Lucien Bianchi

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Lucien Bianchi
Lucien Bianchi 1968
Nation: BelgiumBelgium Belgium
Automobile world championship
First start: 1960 Belgian Grand Prix
Last start: 1968 Mexican Grand Prix
Constructors
1960  Cooper 1961  Lotus 1962  Lotus ENB 1963  Lola 1965  BRM 1968  Cooper
statistics
World Cup balance: WM-17. ( 1968 )
Starts Victories Poles SR
17th - - -
World Cup points : 6th
Podiums : 1
Leadership laps : -
Template: Info box Formula 1 driver / maintenance / old parameters

Lucien Bianchi (born November 10, 1934 in Milan , Italy ; † March 30, 1969 in Le Mans , France ) was a Belgian racing car driver . He won the 24 Hours of Le Mans and was known for his versatility in motorsport. His younger brother Mauro Bianchi and his grandson Jules Bianchi were also racing drivers.

Youth and origin

Bianchi was born the son of an Alfa Romeo mechanic in northern Italy. But the family moved with the youngster to Belgium around 1950, where the father worked for the well-known amateur racing driver Johnny Claes .

Rallies and sports car races

Both his younger brother Mauro and Lucien were soon involved in motorsport . From 1951/52 the older one started alongside Claes in the Alpine Rally and other tests. At the end of the 1950s, he performed remarkably in the Tour de France for sports cars . Together with Olivier Gendebien , he won the GT class of this race three times from 1957 to 1959 in a Ferrari 250 GT Berlinetta LWB . In the two following years he won the famous sports car race in Paris , which went over 1000 km and in which active or former Formula 1 drivers also took part.

Sporadic assignments in Formula 1 (1960–1965)

Lucien Bianchi in the Cooper T86B at the 1968 Dutch Grand Prix

With a fourth place in the Formula 2 on the airfield circuit of Zeltweg 1959, he recommended himself for the higher racing car class. During the 1960 Formula 1 season , he drove for the first time with an outdated Cooper T 51 , with which he finished sixth in his first race on his home track. In 1962 he first drove an Emeryson , which the Ecurie Nationale Belge used. After the non-qualification due to a weak engine, the team soon put in a Lotus , which suggested better chances. But Bianchi was not lucky with this car either; he had to give up again with technical problems. A change to the UDT Laystall Racing Team did not bring any improvement either. In Formula 1 there were no major successes from 1963 to 1965, as he only took part in individual races sporadically with changing teams and vehicles (17 races in nine years, including on Lola , BRM ). Bianchi got his sense of achievement in all other motorsport classes, regardless of whether they were touring cars , sports cars or rally vehicles.

Victories at Le Mans and other successes (1962–1968)

Bianchi's greatest success was winning the 1968 Le Mans 24-hour race in a Ford GT40 that he drove with Pedro Rodríguez . It was his 13th "attempt" at this race. In 1963, for example, he started together with Phil Hill on a special version of the Aston Martin DB4 GT, which was extremely fast but very prone to defects. Immediately afterwards, he won the difficult 12-hour race at Sebring , which he won six years earlier with Joakim Bonnier in a Ferrari Testa Rossa. In 1964 he won the Tour de France again, this time in a Ferrari 250 GTO.

In the quaint London - Sydney - Marathon races he lay with his Citroën in, as he collided with a normal road users and was eliminated. In 1961 he and Georges Harris had won the legendary Liège-Sofia-Liège rally with the Citroën DS 19, where they were able to distance supposedly stronger opponents such as the Austin Healey 3000 , the Mercedes 220 SE or the Porsche Carrera . On July 28, 1963, Bianchi won the Solitude race in an Abarth 1000 GT in the corresponding class.

His enthusiasm for experimentation in motorsport drove him to the USA. Like some other Formula 1 drivers, he tried his hand at the Indianapolis 500 in 1967 without success because he had already touched Turn 1 in the official preliminary training.

Success in Formula 1 and death

Bianchi lived in Brussels , where he ran a garage specializing in tuning sports cars .

