Gérard Larrousse

Born in Lyon in 1940, Larrousse enjoyed a career in sports cars and rallying as well as F1 – both as a driver and team principal. After starting out hillclimbing a Renault Dauphine – “With 55bhp you had to avoid the brakes at all costs!” – he joined Porsche in 1969, taking second place at Le Mans with Hans Herrmann in a 908. The following year he again finished second, with Willi Kauhsen in a 917, but partnered with Vic Elford in 1971 he won the Sebring 12 Hours in a 917 as well as the Nürburgring 1000km in a 908/3. His finest hour in sports cars would be back-to-back wins at La Sarthe in 1973 and ’74 in the wailing Matra MS670B, and he also won the Targa Florio in 1974 in a Lancia Stratos.

This true all-rounder confirmed his talent with numerous rally and road-race victories: in 1969, in addition to the Tour de Corse, he won the Rallye Neige et Glace and the Tour de France, as well as a second on the Monte in 1970 and ’72. After directing Renaultsport’s competition activities from 1976-’84, he spent two years as head of Ligier before forming his own F1 team.