianapolis 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Daytona 500 and 24 Hours of Daytona. His tally of 67 career IndyCar wins, seven Championships and 35 consecutive Indy 500 starts are all records that continue to endure.

 

Along with being the only driver on this list to have won races in front and rear engine Open Wheel Racing cars. Not to mention winning the Indy 500 both as a driver and team owner…

 

A.J. began His racing career competing in USAC Midgets at age 18, making His debut in 1953 before progressing to Sprint Cars three years later. Foyt made His Indianapolis 500 debut in 1958 after His impressive 1957 USAC Sprint Car win at Salem, Indiana firmly put Him on the radar of USAC team owners. Foyt won His first Indy 500 in 1961 and as they say, the rest was History!

 

A.J. holds the record for ten wins in the 14 race 1964 USAC National Championship Trail season, along with a record 159 USAC victories. But Hey! I said I wasn’t gonna try typing up All of His accomplishments! As it’s funny to think that Sports Car racing was just an “Afterthought” for Foyt. Whilst reportedly the brash Texan angered the French by telling them that the Mulsanne Straight was nothing more than a ‘lil ‘Ol country Road…

 

As Foyt won His one and only outing at Circuit de la Sarthe in the All conquering Shelby Ford GT40 Mk IV in 1967 with Dan Gurney. And then won twice at Daytona and Sebring in the early 1980’s behind the keyboard of those Porsche 962 Panzerwagons.

 

Tend to recall that the late Bob Wollek, a four times Rolex 24 winner initially didn’t want to drive with Foyt, or didn’t think He was that great of a driver. But Monsieur Wollek begrudgingly came to respect Foyt’s driving prowess after the pair had won at Daytona and Sebring.

 

Yet for everything Y’all can say about ‘Ol SuperTex’, my favourite three memories are of Him blaming that Damn Coogan! Along with Foyt Hammerin’ the Shit outta an offending IndyCar’s recalcitrant Pop Off valve with a Craftsman rachet! And pummeling the Crap outta an Engineer’s laptop after one of His cars had run out of fuel!

 

Whilst obviously I’m dating myself by telling Y’all I got to see Foyt running around at the rear of the field in His iconic black Copenhagen IndyCar multiple times at Portland International Raceway. Along with His arch nemesis Mario Andretti…

 

Al Holbert

Birthplace: Abington Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

DOB: November 11, 1946

Died: September 30,1988, Age: 41

Wins: Sebring, (2) 1976, 1981; Le Mans, (3) 1983, 1986-87 and Daytona, (2) 1986-87

 

Hard to believe that it’s Gory 35 years ago now that Al Holbert perished aboard His Piper PA-60 shortly after takeoff from nearby Columbus, Ohio after attending an IMSA Sports car race.

 

As a few memories instantly jump out at me regarding Holbert. Most notably those iconic Lowenbrau Porsche 962’s, which I still think were one of the best looking racecars!

 

Along with my supervisor wanting the full page spread 11 X 34 inches? Green and white Quaker State Porsche IndyCar center-page spread poster I used to hang upon my workspace’s overhead metal book shelve…

 

Not to mention I know I’ve previously scribbled hear upon No Fenders somewheres’ about His DeKon Monza IMSA GT racecars that Holbert won two of His five IMSA GT Championships with. Ah, here it is…

 

http://www.nofenders.net/2015/09/retro-forgotten-gt-champion.html

 

As I was unaware that Holbert had majored in Mechanical Engineering at Lehigh University, which I suppose is part of why His racing cars and team were so competitive. Not to mention having briefly worked for El Capitano’, nee Roger Penske, whose “Attention to Detail” also rubbed off upon the ultra competitive Sports Car racer.

 

Al’s father bob Holbert was also a noted Sports Car racer, along with having opened a Porsche Dealership in Warrington, PA, one of the first in the U.S. Hence Al’s natural gravitation towards Porsches.

