Derek Bell (racing driver)

Derek Reginald Bell MBE (born 31 October 1941 in Pinner, Middlesex, England) is a British racing driver. In sportscar racing, he won the Le Mans 24 hours five times, the Daytona 24 three times and the World Sportscar Championship twice. He also raced in Formula One for the Ferrari, Wheatcroft, McLaren, Surtees and Tecno teams. He has been described by fellow racer Hans-Joachim Stuck as one of the most liked drivers of his generation.[1]

Derek Bell at the Nürburgring in August 1970 when racing Formula 2
Derek Bell racing a Formula 2 Dino 166 at the Nürburgring in 1969
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1970–1983, 1985–1996
TeamsScuderia Ferrari
John Wyer Automotive
Ecurie Francorchamps
Gulf Racing
Grand Touring Cars
Renault Sport
Porsche System
Rothmans Porsche
Richard Lloyd Racing
Joest Porsche Racing
ADA Engineering
Courage Compétition
Gulf Oil Racing
David Price Racing
Best finish1st (1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987)
Class wins5 (1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1987)

Derek Bell
MBE
Bell in 2008
BornDerek Reginald Bell
(1941-10-31) 31 October 1941
Pinner, Middlesex, England, UK
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality British
Active years19681972, 1974
TeamsFerrari, McLaren, Surtees, Tecno
Entries16 (9 starts)
Championships0
Wins0
Podiums0
Career points1
Pole positions0
Fastest laps0
First entry1968 Italian Grand Prix
Last entry1974 Canadian Grand Prix
Derek Bell in the Walk of fame at Le Mans

Early career

Derek Bell in the Wheatcroft Racing Brabham BT30 at the Nürburgring in 1970

Bell grew up on a farm and helped to run the Church Farm caravan site, complete with its own pub, near Pagham Harbour, boarding at The King's School, Worcester. He was encouraged by his stepfather Bernard Hender to take up racing with a Lotus Seven in 1964. He won his first race in the Lotus at Goodwood in March of that year. He graduated to Formula Three in the following year racing a Lotus 31 and in 1966 switched to a Lotus 41 scoring his first victory, again at Goodwood. In 1967 he enjoyed seven wins. He entered Formula Two in a privateer Brabham BT23C fielded by his stepfather's Church Farm Racing team and after several promising performances, which caught Enzo Ferrari's eye, made his Formula One Grand Prix debut for Ferrari at Monza in 1968. He contested the 1969 Tasman Series in a 2.4 Dino and was second at Lakeside to Amon and Rindt at Warwick Farm. In 1969 he raced the four-wheel-drive McLaren M9A[2] in its only ever race at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Bell took part in the filming of Le Mans (1970)[3] starring Steve McQueen,[4] and he and his family lived with the McQueen family during the filming, the two becoming friends. Bell had a lucky escape during the making of the film. The Ferrari 512 he was driving suddenly caught fire whilst getting into position for a take. He managed to get out of the car just before it was engulfed in flames and suffered minor burns. Although the car was badly damaged, it was later rebuilt and is still racing at historic meets.[5]

Bell finished second in the 1970 European Formula Two Championship, driving a Brabham BT30 for Wheatcroft Racing. In 1972 he got a drive in the Tecno Formula One team, along with Nanni Galli. He later raced a number of times for the Surtees team, including a sixth place at the 1970 United States Grand Prix racing a Surtees TS7, which was to be his highest finish in the Formula One World Championship. He had a few further drives for Surtees in 1974 and finished 11th in the 1974 German Grand Prix. Enjoying single seaters more than sports cars he accepted drives in F5000/Libre British Shellsport series and F5000 in 1976-7 the Penske PC7 March and also odd F5000 drives in the US and Australia.

It was to be in sports car racing, which he came to via a drive in Jacques Swaters privately entered Ferrari 512M in the 1970 Spa 1000 km, leading to a Ferrari works drive at the 1970 Le Mans 24 hours, where he built a strong reputation as a world class and world championship winning racer.