In 1968 he signed with the Cooper - BRM team for the first time for a full season. A third place at the Monaco Grand Prix and a sixth place in Spa promised more for the future, but in the course of the 1968 Formula 1 season , in addition to moderate starting positions, he was mostly held back by the defect devil. As a racing driver, Bianchi did not have the absolute qualification speed, but the necessary stamina qualities to achieve better placements even with weaker material. It was precisely these qualities that were valued in sports car races.

In the spring of 1969 he was killed in his Alfa Romeo T33 when he crashed into a telegraph pole at the end of the Mulsanne straight during pre-practice for the Le Mans 24-hour race . With him, one of the last pilots died who was successful with rally vehicles and sports cars as well as monopostos .

statistics

Statistics in the automobile world championship

general overview

season team chassis engine run Victories Second Third Poles nice
Race laps
Points WM-Pos.
1960 Equipe Nationale Belge Cooper T51 Climax 2.5 L4 1 - - - - - 1 24.
Fred Tuck Cars Cooper T51 Climax 2.5 L4 2 - - - - -
1961 Equipe Nationale Belge Lotus 18 Climax 1.5 L4 1 - - - - - - NC
UDT Laystall Racing Team Lotus 18/21 Climax 1.5 L4 2 - - - - -
1962 Equipe Nationale Belge Lotus 18/21 Climax 1.5 L4 1 - - - - - - NC
ENB Maserati 1.5 L4 1 - - - - -
1963 Reg Parnell Racing Lola Mk4A Climax 1.5 V8 1 - - - - - - NC
1965 Scuderia Centro Sud BRM P57 BRM 1.5 V8 1 - - - - - - NC
1968 Cooper Car Company Cooper T86B BRM 3.0 V12 7th - - 1 - - 5 17th
total 17th - - 1 - - 6th

Single results

season 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 10 11 12
1959 Flag of Monaco.svg Flag of the United States (1912-1959) .svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg Flag of France.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Portugal.svg Flag of Italy.svg US flag 49 stars.svg
DNQ
1960 Flag of Argentina.svg Flag of Monaco.svg US flag 49 stars.svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg Flag of Belgium (civil) .svg Flag of France.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Portugal.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of the US.svg
6th DNF DNF
1961 Flag of Monaco.svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg Flag of Belgium (civil) .svg Flag of France.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of the US.svg
DNQ DNF DNF DNF
1962 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Flag of Monaco.svg Flag of Belgium (civil) .svg Flag of France.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of the US.svg Flag of South Africa (1928–1994) .svg
9 16
1963 Flag of Monaco.svg Flag of Belgium (civil) .svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg Flag of France.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of the US.svg Flag of Mexico (1934-1968) .svg Flag of South Africa (1928–1994) .svg
DNF
1965 Flag of South Africa (1928–1994) .svg Flag of Monaco.svg Flag of Belgium (civil) .svg Flag of France.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of the US.svg Flag of Mexico (1934-1968) .svg
12
1968 Flag of South Africa (1928–1994) .svg Flag of Spain (1945–1977) .svg Flag of Monaco.svg Flag of Belgium (civil) .svg Flag of the Netherlands.svg Flag of France.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Germany.svg Flag of Italy.svg Flag of Canada.svg Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Mexico.svg
3 6th DNF DNF NC NC DNF
Legend
colour abbreviation meaning
gold - victory
silver - 2nd place
bronze - 3rd place
green - Placement in the points
blue - Classified outside the point ranks
violet DNF Race not finished (did not finish)
NC not classified
red DNQ did not qualify
DNPQ failed in pre-qualification (did not pre-qualify)
black DSQ disqualified
White DNS not at the start (did not start)
WD withdrawn
Light Blue PO only participated in the training (practiced only)
TD Friday test driver
without DNP did not participate in the training (did not practice)
INJ injured or sick
EX excluded
DNA did not arrive
C. Race canceled
  no participation in the World Cup
other P / bold Pole position
SR / italic Fastest race lap
* not at the finish,
but counted due to the distance covered
() Streak results
underlined Leader in the overall standings