 

As Holbert’s winning co-drivers reads like a veritable Who’s who of motor racing. Having won alongside Hurley Haywood, ‘lil al’, aka Al Unser Jr, Derek Bell, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Vern Schuppan and Chip Robinson. Whilst I’ve already regaled Y’all about winning at Sebring in 1981 for Hometown Bayside Racing with it’s proprietor Bruce Leven and Messer Haywood…

 

Yet for Mwah, Holbert’s legacy stands out for having brought Porsche into Indy Cars, albeit briefly. Since obviously you could say on  the surface, the IndyCar “project” quietly fizzled after Holbert’s untimely death.

 

As Al wouldn’t get to witness Teo Fabi scoring Porsche’s first Pole position ironically at my Home track of Portland International Raceway during the 1989 Budweiser/G.I. Joes 200. Or Fabi subsequently scoring Porsche’s lone IndyCar victory also from Pole at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course later that summer.

 

Porsche then expanded to a two car entry during it’s final IndyCar season (1990) with Fabi being joined by “Gentleman John” Andretti, before pulling the plug upon the programme.

 

Since it’s funny that my Boss whom I called thee Amazing Huzar! Was so infatuated with that Road & Track pull-out, or dare I say Pin Up? Since it was of the actual 1987 Porsche produced 2708 IndyCar chassis that was quickly shelved in favour of customer March IndyCar chassis instead.

 

And I didn’t know that Holbert had finished fourth in the 1984 Indianapolis 500, where runner-up Roberto Guerrero and fifth place finisher Michael Andretti were named co-winners for Rookie Of the Year…

To continue reading this multi-part story, please visit the following No Fenders link below.

 

LE MANS: Triple Crown Winners, Part 4

        

LE MANS: Triple Crown Winners, Part 2

Otay Kiddoes’, we’re just getting warmed up, since we’re only at the one third mark…

 

Funny how I just learned when reading Messer Oliver’s bio that He’s known as the second driver to complete the informal “Triple Crown of endurance racing. Meaning obviously I wasn’t the first person to think of this…

 

Jacky Oliver

Birthplace: Chadwell Heath, Essex, England

DOB: August 14, 1942, Age: 81

Wins: Sebring 1969; Le Mans, 1969 and Daytona 1971

 

Keith Jack Oliver cut His motor racing teeth in various Saloons before progressing to formula 3 and then Formula 2. Making His Formula 1 debut at the 1967 German Grand Prix. Winning the F2 class and fifth Overall at the legendous’ Nurburgring driving for Colin Chapman’s Team Lotus concern.

 

Oliver was tabbed to drive for Lotus in Formula 1 after the death of Jimmy clark, before moving to BRM in 1969 upon Jochen Rindt’s arrival at Lotus. As unfortunately the poor reliability of the BRM in two frustrating seasons effectively brought Oliver’s F1 career to a close. Although Oliver would make occasional F1 appearances until 1977 – making a total of 50 Grands Prix starts. Most notably when driving for Shadow in 1973.

 

Olivier’s Sports Car success came while driving for the legendous’ John Wyer, where the “Two Jacky’s”, i.e.; Oliver and Jacky Ickx won the 1969 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Le Mans aboard the venerable J.W. Automotive Engineering Ford GT40 Mk I.

 

Between 1970-71, JW Automotive Engineering became the de facto Porsche 917 team, where Oliver and co-driver Pedro Rodriguez won the 1971 24 Heurs du Mans and 1000km Monza Sports Car race.

 

Jacky is the only driver to have won the Can Am Championship on this list of nine drivers. Winning the 1974 title for Don Nichols Shadow racing team aboard the Shadow DN4.

 

Jacky is also credited with being a leading founder of the Arrows Grand Prix team beginning in 1978, before selling the majority of His shares to the Japanese Footwork corporation in 1990. Oliver remained as team Director thru it’s brief use of Porsche V-12’s and other engines before regaining control in 1993, when Footwork pulled it’s financial support of the team. And then again selling His Shares to Tom Walkinshaw in 1996.

