Above: Ferrari 500 TRC s/n 0682 MD TR was entered by Ecurie Nationale Belge at Le Mans in 1957, and placed 7th overall with the team of Bianchi/Harris.
Photos and text by Hugues Vanhoolandt
When one thinks of Belgian race drivers, the name of Olivier Gendebien, Paul Frere and Jacky Ickx (whose daughter, Vanina, is also a race driver) naturally come to mind.
Talbot Lago T26C, wearing the yellow color devoted to Belgian teams, was driven by gentleman driver Johnny Claes in the Grand Prix races between 1948 and 1951.
Yet think of more, for there are dozens. Some of the names are not seemingly Belgian, such as the non-German George Berger or non-Italian Lucien Bianchi (whose brother Mauro claimed French citizenship); others were multi-nationals such as Jan de Vroom and Johnny Claes. Still others from good families hid their real names behind pseudonyms such as Jean Blaton’s “Beurlys” lest they be discovered by their own kin.
First delivered in July 1950 to Gianni Agnelli, this Ferrari 166 MM Touring barchetta s/n 0064 M has been in Belgian ownership since 1952, and notably in the hands of the late Jacques Swaters, founder and director of the Ecurie Francorchamps.
In fact, Belgium produced a lot of racing drivers for its relatively small population. Using statistics at Le Mans provided by Quentin Spurring and the ACO, (read review) we find that in the years from 1949-1959, of the foreign drivers entered, 143 were from Great Britain, 46 hailed from the U.S., 38 from Italy, 26 from Germany and 24 from Belgium. Compare that to the Netherlands, with 5 drivers, or Australia with 4.
None of the famous “sharknose” Ferraris of 1961 exist anymore. That’s why Belgian collector Jan Biekens had the idea of an exact recreation of the car driven to 4th place by Olivier Gendebien in the 1961 Belgium GP. It took six years to build this car which is now racing in historic events like the Goodwood Revival.
Among the repeat Le Mans entries was Jacques Swaters, who became a good friend of Enzo Ferrari and the first importer of Ferraris in Belgium (and one of the first in the world). With his friends, Swaters founded the “Ecurie Belgique” (Belgian Team) which later became the “Ecurie Francorchamps”.
An Abarth-Simca 1300 was entered at Le Mans in 1962 by Equipe Nationale Belge and placed 14th overall driven by the all Belgian team of Claude Dubois and Georges Harris.
By entering cars in events such as the 24 hours of Le Mans and Formula 1 Grand Prix, Swater’s cars, always painted in Belgium’s FIA racing yellow, made Belgiam teams and drivers famous on the circuits and roads of the old continent.
Ferraris 250 GT SWB s/n 2069 GT and 250 GTO s/n 4153 GT, which won the Tour de France in 1964.
Today the Belgian capital of Brussels is also the seat of the European Union; in December of 2011 Brussels played host to Belgian Racing Legends the Autoworld Museum’s presentation of more than forty race cars driven by Belgian drivers and brought together selected pieces from collections all over Europe, the U.K. and the U.S. (Autoworld also is the home of a huge collection of cars made in Belgium such as the Minerva and FN. Surprisingly, there were 200 different car manufacturers in Belgium.)
Delivered new to the Ecurie Francorchamps stable, one of the major achievements of this Ferrari 250 LM s/n 6313 is second place at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1965 with Belgian drivers Dumay and Gosselin.
The exhibition, held from December 15th to January 15th presents more than 40 of the cars driven by Swaters himself, Gendebien, Frère, Bianchi, Mairesse, Ickx, Pilette, Boutsen, Van de Poele and others
The Inaltera GT was the first assault at Le Mans from Frenchman Jean Rondeau who is the sole driver to have won the French classic at the wheel of a car he built. This Inaltera was driven by Christine Beckers to 11th at Le Mans in 1977, co-driven by Italian Lella Lombardi. The team achieved the best ever placing for a female pair. Next to the Inaltera, the Ecurie Francorchamps Daytona, which placed 8th overall at Le Mans in 1972.
There is a list of 60 Belgian drivers who are honored at this show but it is not available on the net. On Wikipedia there is a list of 62 Belgian driver but it seems very incomplete.
Ligier JS11, powered by the famous Cosworth DFV, was the last attempt in Formula 1 of famous Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He is best known for his six wins at Le Mans but also holder of 8 Grand Prix victories with Ferrari and Brabham.
In the meantime Hugues Vanhooldant and the editor gathered our own list very partial of a further 26 names which don’t appear on the Wiki list (such as Jean Blaton!). Many were culled from the new book, “Le Mans, 1949-1959” by Quentin Spurring, and the earlier “The Le Mans 24 Hour Race” by Christian Moity. Some may not be Belgian but listed that way in the official Le Mans ACO documents. Readers corrections and additions (we know there are more!) welcome.
Christine Beckers July 4th 1977, Daytona Firecracker 400, retired after 33 laps. Paired with Lella Lombardi, she finished a strong eleventh overall at Le Mans in 1977 in a Ford-Inaltera.
Mauro Bianchi Entered Le Mans in 1962 with an Abarth, 1964 with Alpine and ran at Le Mans until 1968. Though he is Lucien’s brother he claims French citizenship.
Jean Blaton 15 starts at Le Mans. 2nd in 1963 with a Ferrari 250 GTO from Equipe Nationale Belge, 3rd in 1962 (250 GTO), 3rd in 1965 on a 275 GTB Speciale from Ecurie Francorchamps. Raced under the pseudonym “Beurlys”.