Le Mans

Bell won the Le Mans 24 hours race five times, in 1975, 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1987, making him the most successful British driver in the race to date. He was teamed with the Belgian Jacky Ickx in 1975, racing the Gulf Mirage GR8,[6] again in 1981, racing a Porsche 936, and finally in 1982 racing a Rothmans Porsche 956. Bell went on to win the 1986 and 1987 Le Mans teamed with Hans-Joachim Stuck and Al Holbert racing a Rothmans Porsche 962.

1971 Le Mans Porsche 917LH driven by Derek Bell and Jo Siffert parked outside the Hotel de France

His first Le Mans was in 1970 in a works-entered Ferrari 512, with co-driver Ronnie Peterson, his last in 1996 racing a McLaren F1 GTR. Bell achieved his highest ever speed at Le Mans at the 1971 Le Mans 24 hours April test day, reaching a calculated top speed of 246 mph on the Mulsanne Straight in the JW Gulf Porsche 917LH.[7]

Derek Bell in the Gulf Mirage M6 at the 1972 Nürburgring 1000km
1994 Le Mans Gulf Kremer Porsche K8 Spyder raced by Derek Bell and Robin Donovan

Sportscar racing

Bell also won the World Sportscar Championship title twice in 1985 and 1986 and the 24 Hours of Daytona three times in 1986, 1987 and 1989. He won the 1973 Silverstone RAC Tourist Trophy racing a BMW 3.0CSL with Harald Ertl. In 1984 he won the Nürburgring 1000km with Stefan Bellof, racing a Porsche 956, with a notable fourth place in the 1974 Nürburgring 1000km racing a Gulf GR7 with James Hunt on the longer 22.8 km circuit.

His first victory in the Spa 1000km came in 1974 racing a Mirage M6 with Mike Hailwood, going onto win the 1975 and 1984 editions, with Henri Pescarolo, in 1975, in that season's dominant Alfa Romeo Tipo 33TT12 on the old 14 km track and with Stefan Bellof, in the equally dominant Porsche 956 of 1984, on the shorter circuit used by Formula One. He is also one of two drivers to win the Spa 1000km on both the original and current circuits, the other being Jacky Ickx.

Derek Bell with a number of the Porsche 956s and 962s he drove during his racing career

Post-racing career

Bell was hired as chairman for the Spectre R42 super car project between 1996 and its demise in 1997. In 2001 he was hired to consult for the Bentley Speed 8 programme, helping Bentley to win Le Mans two years later. He now splits his time between the United States and his home near Chichester, UK, with his wife Misti. He is an after dinner speaker and motorsport commentator, and also races in historic events, and is a global ambassador for Bentley. Bell is also an operating partner of Bentley Naples in Naples, Florida, USA.

Derek Bell racing in the Group C support race at the 2012 Le Mans

His eldest son Justin Bell is also a racer. The two raced together in the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 1992 24 Hours of Le Mans. Bell was to race in the 2008 24 Hours of Daytona with Justin, however the car dropped out of the race early and Derek did not get to run in the race. Aside from winning at Le Mans five times, he claims his proudest moment was coming third with his son Justin racing the Harrods sponsored McLaren F1 GTR in the 1995 Le Mans on Fathers Day.

Bentley Brand ambassador Derek Bell at the Moscow Raceway
AA presentation of Honorary Life membership to Derek Bell

Bell is a patron for the charities Hope for Tomorrow[8] Mission Motorsport and the Henry Surtees Foundation. He is also an Ambassador for the Fly Navy Heritage Trust.

He is currently the president of the oldest pram race in the world. The Pagham Pram Race[9] started in 1946 and is run annually at 11am on Boxing Day.

Bell returned to Le Mans to race a Porsche 962 for the first time in 20 years in the Group C support race at Le Mans on 16 June 2012.

