GERARD LARROUSSE AT 80

In 1968, Gérard Larrousse almost prevented the first Porsche win at the Monte Carlo Rally. With a Renault Alpine 1300, he was a major opponent of Porsche works driver, Vic Elford, who was campaigning a 911 T. Only when spectators helped Elford by shovelling snow onto the track of a special stage did Larrousse lose control of his car and have to give up. When Porsche’s chief engineer, Peter Falk, approached Elford a little later and asked him who the best French racing driver was, his experience prompted him to namecheck Larrousse. He signed for works team before the year was out.

Larrousse went on to enjoy his greatest successes at the side of Elford, who became a long-time friend. In 1971, they won the 12 Hours of Sebring in a 917, as well as the 1,000km race at the Nürburgring in a 908/03 Spyder. These victories, as well as Larrousse’s achievement

winning various rallies in 1969 while behind the wheel of the then new 911 R, earned him a reputation as a formidable driver in a variety of motorsport applications. Along with teammates, Helmut Marko and Claude Haldi, he was one of the winning 914/6 drivers to cross the line in first place at the 86-hour 1970 Marathon de la Route, held at the Green Hell.

He earned two well-deserved victories at Le Mans, taking top honours in 1973 and 1974 with his French compatriot, Henri Pescarolo, for Matra-simca. Later, Larrousse became Renault racing team manager, leading the French manufacturer to victory at Le Mans ahead of Porsche, before coining Renault’s first Formula

One Grand Prix win in 1979. In 1986, in collaboration with French lawyer,

Didier Calmels, he established the imaginatively named Larrousse Calmels F1 team.

Larrousse celebrated his eightieth birthday in May 2020. Today, he serves as a Porsche brand ambassador and is President of the 24 Hours of Le Mans Drivers Club. He currently lives in Marseilles and takes part in historic motorsport.