Eric Catulle Co-drove an Alfa SVZ with Giorgio Ubezzi at Le Mans in 1958 but retired with fuel problems.
Hermès Delbar Primarily a rally driver, Delbar had one start at Le Mans (Porsche 911) driving with Roger Vanderschrieck in 1972.
Hugues de Fierlandt A touring car driver with BMW, he had 7 starts at Le Mans, best place 5th in 1970 driving a Ferrari 512S for Ecurie Francorchamps.
Eric De Keyn Entered but DNF’d at the Le Mans 24 hours 1966 (Ferrari 250 LM Equipe Nationale Belge; killed at the Spa 24 hours 1967.
Yves Deprez 10th at Le Mans 1969 with Gaban (Porsche 911), raced in 1970 with a Chevron Mazda B16; in 1972 finished 16th with a De Tomaso Pantera co driven with Jacquemin.
Leon Dernier 3rd in 1959 at Le Mans with Blaton, pseudonym “Elde” and in 1962 drove with Blaton with a Ferrari 250 GT TDF and 250 GTO from Equipe Nationale Belge.
Claude Dubois A 9 times Le Mans starter between 1957 and 1967. Co- drove a Porsche 550A at Le Mans in 1957 with George Hacquin, but was disqualified. With Belgian Georges Harris he entered the Abarth 1300 at Le Mans in 1962 and placed 14th overall. Later he backed a Ford GT 40 entry for the 1968 Le Mans for Mairesse and Blaton.
Louis Eggen Co-drove (and owned) the Alvis 2 liter at Le Mans 1949, finished 29th in the Dyna Panhard with “Escale” and in 1950, entered a D.B. in 1951.
“Escale” No real name was ever found for this Belgian driver who co-drove a Dyna Panhard with Louis Eggen to 29th place in 1950.
Jean Pierre Gaban 10th at Le Mans 1969 with Deprez (Porsche 911), was a famous Porsche specialist.
Gustave Gosselin 24 hours of Spa 1964 winner, 2nd at Le Mans in 1965 (Ferrari 250 LM); six starts at Le Mans with Ferrari, Alfa Romeo and Lola.
George Hacquin Co drove a Porsche 550A at Le Mans in 1957 with Claude Dubois, but was disqualified.
George Harris Placed 7th in 1957 Le Mans with the Ferrari 500 TRC. Harris also placed 14th overall with the Abarth co driven by Claude Dubois in 1962.
J. M. Jacquemin In 1972 drove a De Tomaso with Y. Deprez at Le Mans and a Porsche 911 in 1971.
Gérald Langlois van Ophem 3rd in the Tour de France 1962 (Ferrari 250 GTO), 2nd at Le Mans 1963 (250 GTO) with Jean Blaton.
Jean-Michel Martin 4 time winner of the 24 hours of Spa (two times with his brother Philippe), 3rd at Le Mans in 1980 with a Rondeau (with his brother).
Egon Kraft de la Saulx Entered in the 1949 Le Mans with an Alvis owned by Louis Eggen, DNF.
Pierre Stasse Teamed with Johnny Claes to finish 12th in the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans in a Porsche.
Max Thirion Industrialist. At Le Mans in 1954 his is listed as co driving a Gordini with Andre Pilette. Max took his daughter’s place when the official refused to let her start on account of her gender.
Gilberte Thirion Max’s daughter Gilberte drove Porsches, Alfas, Gordinis and Renaults with equal fervor from 1953 to 1957 in rallies and the Mille Miglia. Gilberte won the Tour de Corse Rally in 1956 with a Renault Gordini.
Serge Trosch Co-drove and Alfa T33/2 with Karl von Wendt in the 1968 Le Mans event but retired.
Roger Vanderschriecke Placed 12th at Le Mans in 1968 with Gaban in a Porsche 911. With Delbar in Porsche 911S in 1972.
Jan de Vroom Drove a Ferrari 290MM at Le Mans in 1957 with George Arents. Retired with piston failure. Later backed Luigi Chinetti and the NART organization. (see comment below)
I am afraid that Jan de Vroom didn’t have the Belgian nationality. He was born in the Dutch East Indies [Indonesia today] and carried a Dutch passport.
Not to forget, Teddy Pilette,who drove for the Belgian count van der straeten
And Hugues de Fierlandt should be Hughes de Fierlant
I bought the real Dubois/Harris Abarth-Simca 1300 from Craig Fisher serial # 130s 0058 in the early 70s. Craig drove it to a Canadian Championship. When I bought the car it had a bad engine, it was stored for my by Al Cosentino at FAZA, Brewster NY while I finished my Navy service. Notice the museum tribute Abarth-Simca doesn’t have the required number lights on the doors nor does it have the bug/rock deflector fitted to the trunk lid or the FIA required rear spats as the original car did not have flared fenders. Great photo anyway-it brings back many for memories of Craig and Al when they raced the Fiat-Abarth Berlina Corsas.
About the Bianchi brothers, they were both born in Milan, Italy. As expatriate, they settled in different countries, anc chose the respective nationalities.
Difficult to believe that Oliver Gendebien gets a mere reference with a replica
Ferrari GP car when you consider his fantastic drives in Endurance events and
especially the 1957 Mille Miglia,,something I will never forget.!
Jim Sitz
Me again… Gerard (Langlois v O) should be Gérald. These little errors being copied and repeated, I believe it matters to put the record straight.