 

Hurley Haywood

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois

DOB: May 4, 1948, Age: 75

Wins: Daytona, (5) 1973, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1991; Sebring, (2) 1973, 1981 and Le Mans, (3) 1977, 1983, 1994

 

What can I say or write about Harris Hurley Haywood that hasn’t already been said? Since Hurley whose long been synonymous with Brumos Porsche and it’s iconic No. 59 racecars. Arguably is one of the greatest All-time Sports Car racers. As I’d say greatest, but there’s one more Yank on this list that may challenge Him, not to mention the late “Peter Perfect”, aka Peter Gregg. Who Hurley partnered for many wins early in His career.

 

And while I had to remind myself that Hurley won the 1988 SCCA Trans Am Championship driving an Audi. What I always forget is that Haywood competed in the 1980 CART/PPG IndyCar World Series driving for Lindsey Hopkins Racing. Including finishing 18th as a rookie in that year’s Indianapolis 500. Reportedly making a total of 18 starts.

 

Won’t even attempt listing All of Hurley’s co-drivers for His amazing haul of these ten endurance race W’s. Other than having won with the likes of Jacky Ixkx Danny Ongais and Al Holbert amongst the many. While my favourites win is His 1981 Sebring victory driving for my Home team of Bayside Racing with Holbert and Bruce Leven.

 

Even more impressive is that Haywood won all of these races driving only Porsches. Beginning with the Carrera RSR, then 935, 936, 956 and lastly 962 variants.

 

I find it interesting how Hurley won His three 24 Heurs du Mans races over three decades, beginning with the 936 Spyder, then the 956 and lastly a Dauer 962 Le Mans entry, a racing version of the Dauer 962 Le Mans road car for which only 13 examples were built.

 

I was also unaware of the fact that Hurley was Drafted by the U.S. Army in 1970, and served His  tour of duty in Vietnam in Saigon. But guessing everybody knows He’s tied for most 24 Hours of Daytona wins with Scott Scooter’ Pruett at five apiece

To continue reading this multi-part story, please visit the following No Fenders link below.

 

LE MANS: Triple Crown Winners, Part 3… 

LE MANS 100C: Celebrating Drivers who’ve Claimed the Triple Crown of Endurance Races

As that’s two mythical Triple Crowns you’ve missed out upon Fernando!

 

Y’all remember when that Smarmy Spaniard Frederico Suave, aka Fernando Alonso was waxing on ‘n on about wanting to win the elusive Triple Crown? Consisting of winning the 24 Heurs du Mans, Indianapolis 500 and Monaco Grand Prix, for which only Graham Hill has ever done so!

 

Whale’, with this summers Centenary running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, this started me down another Wabbit’ Hole regarding drivers who’ve won what I’ve deemed my mythical Triple Crown of Sports Car races. Consisting of the three I most pay Attenzione too. With le 24 Heurs du Mans, 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona making up my Triple Crown.

 

Unfortunately politics got in the way of a whole cadre of drivers being able to contest All three events, with Sports Cars suffering it’s own version of The Split!Circa 1998-2013.

 

Most notably, the likes of  Mr. Le Mans, aka Nine-times winner Tom Kristensen. Thee Scottish Terrier’, aka Alan McNish, Frank Biela and Emanuele Pirro to name a few missed out upon racing at Daytona…

 

While such Sports Car greats as Dan Gurney, Phil Hill, Olivier Gendebien, Jacky Ixkx, Mario Andretti, etc. never won the 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race. And yes I’m aware that Gurney won the inaugural Daytona three hours in 1962. Whilst Ye original Mr. Le Mans, Six-times winner Ickx and SuperMario’ (Andretti) won the 1972 Six Hours of Daytona. But Gurney, Hill and Andretti never won the 24hrs rendition in subsequent attempts.

 

Four names in particular that stand out to Mwah not included on this list are Derek Bell, Vic Elford, Brian Redman and Klaus Ludwig. Specifically Bell’s name, especially since He was part of those All conquering Lowenbrau Porsche 962 Panzerwagon’s efforts, Ja Volt!

 

Along with the farcical nature of Ford Motor Company’s Brass wrongly taking away Ken Miles trifecta occurring All in 1966 with it’s staged 1-2-3 Le Mans photo finish!