He was presented with Honorary Life membership of the AA in recognition of his 50 years in motorsport, commemorated by a plaque presented by Lord March at the Moving Motorshow during the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed in the presence of Chris Jansen, CEO of the AA, and Edmund King, the president of the AA.

Awards

  • BRDC Gold Star: 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987
  • Royal Automobile Club Plaque d'Honneur: 1985
  • Guild of Motoring Writers Driver of the Year: 1982 and 1985
  • Bell was awarded the MBE in 1986 for services to motorsport.
  • Inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America[10] in 2012.
  • Inducted into the Le Mans 24 Hours Drivers Hall of Fame in 2013.[11]
  • Inducted in to the Motor Sport Hall of Fame UK in 2016
  • Presented with Honorary Life Membership of the AA in recognition of his 50 years in motorsport at the 2014 Goodwood Festival of Speed
  • was made citizen of honor of the city of Angoulême in 2017
  • 2017 Simeone Foundation Spirit of Competition Award[12]

Racing record

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos. Pts
1968 Frank Williams Racing Cars Brabham BT23C Ford HOC
Ret
4th 15
Church Farm Racing Team THR
3
JAR
Ret
PAL
Ret
Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 166 Ferrari TUL
7
ZAN
14
PER
5
HOC
3
VAL
6
1969 Scuderia Ferrari Ferrari 166 Ferrari THR
Ret
HOC NÜR
5
JAR
8
TUL PER 5th 11
Frank Williams Racing Cars Brabham BT30 Ford VAL
4
1970 Team Wheatcroft Racing Brabham BT30 Ford THR
3
HOC
3
BAR
1
ROU
7
PER
7
TUL
4
IMO
3
HOC
6
2nd 35
1971 Frank Williams Racing Cars March 712M Ford HOC THR
3
NÜR
Ret
JAR PAL
8
ROU MAN
8
TUL ALB
DNQ
VAL
Ret
VAL 13th 6
1973 Team Surtees Surtees TS15 Ford MAL HOC
3
THR NÜR
4
PAU KIN NIV HOC
Ret
ROU MNZ
4
MAN KAR PER SAL NOR ALB VAL 8th 13
1974 Bang & Olufsen Team Surtees Surtees TS15A BMW BAR HOC PAU SAL HOC
Ret
MUG KAR PER HOC VAL NC 0
1984 Onyx Race Engineering March 842 BMW SIL HOC THR VAL MUG PAU HOC MIS PER DON BRH
9
NC 0
Source:[13]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 WDC Pts
1968 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312/68 Ferrari 242C 3.0 V12 RSA ESP MON BEL NED FRA GBR GER ITA
Ret
CAN NC 0
Ferrari 312/67/68 Ferrari 242 3.0 V12 USA
Ret
MEX
1969 Bruce McLaren Motor Racing McLaren M9A Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA ESP MON NED FRA GBR
Ret
GER ITA CAN USA MEX NC 0
1970 Tom Wheatcroft Racing Brabham BT26A Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA ESP MON BEL
Ret
NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA CAN 22nd 1
Team Surtees Surtees TS7 USA
6
MEX
1971 Team Surtees Surtees TS9 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA ESP MON NED FRA GBR
Ret
GER AUT ITA CAN USA NC 0
1972 Martini Racing Team Tecno PA123 Tecno Series-P 3.0 F12 ARG RSA ESP MON BEL FRA
DNS
GBR GER
Ret
AUT ITA
DNQ
CAN
DNS
USA
Ret
NC 0
1974 Bang & Olufsen Team Surtees Surtees TS16 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR
DNQ
GER
11
NC 0
Team Surtees AUT
DNQ
ITA
DNQ
CAN
DNQ
USA
Source:[13][14]

