Until relatively recently before his death, Hans continued to attend many historic meetings and was still driving the cars in his ninth decade. He used to run an automotive supplies business; Hans Herrmann Autotechnik. Herrmann actually started his working life as a baker, helping run the family cafe in Stuttgart before initially taking up racing as a hobby in 1952. His rise was very rapid and he became a class winner at the Mille Miglia, a Grand Prix driver and the German 1500cc Champion just one year later. Hans then went on to become of the greatest sportscar drivers of his era; he won Sebring and the Targa Florio in 1960, Sebring and Daytona in 1968 and famously, the 1970 Le Mans with Richard Attwood in the Porsche 917K, after which he retired immediately from race driving.

Biography last updated 14 Jan 2026