 

Whilst the likes of many including Bob Wollek, Gerard Larrousse, ‘lil Stevie Johnson’, aka Stefan Johansson, Geoff Brabham, JJ Letho, Alexander Wurz, etc. managed to have only won two-thirds of these legendous’ events. With countless others witnessing Heartbreak over the decades.

 

Thus if I’ve done my unscientific research correctly? Since I enjoy the History of Motorsports, even if it’s confined to the pages of Wikipedia Herr Crying Wolff!

 

By my tally, I’ve come up with only nine drivers to date to accomplish this amazing feat! And while I’m certain Y’all can guess who one of the three Yanks’ is, He’s not the first driver to accomplish this…

 

Hans Herrmann

Birthplace: Stugart, Germany

DOB: February 23, 1928, Age: 95

Wins Sebring, (2) 1960, 1968; Daytona 1968 and Le Mans 1970

 

When I think of Hans Herrmann, I immediately think of Porsche’s first overall victory at Le mans, after narrowly missing out the year prior! Where Herrmann and co-driver Richard Atwood drove their Porsche-Salsburg 917K entry to victory.

 

Whilst I tend to forget that Herrmann and co-driver Gerard Larrousse aboard an “older” Porsche 908 finished a tantalizing 393.71 feet! (120 meters) Just over a (NFL) football field’s length behind the winning, venerable Ford GT40 of Jacky Ickx and Jacky Oliver in 1969!

 

Don’t know much about Hans early forays into motor racing, before becoming a “Junior” driver with the Werk’s Mercedes Benz Formula 1 team in the early 1950’s. With Herrmann making His Formula 1 debut at the 1953 German Grand Prix.

 

Naturally Hans was given the team’s older equipment with the likes of El Maestro’, aka Juan Manuel Fangio and Sir Stirling Moss heading the Mercedes team between 1954-55. As Hans made a total of either 18 or 19 Grands Prix starts between 1953-1969.

 

Hans scored His first two major race triumphs in 1960 driving for Porsche. Winning that year’s 12 Hours of Sebring and the grueling Targa Florio. Winning at Sebring with co-driver Olivier Gendebien, and then Jo Bonnier in the Targa Florio. With both victories aboard a Porsche 718 RS 60 Spyder.

 

Yet with the FIA changing the Formula 1 rules for the 1961 F1 season to utilize Formula 2 cars instead. Allowing Porsche to race it’s 718/2 F2 cars in Formula 1, Herrmann left the team after feeling He was playing third fiddle to Dan Gurney and Jo Bonnier.

 

After driving for Abarth, Hans returned to His Home team of Porsche again in 1966. As 1968 saw the former Baker win the 24 Hours of Daytona and Sebring 12 Hours for a second time behind the keyboard of Factory Porsche 907’s. With the Daytona win shared with co-drivers Vic Elford, Jochen Neerpasch, rolf Stommelen and Jo Stiffert. And then co-driving just with Stiffert at Sebring.

 

As I’d argue that 1968-70 was the zenith of Herrmann’s racing career, with Hans sort of joking to His wife that if He won that year’s (1970) 24 Heurs du Mans. He’d retire from motor racing since the sport was so dangerous then! For which Hans dually did so afterwards…

 

While reportedly, Herrmann now at age 95, is the last remaining Formula 1 driver to stand atop a Grand Prix podium during the 1950’s. Along with one of the few to contest such grueling Sports Car races as the Mille Miglia, Targa Florio and Carrera Panamericana. Not to mention the only driver of this Uber’ short list to have won the Targa Florio! Or driven alongside El Maestro’ (Juan Manuel Fangio) and Sir Stirling Moss in Formula 1.

To continue reading this multi-part story, please visit the following No Fenders link below.