Le Mans results

year team vehicle Teammate placement Failure reason
1956 BelgiumBelgium Equipe Nationale Belge Ferrari 500 TR BelgiumBelgium Alain de Changy failure steering
1957 BelgiumBelgium Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 500TRC BelgiumBelgium Georges Harris Rank 7 and class win
1958 BelgiumBelgium Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 250TR BelgiumBelgium Willy Mairesse failure accident
1959 BelgiumBelgium Equipe Nationale Belge Ferrari 250TR 58 BelgiumBelgium Alain de Changy failure fuel pump
1960 BelgiumBelgium Equipe Nationale Belge Ferrari 250 GT SWB BelgiumBelgium Jean Blaton failure accident
1961 BelgiumBelgium Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 250 GT SWB BelgiumBelgium Georges Berger failure Clutch damage
1962 FranceFrance Maserati France Maserati Tipo 151 FranceFrance Maurice Trintignant failure suspension
1963 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd. Aston Martin DP215 United StatesUnited States Phil Hill failure Gearbox damage
1964 BelgiumBelgium Equipe Nationale Belge Ferrari 250 GTO BelgiumBelgium Jean Blaton 5th place and class win
1965 United KingdomUnited Kingdom Maranello Concessionaires Ferrari 250LM United KingdomUnited Kingdom Mike Salmon failure Gearbox damage
1966 United StatesUnited States Holman & Moody Ford GT40 Mk.II United StatesUnited States Mario Andretti failure Cylinder overheated
1967 United StatesUnited States Holman & Moody Ford Mk.IV United StatesUnited States Mario Andretti failure accident
1968 United KingdomUnited Kingdom John Wyer Automotive Ford GT40 MexicoMexico Pedro Rodríguez Overall victory

Sebring results

year team vehicle Teammate placement Failure reason
1962 ItalyItaly Scuderia SSS Repubblica di Venezia Ferrari 250 TRI / 61 SwedenSweden Joakim Bonnier Overall victory
1966 ItalyItaly Autodelta SpA Alfa Romeo Giulia TZ2 FranceFrance Bernard Consten failure Gearbox damage
1969 ItalyItaly Autodelta SPA Alfa Romeo T33 / 3 ItalyItaly Nino Vaccarella failure Motor overheated

