The World Championship drivers — Where are they now?
by Richard Jenkins
Sections
I have endeavoured to try and provide as up-to-date and accurate information as possible for everyone featured on this site, and I am always indebted to the many contributors who help with the information on this site and sadly, space doesn't allow for me to thank everyone here. However, I would like to dedicate the ongoing work, progress and achievements on this site to those contributors who are sadly no longer with us but helped aide this project so much: Len Calinoff, Phil Harms, Gene Heeter, Earl Ma, Don Radbruch, Roscoe H Rann and Barry Lake.
Updates and corrections are always welcomed — please either join the debate here or feel free to contact me on with any information you might have.
This part of the site is also dedicated to the memory of Tony Marsh, as it was his post-Grand Prix life that served as the initial inspiration for "Where Are They Now" back in 1998 For more about what this part of the site is trying to achieve, please read my full introduction.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
| Name | Born | Died | Nat | Grands Prix | Biography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Lacaze | 26 Feb 1917 Paris |
F | 1 (1958) |
Now lives, retired, in France. Moroccan citizen who raced a lot in North Africa, often in rallies. This led to him getting a deal for the GP with a debutant team-manager, Ken Tyrrell. He also ran a garage and youth sports association in Marrakech. He was also a national ski-ing champion! (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| Jacques Laffite | 21 Nov 1943 Paris |
F | 176 (1974-1986) |
Races for fun only now. Also works in PR, but mostly involved in the media industry, doing live comments for the French national TV station. 2012 is his 17th season doing so. (Last updated 11 Nov 2012) | |
| Franck Lagorce | 01 Sep 1968 L'Hay-les-Roses, nr. Paris |
F | 2 (1994) |
Raced in sportscars, then touring cars after leaving F1. Now only does ice-racing during the winter, with most of his time taken up by TV summarising, working as a consultant to the FFSA, being a kart manager and working as a driver tutor and coach. Lives in Paris. (Last updated 13 Mar 2012) | |
| Jan Lammers | 02 Jun 1956 Zandvoort |
NL | 23 (1979-1992) |
Made an astonishing return to F1 in 1992 and then went on to F3000, touring cars and more successfully, sports cars and GT's. In 2002 and 2003, he won the FIA Sportscar championship. Was named boss of the Dutch A1 GP series team recently and also competed in the GP Masters. He did run a LMS team, but now also runs a Formula Superleague team as well. Still races, mainly in endurance events, but also in rallies like Dakar. Also does driver coaching. Read interview. (Last updated 11 Nov 2012) | |
| Pedro Lamy | 20 Mar 1972 Aldeia Galega |
P | 32 (1993-1996) |
Won the Nurburgring 1000km in 2001 and has raced in a variety of series since F1, but has settled in endurance racing and is still there in 2013. (Last updated 4 Nov 2012) | |
| Chico Landi | 14 Jul 1907 Sao Paulo |
07 Jun 1989 Sao Paulo |
BR | 6 (1951-1956) |
Became a leading administrator in Brazillian motor sport for some years until his death from a heart-attack. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Hermann Lang | 06 Apr 1909 Bad Cannstatt, nr. Stuttgart |
19 Oct 1987 Bad Cannstatt, nr. Stuttgart |
D | 2 (1953-1954) |
Pre war legend who appeared in numerous historic festivals until his death. |
| Claudio Langes | 04 Aug 1961 Brescia |
I | 0 (1990) |
Reliable lower formulae racer whose F1 spell was a disaster. Went on to race in touring cars quite successfully. Later became a businessmanm but after legal problems, keeps a low profile. (Last updated 8 Mar 2013) | |
| Nicola Larini | 19 Mar 1964 Lido di Camaiore |
I | 49 (1987-1997) |
Raced in touring cars for Alfa Romeo for years, but when dropped in 2004, switched to sportscars and GT's for selected events. Was back in touring cars, in the WTCC, until 2009, when he came back to race in endurance events. Now back in touring cars in Italy. (Last updated 31 Mar 2013) | |
| Oscar Larrauri | 19 Aug 1954 Granadero Baigorria, nr. Rosario |
RA | 8 (1988-1989) |