 

LE MANS: Triple Crown Winners, Part 2

LE MANS: 2021 Supporting classes Once Again represent Majority of the Grid

But it’s a good thing we’ve got ‘em, Otherwise we’d be watching only 13 Cars taking Ye Tricolour…

 

With  the Bulk of this weekend’s 89^th Edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans being comprised of it’s “lower tier” brethren,

i.e.; 25 LMP2 entries and 23 LM GTE Am entrants, which I believe Adds up to 48? Uhm, Too Bad that Jimmie Johnson Guy Ain’t here, Hya! Uhm, actually He’s got the weekend off after last week’s outing at Mother Speedway, with the IMS Road Course being his first repeat racetrack this year, with his best finish of the season coming Thar. (P19)

 

Thus with 48 outta 61 race entries, I’m simply not even gonna try chronicling ‘em All! But instead will just Highlight some of those who caught my eye when perusing this year’s “Entry list.” With No Disrespect intended towards the Garage 56 entry, which includes two Disabled Drivers on it’s three man #84 LMP2 roster. One a former GP500 Rider and the other an ex-Motorcross rider.

 

Le Mans Prototypes 2 (LMP2)

As Don’t Quote Me but, it appears that the entire LMP2 field is comprised of the Oreca 07 chassis mated to the mandatory Gibson 4.2-litre Normally Aspirated V-8 lump’ this year, albeit I didn’t initially check All 25 entries thoroughly. Since it appears the lone Ligier JS217/Gibson #74 Racing Team India EurAsia entry is the solitary interloper.

 

As they say, Ladies First! As the No. 1 Richard Mille Racing’s entry sports an All le femme lineup once again, with Tatiana Calderon, Sophia Florsch and Beitske Visser behind the steering wheel for a second year in-a-row. As it would be Fantastic if they won their Class this year.

 

But they’ll have to get past defending LMP2 winners United Autosport’s #22 entry with former Formula 1 Driver and current Sky Sports F1 Pundit Paul di Resta alongside Co-Drivers Phil Hansen and Filipe Albuquerque, the latter two who also won last year’s European Le Mans Series (ELMS) championship aboard United Autosport’s #22 ELMS entry. Di Resta has moved over to the team’s No. 23 entry and is replaced by Fabio Scherer this year in the lead #22.

 

As the team Co-owned by McLaren CEO Zak Brown with Richard Dean's once again enters three cars this year with it’s #22 defending Le Mans LMP2 Class champion entry alongside the #23 and it’s Seester’ #32.

 

As the #32 sports an interesting lineup consisting of former Indy Lights driver Nico Jammin, Jonathan Aberdein and Manuel Maldonado, the younger cousin   of former Williams F1 Grands Prix winner Pastor Maldonado, better known as “Crashtor,” Youch!

 

DragonSpeed’s No. 21 features Ben Hanley, Henrik “Max Headroom” Hedman and some guy named Juan Pablo Montoya as it’s drivers, once again begging thoust Questione. If Montoya wins the class, does that mean he claims Fredrico Suave’s Mythical Triple Crown before the Smarmy Spaniard does? Comprising of Monaco, Indy 500 and Le Mans victories? Or presumably does this only apply to outright wins in those three disciplines?

 

The second High Class Racing #49 entry features a well known Father-son duo, with MAGS’, aka Jan Magnussen joined by his son Kevin Bacon’ Magnussen and Anders Fjordbach at it’s Keyboard. As I’ve just learned that High Class Racing is based in Denmark, so it makes sense for the Magnussen pairing, Righto?

 

Bad Arse Patrick Kelly Headlines PR1/Mathiasen  Motorsports #24 entry, with Gabriel Aubry and Simon Trummer alongside, as one of the few IMSA Weathertech SportsCar championship entrants being invited to Circuit de la Sarthe this year. With another unlikely one being the No. 82 Risi Competizione, who used to run Ferrari 488 GTE Evo’s in the LM GTE Pro Class being the only two IMSA LMP2 entrants.

 

And you can never count out Messer di Resta’s Sky Sports F1 Pundit ANT’, aka Anthony Davidson, who’s piloting the #38 JOTA  entry alongside team-mates Antonio Felix da Costa and Roberto Gonzalez.

 

Whilst it would be nice to see Tristan Gommendy rebound from last year’s Monstrous Crash, who’ll be sharing France’s No. 30 Duqueine Team’s ELMS  entry with Rene Binder and Memo Rojas.