Individual results in the sports car world championship

season team race car 1 2 3 4th 5 6th 7th 8th 9 10 11 12 13 14th 15th 16 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd
1957 Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 500TRC ArgentinaArgentina BUA United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly MIM GermanyGermany ONLY FranceFrance LEM SwedenSweden KRI VenezuelaVenezuela CAR
7th
1958 Ecurie Francorchamps Ferrari 250TR ArgentinaArgentina BUA United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly TAR GermanyGermany ONLY FranceFrance LEM United KingdomUnited Kingdom RTT
DNF
1959 Equipe Nationale Belge Ferrari 250 GT
Ferrari 250TR
United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly TAR GermanyGermany ONLY FranceFrance LEM United KingdomUnited Kingdom RTT
14th DNF
1960 Jo Schlesser
Equipe National Belge
Ferrari 250 GT ArgentinaArgentina BUA United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly TAR GermanyGermany ONLY FranceFrance LEM
11 DNF
1961 Ecurie Francorchamps Porsche 356 United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly TAR GermanyGermany ONLY FranceFrance LEM ItalyItaly PES
13 DNF
1962 Scuderia Serenissima
Maserati France
Ecurie Francorchamps
Equipe Nationale Belge
Ferrari 250TRI
Maserati Tipo 151
Abarth-Simca 1300 Bialbero
Ferrari 250 GTO
United StatesUnited States DAY United StatesUnited States SEB United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly MAY ItalyItaly TAR GermanyGermany BER GermanyGermany ONLY FranceFrance LEM FranceFrance TAV ItalyItaly CCA United KingdomUnited Kingdom RTT GermanyGermany ONLY United StatesUnited States BRI United StatesUnited States BRI FranceFrance PAR
1 DNF 10 5
1963 Abarth
Aston Martin
Maserati France
Scuderia Serenissima
Abarth-Simca 1300 Bialbero
Aston Martin DP215
Maserati Tipo 151
Fiat-Abarth 1000 Berlina
Ferrari 250 GTO
United StatesUnited States DAY United StatesUnited States SEB United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly TAR BelgiumBelgium SPA ItalyItaly MAY GermanyGermany ONLY ItalyItaly CON GermanyGermany ROS FranceFrance LEM ItalyItaly MON GermanyGermany WIS FranceFrance TAV GermanyGermany FRE ItalyItaly CCE United KingdomUnited Kingdom RTT SwitzerlandSwitzerland OVI GermanyGermany ONLY ItalyItaly MON ItalyItaly MON FranceFrance TDF United StatesUnited States BRI
DNF DNF 8th 6th 3 2
1964 David Piper
Alpine
Ecurie Francorchamps
Ferrari 250 GTO
Alpine M63
United StatesUnited States DAY United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly TAR ItalyItaly MON BelgiumBelgium SPA ItalyItaly CON GermanyGermany ONLY GermanyGermany ROS FranceFrance LEM FranceFrance REI GermanyGermany FRE ItalyItaly CCE United KingdomUnited Kingdom RTT SwitzerlandSwitzerland SIM GermanyGermany ONLY ItalyItaly MON FranceFrance TDF United StatesUnited States BRI United StatesUnited States BRI FranceFrance PAR
2 15th DNF 4th 5 9 1 5
1965 Ecurie Francorchamps
Autodelta
Maranello Concessionaires
Alpine
Ferrari 250LM
Alfa Romeo TZ
Alpine A210
Alpine M65
United StatesUnited States DAY United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly BOL ItalyItaly MON ItalyItaly MON United KingdomUnited Kingdom RTT ItalyItaly TAR BelgiumBelgium SPA GermanyGermany ONLY ItalyItaly MUG GermanyGermany ROS FranceFrance LEM FranceFrance REI ItalyItaly BOZ GermanyGermany FRE ItalyItaly CCE SwitzerlandSwitzerland OVI GermanyGermany ONLY United StatesUnited States BRI United StatesUnited States BRI
DNF 7th DNF 7th 1
1966 Ecurie Francorchamps
Autodelta
Holman & Moody
Ferrari 365P2
Alfa Romeo TZ
Ford GT40
United StatesUnited States DAY United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly MON ItalyItaly TAR BelgiumBelgium SPA GermanyGermany ONLY FranceFrance LEM ItalyItaly MUG ItalyItaly CCE GermanyGermany HOK SwitzerlandSwitzerland SIM GermanyGermany ONLY AustriaAustria ZEL
DNF DNF DNF 10 DNF 13 DNF
1967 Carroll Shelby International
Maranello Concessionaires
Porsche
Holman & Moody
Autodelta
Ford GT40
Ferrari 412P
Porsche 910
Alfa Romeo T33
United StatesUnited States DAY United StatesUnited States SEB ItalyItaly MON BelgiumBelgium SPA ItalyItaly TAR GermanyGermany ONLY FranceFrance LEM GermanyGermany HOK ItalyItaly MUG United KingdomUnited Kingdom BRH ItalyItaly CCE AustriaAustria ZEL SwitzerlandSwitzerland OVI GermanyGermany ONLY
7th 3 4th DNF DNF DNF
1968 Autodelta
Alfa Romeo Germany
J. W. Automotive
Alfa Romeo T33
Ford GT40
United StatesUnited States DAY United StatesUnited States SEB United KingdomUnited Kingdom BRH ItalyItaly MON ItalyItaly TAR GermanyGermany ONLY BelgiumBelgium SPA United StatesUnited States WAT AustriaAustria ZEL FranceFrance LEM
6th DNF 3 7th 1 1
1969 Autodelta Alfa Romeo T33 United StatesUnited States DAY United StatesUnited States SEB United KingdomUnited Kingdom BRH ItalyItaly MON ItalyItaly TAR BelgiumBelgium SPA GermanyGermany ONLY FranceFrance LEM United StatesUnited States WAT AustriaAustria ZEL
DNF

literature

  • Lucien Bianchi: Mes rallies. Flammarion, Paris 1969.

Web links

Commons : Lucien Bianchi  - collection of images, videos and audio files