Raced in GT''s and then in Argentine touring cars for many years, very successfully too, before retiring to become a politician in the same Santa Fe province once governed by Carlos Reutemann. However, he made a brief return to touring cars in the late 00''s, but has now retired. Oscar also runs his own cold storage business. (Last updated 11 Nov 2012) | |
| Gerard Larrousse | 23 May 1940 Lyon |
F | 1 (1974) |
Ran his F1 team for ages. Now mostly retired, but still has a business interest in sportscars and road cars. (Last updated 11 Nov 2012) | |
| Jud Larson | 21 Jan 1923 Grand Prairie, Texas |
11 Jun 1966 Reading, Pennsylvania |
USA | 2 (1958-1959) |
Dirt track legend who died after colliding with Red Riegel in an USAC sprint race. Real name Clarence, he was a hard driving driver, a hard drinking man. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Niki Lauda | 22 Feb 1949 Vienna |
A | 171 (1971-1985) |
Ran his successful Lauda Air airline and was a long-time Ferrari consultant. After battling ill-health and money problems, he became the head of the Jaguar F1 project, but was sacked in November 2002 after a mixed season. Was involved in Austria's A1 GP efforts, but now in TV broadcasting. Also involved in numerous business projects, many of them high-profile, including a return to the airline industry. He also became a dad again, aged 60, in 2009 and is still involved in F1, via Mercedes, in a consultancy/management role. (Last updated 11 Nov 2012) | |
| Roger Laurent | 21 Feb 1913 Liege |
06 Feb 1997 Uccle |
B | 2 (1952) |
5 times Belgian motorcycle champion, he never really found great success in cars. Mostly in sportscars until 1956. |
| Giovanni Lavaggi | 18 Feb 1958 Augusta, Sicily |
I | 7 (1995-1996) |
Ran a team in sportscars, when he has time free from his insurance business in Sicily, and also built his own chassis for the team. No longer running the team, but has other business interests to take care of. (Last updated 24 Apr 2013) | |
| Chris Lawrence | 27 Jul 1933 Ealing |
13 Aug 2011 Burghill, nr. Hereford, Herefordshire |
GB | 2 (1966) |
Until his recent ilness with cancer, and subsequent death, Chris remained very active. He spent a while in the US, but age and family reasons meant a return to the UK. He continued to develop cars, for Morgan as a designer and technical advisor but also as a technical director in British GT's. Latterly, he prepared (and sometimes drove) historic racing cars for events. Also invented a suspension system and founded Lawrence Tune Performance, which he also ran. Brought out his autobiography in 2008. (Last updated 19 Aug 2011) |
| Michel Leclere | 18 Mar 1946 Mantes la Jolie, nr. Paris |
F | 7 (1975-1976) |
Now works as an instructor at a driving school and ran a garage in Paris until recently. (Last updated 11 Nov 2012) | |
| Neville Lederle | 25 Sep 1938 Theunissen, Winburg, Orange Free State |
ZA | 1 (1962-1965) |
Sometime historic racer. Ran a Volkswagen dealership in Bloemfontein, but is now retired. Lives in Cintsa East. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) | |
| Geoff Lees | 01 May 1951 Hurley Common, nr. Kingsbury, Warwickshire |
GB | 5 (1978-1982) |
Had retired from driving sportscars and went on to run his own business. However, he returned to full-time racing in 2002 in the All-Japan GT series, with his own team and raced on for a few years, but now retired again. (Last updated 11 Nov 2012) | |
| Arthur Legat | 01 Nov 1898 Haine-Saint-Paul |
23 Feb 1960 Haine-Saint-Pierre |
B | 2 (1952-1953) |
Garage owner for his whole working (and racing) life, he competed at Chimay for 30 years. The oldest man, probably forever, to make his GP debut - he was 53 years, 7 months and 21 days old when he entered his home GP in 1952. |
| JJ Lehto | 31 Jan 1966 Espoo |
SF | 62 (1989-1994) |
A top sportscar driver, he won Sebring and Le Mans in 2005. Later worked as a TV commentator and raced in rallies in his homeland, but in 2010 he was involved in, but survived, albeit with serious injuries, a boat accident in which his friend died. This led, in late 2011, to him being sentenced to prison for two years due to manslaughter. However, he won his appeal in 2012 and is now a free, and innocent man, but keeping a low profile for now. (Last updated 30 Nov 2012) | |
| Chuck Leighton | 25 Feb 1924 Los Angeles, California |