Complete Formula One Non-Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1968 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312/67/68 Ferrari 242 3.0 V12 ROC INT OUL
Ret
1969 Scuderia Ferrari SpA SEFAC Ferrari 312/68 Ferrari 255C 3.0 V12 ROC INT
9
MAD OUL
1970 Tom Wheatcroft Racing Brabham BT26A Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC
DNS
INT OUL
1971 Tom Wheatcroft Racing March 701 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
Ret
ROC
Frank Williams Racing Cars QUE
15
SPR INT RIN OUL VIC
Source:[13][14]

Complete Tasman Series results

(key)

Year Team Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pos. Pts
1969 Scuderia Veloce Dino 246 Tasmania Ferrari 2.4 V6 PUK
4
LEV
Ret
WIG
5
TER
5
LAK
2
WAR
2
SAN
5
4th 21
1970 Wheatcroft Racing Brabham BT26A Ford Cosworth DFW 2.5 V8 LEV
9
PUK
2
WIG
Ret
TER SUR WAR SAN 10th 6
Source:[13]

Complete European F5000 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Pts
1969 Team Surtees Surtees TS5A Chevrolet 5.0 V8 OUL BRH BRH MAL SIL MON KOK ZAN
14
SNE HOC OUL BRH 46th 55
1970 Sid Taylor Racing McLaren M10B Chevrolet 5.0 V8 OUL BRH ZOL ZAN SIL BRH CAS MAL MON SIL MNZ
Ret
AND SAL THR SIL OUL SNE HOC OUL BRH NC 0
1971 Sid Taylor Racing McLaren M18 Chevrolet 5.0 V8 MAL SNE BRH MON SIL CAS MAL MNZ
Ret
MAL THR SIL OUL SNE HOC OUL
Ret
BRH BRH NC 0
1974 Hogan Racing Lola T330 Chevrolet 5.0 V8 BRH MAL SIL OUL BRH ZOL THR
4
ZAN MUG MNZ MAL MON THR BRH OUL SNE MAL BRH 23rd 10
1975 RAM Racing Chevron B28 Chevrolet 5.0 V8 BRH OUL BRH SIL ZOL ZAN THR
Ret
SNE MAL THR BRH OUL SIL SNE MAL BRH NC 0
Source:[13]

Complete Shellsport International Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos. Pts
1976 Hexagon Racing Penske PC3 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 MAL SNE OUL BRH THR BRH MAL SNE BRH THR OUL BRH
4
BRH
2
11th 27
1977 Hexagon Racing Penske PC3 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 MAL SNE OUL
1
BRH
4
MAL THR
Ret
BRH OUL MAL
DSQ
DON
4
BRH
DNS
THR SNE BRH 11th 42
Source:[13]