 

As Gommendy and Gonzalez are former Chump Carz’ (Champ Car World Series) competitors, who both ironically drove for PKV Racing, Gonzalez in 2004 and Gommendy in ’07. While Rojas won multiple Grand Am Championships with Scotty Scooter’ Pruett…

 

Not to mention IMSA Competitors Ricky Taylor and Renger Van der Zande, who’s “Day Jobs” are piloting IMSA Daytona Prototypes spending seat time in the Nos. 20 and 34 respectively. As the #20 is also a High Class Racing entry.

 

Interestingly, Chip Ganassi Racing IMSA DPi team-mates Kevin Magnussen and Van der Zande will be racing against each other for LMP2 Class Honours, with Renger part of the #34 Inter Europol Competition entry.

 

As Van der Zande’s “Turbo Bakers” co-Drivers are Alex Brundle, son of former Formula 1 driver and Sky Sports F1 TV Pundit Martin billybob’ brundle and Jakub Smiechowski. As reputedly the Turbo Bakers nickname is in deference to the team’s main sponsor.

 

Whilst the No. 28 JOTA  entry’s  my Dark Horse pick due to it’s Uber Stout Driver Trio of Tom “the Bomb” Blomquist, Sean Gelael and Stoffel Vandoorne, whose Seester’ team car is the #38 JOTA Sport’s entry.

 

Le Mans GTE Am (LM GTE Amateur )

And like above, it’s Ladies First in the “Amateur” Saloons’ ranks also, with the return of Iron Links #85 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo sporting Rahel Frey and Michelle Gatting returning for a second year in-a-row, while Belgian Sarah Boby replaces Manuela Gostner.  . As Boby joined the team at Monza, where she made her FIA World Endurance Championship debut.

 

As this is just one of the Mega Stallion of Prancing Horses “Galloping” about Circuit de la Sarthe with a total of 11 Ferrari 488 GTE Evo’s competing, with the Iron Links Squadra having three entries alone, i.e.; No.s 60, 80 and 85.

 

Although I didn’t spot any IMSA Teams in the LM GTE Am category, I did notice that IMSA GT Daytona Bad Arse Robby Foley’s part of the #66 JMW Motorsport  Ferrari team.

 

NOTE

Robby Foley’s ride at JMW Motorsport fell thru prior to the IMSA Road America Sports Car round where the 25yr old New Jersey Native was contacted by Project 1 Motorsport for an Open Seat in the team’s #46 Porsche 911 RSR-19, for whom Foley made his 24 Heurs du Mans debut for instead…

And whilst I did correctly acknowledge Aston Martin’s withdrawal from the Top tier LM GTE Pro category, I mistakenly said they were also leaving the LM GTE Am ranks which was incorrect! Since Thars actually Quattro Aston Martin Vantage AMR’s contesting this year’s race led by the defending Class Champion TF Sport No. 95 and it’s Seester’ #33. Along with a lone Werks’ #98 entry and the Privateer “Triple Seven” (#777) entry.

 

Yet last year’s winner was the #90 TF Sport entry, as this year’s No. 95 sports an All New Driver lineup. As I recognize ross gunn’s name, who’s a Factory Aston Martin driver who’s competing for my Home team’s Heart of Racing’s No. 23 IMSA GTD Customer Aston Martin entry, having last spotted Gunn’s name when perusing this year’s Rolex 24 competitors. With gunn being joined by Ollie Hancock and John Hartshorne.

 

The second largest contingent of LM GTE Am participants are the eight Porsche 911 RSR-19 Panzerwagons, as Yuhs can Never count Porsche out at Le Mans! As that guy known Stateside as Dr. McDreamy, aka Patrick Dempsey’s Dempsey Proton Racing enters a Brace of Ye ubiquitous Porsches, the Nos. 77 and 88.

 

But I’ve got Zero clue who’s the favoured Contendahs’ or whom I think will win this class? So like Mwah, you’ll just have to stay tuned this weekend…