08 Jun 2003 Sun City West, Arizona |
USA | 0 (1950) |
Raced sprints and midgets from the 1930's onwards, almost exclusively in California. He was later honoured by the Roadster Association and ran a plastics company in Torrance, California. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Lamberto Leoni | 24 May 1953 Argenta, Ferrara |
I | 1 (1977-1978) |
Became a F1 and F3000 driver manager and relatively successful powerboat racer. (Last updated 11 Nov 2012) | |
| Les Leston | 16 Dec 1920 Bulwell, Nottingham |
13 May 2012 Eastbourne, East Sussex |
GB | 2 (1956-1957) |
Died in 2012 after years of battling ill-health. As well as racing, he developed his hugely successful racewear business. Until recent poor health, he attended a number of historic festivals, although he managed a surprise appearance at Goodwood in 2008. (Last updated 19 May 2012) |
| Pierre Levegh | 22 Dec 1905 Paris |
11 Jun 1955 Le Mans Circuit |
F | 6 (1950-1951) |
Real name Pierre Bouillin, 'Levegh' will always be remembered as the poor soul killed in the horrific Le Mans disaster. A brilliant sportscar driver, Levegh was extremely experienced and verstatile in a range of machinery. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Bayliss Levrett | 14 Feb 1913 Jacksonville, Florida |
13 Mar 2002 Reno, Nevada |
USA | 1 (1950) |
Died in a nursing home recently in Reno, after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. West Coast racer from the 1930's-1950's. Retired after being burnt in a crash. |
| Jack Lewis | 01 Nov 1936 Stroud, Gloucestershire |
GB | 9 (1961-1962) |
Now retired from sheep farming in Llandovery, Wales, he has moved back to Stroud to run a garage business. Also worked on a farm for years and even tried harness racing. Retired racing due to his marriage and spent a long time living in Rhandirmwyn. (Last updated 11 Nov 2012) | |
| Stuart Lewis-Evans | 20 Apr 1930 Luton, Bedfordshire |
25 Oct 1958 East Grinstead, Sussex |
GB | 14 (1957-1958) |
Rising talent killed in the 1958 Moroccan GP. Followed his father into the sport, this hard but fast racer had success in F3. |
| Mark Light | 27 Oct 1910 Lebanon, Pennsylvania |
02 Apr 1975 Manheim, Pennsylvania |
USA | 0 (1950) |
Later became a racing promoter and also ran a muffler shop in Lebanon, PA. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Guy Ligier | 12 Jul 1930 Vichy |
F | 12 (1966-1967) |
Ran a successful F1 team for years. Now working on road and micro cars and along with his son, he is also back in motorsport, as a F3 constructor. Co-owns Martini cars, and also the Magny Cours race circuit, as well as still being involved in a natural fertiliser firm. (Last updated 8 Dec 2012) | |
| Ralph Liguori | 10 Oct 1926 New York City, New York |
USA | 0 (1959) |
Has raced AND won in an amazing 7 decades, winning a minor race in 2000! His grandson races, whilst Ralph's son aids his career. Lives in Tampa, Florida. (Last updated 17 May 2011) | |
| Andy Linden | 05 Apr 1922 Brownsville, Pennsylvania |
10 Feb 1987 Torrance, California |
USA | 7 (1951-1957) |
Never fully recovered from a career ending crash in 1957. A former US marine, this colossus of a man became one of the top sprint, midget and AAA drivers just after WW2, but at his peak he was left brain damaged when his helmet was pierced. Despite being confined to a wheelchair for the majority of his life, Andy's pride and determination meant he learnt how to walk again to some degree. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Roberto Lippi | 17 Oct 1926 Rome |
31 Oct 2011 Lavinio, Lido di Enea |
I | 1 (1961-1963) |
From 1982 to 1998, he worked as a racing school instructor for the CSAI and latterly included disabled drivers in this setup, specifically concentrating on them, despite, near the end, being over 70 years of age at the time. This earnt him a wonderful legacy and much respect, which made up for his rather disappointing single-seater career. That said, sportscars were more his speciality, despite winning the Italian FJ title in 1958. Retired in 1963 to become a test driver for road and sportscars production development. Before the CSAI role, he was also a technical director. Still followed the sport, up to his death, after suffering with illness for some time. (Last updated 16 Mar 2013) |