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1970 SpA Ferrari SEFAC Ronnie Peterson Ferrari 512S S
5.0
39 DNF DNF
1971 John Wyer Automotive Engineering Ltd. Jo Siffert Porsche 917LH S
5.0
DNF DNF
1972 Ecurie Francorchamps Teddy Pilette
Richard Bond
Ferrari 365 GTB/4 GT
5.0
301 8th 4th
1973 Gulf Research Racing Howden Ganley Mirage M6-Ford Cosworth S
3.0
163 DNF DNF
1974 Gulf Research Racing Mike Hailwood Gulf GR7-Ford Cosworth S
3.0
317 4th 4th
1975 Gulf Research Racing Jacky Ickx Mirage GR8-Ford Cosworth S
3.0
336 1st 1st
1976 Grand Touring Cars Inc. Vern Schuppan Mirage GR8-Ford Cosworth S
3.0
326 5th 4th
1977 Renault Sport Jean-Pierre Jabouille Renault Alpine A442 S
+2.0
257 DNF DNF
1978 Renault Sport Jean-Pierre Jarier Renault Alpine A442A S
+2.0
162 DNF DNF
1979 Grand Touring Cars Inc.
Ford Concessionaires France
David Hobbs
Vern Schuppan
Mirage M10-Ford Cosworth S
+2.0
262 DNF DNF
1980 Porsche System Al Holbert Porsche 924 Carrera GT GTP 305 13th 6th
1981 Porsche System Jacky Ickx Porsche 936 S
+2.0
354 1st 1st
1982 Rothmans Porsche System Jacky Ickx Porsche 956 C 359 1st 1st
1983 Rothmans Porsche System Jacky Ickx Porsche 956 C 370 2nd 2nd
1985 Rothmans Porsche Hans-Joachim Stuck Porsche 962C C1 367 3rd 3rd
1986 Rothmans Porsche Al Holbert
Hans-Joachim Stuck
Porsche 962C C1 368 1st 1st
1987 Rothmans Porsche Hans-Joachim Stuck
Al Holbert
Porsche 962C C1 355 1st 1st
1988 Porsche AG Hans-Joachim Stuck
Klaus Ludwig
Porsche 962C C1 394 2nd 2nd
1989 Richard Lloyd Racing Tiff Needell
James Weaver
Porsche 962C GTi C1 339 DNF DNF
1990 Joest Porsche Racing Hans-Joachim Stuck
Frank Jelinski
Porsche 962C C1 350 4th 4th
1991 Konrad Motorsport
Joest Porsche Racing
Hans-Joachim Stuck
Frank Jelinski
Porsche 962C C2 347 7th 7th
1992 ADA Engineering Tiff Needell
Justin Bell
Porsche 962C GTi C3 284 12th 5th
1993 Courage Compétition Lionel Robert
Pascal Fabre
Courage C30LM-Porsche C2 347 10th 5th
1994 Gulf Oil Racing Robin Donovan
Jürgen Lässig
Kremer K8 Spyder-Porsche LMP1
/C90
316 6th 3rd
1995 Harrods Mach One Racing
David Price Racing
Andy Wallace
Justin Bell
McLaren F1 GTR GT1 296 3rd 2nd
1996 Harrods Mach One Racing
David Price Racing
Andy Wallace
Olivier Grouillard
McLaren F1 GTR GT1 328 6th 5th
Source:[15]

Complete Bathurst 1000 results

Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1977 Brian Foley Pty Limited Garry Leggatt Alfa Romeo 2000 Up to 2000cc 150 8th 1st
1978 Ron Hodgson Channel 7 Racing Dieter Quester Holden LX Torana SS A9X Hatchback A 5 DNF DNF
1979 Brian Foley P/L Phil McDonnell Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV C 145 9th 2nd
1980 Brian Foley Pty Ltd Phil McDonnell Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV 2000 1601-2000cc 16 DNF DNF
1981 Peter Stuyvesant International Racing Allan Moffat Mazda RX-7 6 Cylinder & Rotary 119 3rd 1st

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Henri Pescarolo
Gérard Larrousse
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1975 with:
Jacky Ickx
Succeeded by
Jacky Ickx
Gijs van Lennep
Preceded by
Jean Rondeau
Jean-Pierre Jaussaud
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1981 with:
Jacky Ickx
Succeeded by
Jacky Ickx
Derek Bell
Preceded by
Jacky Ickx
Derek Bell
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1982 with:
Jacky Ickx
Succeeded by
Vern Schuppan
Al Holbert
Hurley Haywood
Preceded by
Klaus Ludwig
Paolo Barilla
Louis Krages
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1986 with:
Hans-Joachim Stuck
Al Holbert
Succeeded by
Derek Bell
Hans-Joachim Stuck
Al Holbert
Preceded by
Derek Bell
Hans-Joachim Stuck
Al Holbert
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1987 with:
Hans-Joachim Stuck
Al Holbert
Succeeded by
Jan Lammers
Johnny Dumfries
Andy Wallace
Preceded by
Stefan Bellof
World Sportscar Championship Champion
19851986,
1985: with Hans-Joachim Stuck
Succeeded by
Raul Boesel
Awards
Preceded by
Jonathan Palmer
Autosport
British Competition Driver of the Year

1984
Succeeded by
Nigel Mansell
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.