Endurance-Info is very honoured. Derek Bell -or rather Sir Derek Bell, as he is a Member of the British Empire- has akindly agreed to answer a few questions for our column dedicated to the Club des Pilotes.
Derek Bell has 26 races in the Le Mans 24 Hours, only outperformed by Henri Pescarolo (33), Bob Wollek (30) and Yojiro Terada (29). So, he is the British driver with most races at Le Mans.
He has been winner five times (1975, 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1987) and he is third in the rankings behind Tom Kristensen (9 wins) and Jacky Ickx (6), tied with Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela, 5 wins too.
What is less known is that he is the best finisher (20) in the Sarthe, aving been classified 20 times, ahead of Olivier Beretta (18), Bob Wollek and Yojiro Terada (17), Jan Magnussen (16), Henri Pescarolo and Jan Lammers (15).
We do not go in full details on Derek Bell’s record but remember that, besides his five wins and four more podiums at Le Mans (1983, 1985, 1988 and 1995), he has won three times the Daytona 24 Hours, has six podiums in the Sebring 12 Hours and he has won almost all the most famous endurance races in the world : Watkins Glen 6 Hours (4), Fuji, Imola and Silverstone 6 Hours, Brands Hatch, Spa (3), Buenos Aires, Paris, Zeltweg, Monza, Mosport, Hockenheim and Nürburgring 1000 Kms. He has also 10 stars in Formula One, with Ferrari, McLaren, Brabham, Surtees, March, Tecno and Penske.
When you started racing, what did Le Mans mean to you, as a young driver ?
« Le Mans was the world’s greatest race as far as i was concerned, but my dream was to be a F1 Driver most certainly as that was how we developed our racing ability driving for F3, F2 and hopefully F1. However Stirling Moss was my hero and when he raced at Le Mans I would listen to the radio whilst in bed during the night ! »
You have been racing at Le Mans with or against Henri Pescarolo, Vic Elford, Brian Redman, Ronnie Peterson, Pedro Rodriguez, Jackie Oliver, Gérard Larrousse, Jochen Mass, Hans Joachim Stuck, Andy Wallace, Chris Amon, Bob Wollek, Hurley Haywood, Mario AndrettI, Yannick Dalmas, to name only a few of your opponents or teammates. Which ones have impressed you the most ?
« I was in awe of all the drivers you mentioned, my first race in a Sportscar was at Spa 1000km in a private 512 Ferrari and from that drive I was asked by Enzo Ferrari to drive at Le Mans, which is another story. So my eyes were certainly wide open at the experience of driving Le Mans so soon after only one race in Sportscar! I was so fortunate to drive with and against all the drivers you mentioned, as we say in English “A Baptism of Fire “. »
You have 26 starts at Le Mans. If Porsche had not withdrawn ther entries in 1984, due to a change in the rules regarding fuel consumption, you would have raced at Le Mans 27 times in a row. Retrospectively, do you regret Porsche’s withdrawal ?
« I didn’t agree with the rule changes regarding the fuels, although we were not allowed to drive in the race that year ! I think 26 24 hrs races at Le Mans is enough ! 27 wasn’t necessary ! »
You have four wins with Porsche. Can you explain Porsche’s supremacy in those days ?
« Porsche were simply the best team to be with and the best cars and I was fortunate to drive with the best drivers ! »
Fans will know a bit more about Derek Bell’s races with Porsche here
You have driven at Le Mans without and with in the Mulsanne straight. What is your preference ?
“Je déteste les Chicanes (I hate chicanes, in French in the text “) »
You have raced with a single partner but also with two co-drivers. Is that much different ?
« There is a major difference driving with 2 drivers and with 3 drivers. You have less work to do too with three. »
To be continued…