| Vitantonio Liuzzi | 06 Aug 1980 Locorotondo nr. Bari |
I | 78 (2005-2011) |
Was test driver for the Force India team, then got promoted to the main drive. After an unsuccessful spell at HRT, he is now in Italian touring cars and the WEC. (Last updated 8 Mar 2013) | |
| Lella Lombardi | 26 Mar 1941 Frugarolo, nr. Alessandria |
03 Mar 1992 Milan |
I | 12 (1974-1976) |
The first and thus far, only woman to score world championship points, she died of cancer, at just 50 years of age. |
| Ernst Loof | 04 Jul 1907 Neindorf |
03 Mar 1956 Bonn |
D | 1 (1953) |
Died of a brain tumour, following a long fight against cancer. 8 times German motorcycle champion, he worked as an engineer for BMW and then became a car builder. After WW2 he set up Veritas and began building sports and single-seater cars with reasonable success in a number of different disciplines. |
| Henri Louveau | 25 Jan 1910 Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine |
07 Jan 1991 Orleans |
F | 2 (1950-1951) |
A former bicycle racer, he initially worked as a test driver for FIAT, which led to racing. Served in Africa in WW2, then after forming a friendship with Raymond Sommer, went on to race successfully for some years. Retired after a crash in 1951, and later ran a dealership in Paris, using his old contacts to sell Delages and Maserati's (his old racing teams). He also ran a car and truck rental business. |
| John Love | 07 Dec 1924 Bulawayo |
25 Apr 2005 Bulawayo |
RSR | 9 (1962-1972) |
Was involved in his dealership in Bulawayo and made frequent visits to South Africa for some historic festivals before his recent sad death from cancer. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Pete Lovely | 11 Apr 1926 Livingston, Montana |
15 May 2011 Tacoma, Washington |
USA | 7 (1959-1971) |
Only retired from racing in his 80's, after health issues stopped him competing. Sadly, these health issues led to his death shortly afterwards. Ran, with his family, Pete Lovely Racing, which was not only for racing, but for restoring and maintaining vintage race cars, particularly Lotuses, in Puyallup, Washington. Pete's grandson also races motocross to keep the family tradition going, whilst his son works in the IRL. (Last updated 13 Aug 2012) |
| Roger Loyer | 05 Aug 1907 Paris |
24 Mar 1988 Boulogne-Billancourt |
F | 1 (1954) |
Mechanic and chauffeur who raced for 15 years in motorcycles. After the war he concentrated on cars mainly and raced on until 1960. He later designed many automobile devices. |
| Jean Lucas | 25 Apr 1917 Le Mans |
27 Sep 2003 Saint Martin de Re |
F | 1 (1955) |
Publisher for many years and founded Sport-Auto with Jabby Crombac, but also had many non-racing interests. Died recently. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| Jean Lucienbonnet | 07 Jan 1923 Nice |
19 Aug 1962 Pergusa, Sicily, Italy |
F | 0 (1959) |
Killed in a Formula Junior race in Sicily. The pseudonym was in deference to his brother. A car mechanic, he was very good in hillclimbs and then Formula Junior. |
| Brett Lunger | 14 Nov 1945 Wilmington, Delaware |
USA | 34 (1975-1978) |
Still lives in Wilmington and runs a research and development firm there. Also takes part in road competition cycling in his spare time. He is also a pilot and keeps links with the sport. His pilot work, along with his wife, includes the Angel Flight Network, where he gives his time and expense to fly sick patients to hospitals, when the patient has no money to fund transport for emergency care. (Last updated 11 Nov 2012) | |
| Frankie Luptow | 20 Nov 1905 Detroit, Michigan |
21 Sep 1952 Lakewood Speedway, Atlanta, Georgia |
USA | 0 (1950-1951) |
Real surname Lueptow, he was killed in a stockcar crash when the car's axle broke. His widow later married Bobby Grim. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
| George Lynch | 20 Jun 1918 Butte, Montana |
06 May 1997 Los Angeles, California |
USA | 0 (1950) |
Raced from 1935 until 1957, mainly in midgets and sprints. Nicknamed 'The Red Devil', he served in Japan in WW2, becoming a technical sergeant. He later raced in NASCAR, before retiring and becoming a mechanic and consultant and also enjoyed his fishing. Died after a battle with dementia. (Last updated 24 Jan 2010) |
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