Jean-Louis Lafosse

Jean-Louis Lafosse (15 March 1941 – 13 June 1981) was a French racing driver.[1] He was most closely associated with the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, in which he finished second in 1975 and 1976.

In the European Touring Car Championship, he won the 1974 500km of Vallelunga, and the four-hour race at Monza the same year. He was runner-up in the Tourist Trophy in 1976.

He had been provisionally entered in the 1974 Italian Grand Prix, scheduled to drive a Brabham for Scuderia Finotto alongside Carlo Facetti, but his entry was refused by the organisers.[2][3]

Lafosse was killed during the 1981 24 Hours of Le Mans, when his Rondeau M379C suffered a mechanical failure on the Mulsanne Straight, veered to the right, and struck the guard rail next to a marshals' post at unabated speed, before crossing the track and striking the opposite guard rail. Two marshals were injured, but Lafosse died instantly. Lafosse' body was partially ejected and can be seen being dragged across the track with only his legs and lower body remaining in the cockpit. Photographs immediately prior to the accident showed damage to the front of Lafosse's car, with grass in the front air intake, suggesting that he had run off the track moments previously, possibly causing the damage that contributed to the fatal accident.[4]

Racing record

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1972 Scuderia Filipinetti Mike Parkes
Jean-Jacques Cochet		 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 GTS
5.0		 302 7th 3rd
1973 Équipe Gitanes Cigarettes de France Reine Wisell
Hughes de Fierlandt		 Lola T282-Cosworth S
3.0		 164 DNF DNF
1974 North American Racing Team Giancarlo Gagliardi Dino 308 GT4 LM S
3.0		 30 DNF DNF
1975 Automobiles Ligier Gitanes Guy Chasseuil Ligier JS2-Cosworth S
3.0		 336 2nd 2nd
1976 Grand Touring Cars Inc. François Migault Mirage M8-Cosworth Gp.6
3.0		 338 2nd 2nd
1977 WM A.E.R.E.M. Xavier Mathiot
Marc Sourd		 WM P77-Peugeot GTP 90 DNF DNF
1978 Pozzi-Thompson JMS Racing Claude Ballot-Léna Ferrari 512BB IMSA
+2.5		 218 DNF DNF
1979 Gelo Sportswear International John Fitzpatrick
Harald Grohs		 Porsche 935 Gr.5
+2.5		 196 DNF DNF
1980 Porsche Kremer Racing Ted Field
Danny Ongais		 Porsche 935 K3 Gr.5 89 DNF DNF
1981 Calberson Jean Rondeau Jean Ragnotti Rondeau M379-Cosworth S
+2.0		 28 DNF DNF

Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 WDC Pts.
1974 Scuderia Finotto Brabham BT42 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE NED FRA GBR GER AUT ITA
DNA		 CAN USA NC 0
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References
  1. "Profile". driverdb.com. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  2. "8W – Bellasi". 8W (FORIX Autosport). Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  3. "Jean-Louis Lafosse at StatsF1". StatsF1. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  4. "Motorsport Memorial". Motorsport Memorial. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
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