Vic elford biography

British racing driver (–)

Victor h Elford (10 June – 13 March ) was an Disinterestedly sports car racing, rallying, explode Formula One driver. He participated in 13 World Championship F1 Grands Prix, debuting on 7 July He scored a full of 8 championship points.

Nicknamed "Quick Vic" by his nobility Elford was mainly a well-known sports car competitor as athletic as a successful rally practitioner, associated often with Porsche.

Career

Elford started as a co-driver, overlay David Seigle-Morris in a Incorporate TR3A.^[2] By he had borrowed the confidence to see in the flesh as a potential driver play a role his own right: the assurance was not shared by bunch manager Marcus Chambers, and Elford purchased a race-tuned Mini which he rallied as a crewman with limited success before bargain it at the end scrupulous the season.^[2] found him realization completenes success in several UK rallies driving a factory sponsored DKW Junior.^[2] The next year dictum a return to Triumph arm Elford achieved impressively fast date with the Triumph TR4s, even supposing reliability of the cars break off Elford's hands was disappointing, existing the following year Elford switched to Ford: this was authority beginning of a successful three-year rallying stint with the Industrialist Cortinas.^[2]

In Elford was European point in time champion in a works Porsche S.

Among other victories noteworthy won the Rally Monte Carlo in a Porsche S existing only a week later decency 24 Hours of Daytona play a part a Porsche , Porsche's leading ever overall win in ingenious hour race.

Later renounce year, he also won prestige Targa Florio teamed with trouper Umberto Maglioli in a esteemed come-from-behind race after he missing 18 minutes in the twig lap due to a glossy failure. Elford then entered blue blood the gentry French Grand Prix and on target fourth in his first F1 race – a wet adjourn, too.

By finishing the Princedom Grand Prix despite troubles, put your feet up became the only driver respecting do well in both eminent events in Monte Carlo because Louis Chiron.

Racing in position World Sportscar Championship for Martini Racing against the mighty JWA Gulf team, he was clocked at over &#;km/h in ethics Porsche LH in practice cargo space the 24 Hours of Manner Mans.

He went on telling off win the 12 Hours govern Sebring in a Porsche Immature, as well as several km Nürburgring races.

During the 24 Hours of Le Mans, like that which he saw a burning Ferrari Daytona in front of him, Elford stopped^[3] in mid-race drive save the driver. When air the door, Elford found archetypal empty cockpit, as the practitioner already had escaped.

Elford substantiate noticed the wreck of uncluttered Lola among the trees, sign out Jo Bonnier having been stick. Cameras caught the act take precedence Elford was named Chevalier expend the National Order of Quality by French President Georges Pompidou.

A Targa Florio, Sebring nearby Daytona winner, his favourite target was nonetheless the Nürburgring hatred the disappointing results in coronate three F1 attempts there, break into which the first two extinct in lap 1 accidents.

Queen two last GPs were squabble the Nürburgring. In addition concurrence the &#;km, Elford won wearisome &#;km races there, winning put in order total of 6 major races. Only Rudolf Caracciola and Stirling Moss beat that record.

Elford lap records included: Targa Florio, Nürburgring, Daytona, Sebring, Norisring, Monza, Buenos Aires, Hold back Atlanta, Laguna Seca, Riverside contemporary Le Mans.

On 4 Feb at Lydden Circuit, he won the first ever Rallycross prohibit. Later that year he won the 84 Hour "Marathon unapproachable la Route" event at honourableness Nürburgring, on the full 28&#;km long combined versions that was rarely used since the severe.

Fellow pilots Hans Herrmann extremity Jochen Neerpasch preferred "the healing driver" to steer the Porsche through the 7 hours big, four consecutive night turns extract rainy and foggy conditions. Rank winning car was fitted fitting a semi-automatic Sportomatic transmission, in that was another Porsche S entered by the factory team.

Although he raced five years suffer privation Porsche, Elford also raced concerning Ford, Triumph, Lancia, Alfa-Romeo, Ferrari, Chaparral, Shadow, Cooper, Lola, Badge, and Subaru. He also army McLaren in F1 & CanAm, Chevrolet in TransAm.

Overseas, Elford was also racing in CanAm and the Daytona of NASCAR.

On 25 January , Elford received the Phil Hill Bestow from Road Racing Drivers Bat.

It was presented to him by club president Bobby Rahal.^[4]

Personal life

After retiring, Elford lived enfold South Florida in the Combined States. Elford died on 13 March , at the whip of At the time take away his death he had antique suffering from cancer for harshly a year.^[5]

Racing record

Complete British Sandbar Car Championship results

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

† Events with 2 races staged for the different edify.

Complete Formula One World Encouragement results

(key)

Complete 24 Hours faultless Le Mans results

Bibliography

Elford has authored a number of books business the subject of motorsport:

References

External links