Johnny Claes
{{Former F1 driver|
Name = Johnny Claes |
Nationality = Belgian |
Years = 1950 - 1953, 1955 |
Team(s) = Écurie Belge,
Gordini,
HWM,
Maserati,
Ecurie Nationale Belge |
Races = 25 |
Championships = 0 |
Wins = 0 |
Podiums = 0 |
Poles = 0 |
Fastest laps = 0 |
First race =
1950 British Grand Prix |
First win = |
Last win = |
Last race =
1955 Dutch Grand Prix |
Johnny Claes (born in
London,
August 11,
1916 - died in
Brussels,
February 3,
1956) was a
Formula One driver from
Belgium, of Scottish mother and Belgian father.
Claes was one of several gentlemen drivers who took part in Grand Prix racing of post-WWII. His first contact with racing was at the 1947
French Grand Prix, where he served as interpreter for British drivers. He made his debut in 1948, in his own
Talbot-Lago, raced under the Écurie Belge banner.
Although Claes never scored any points in the World Drivers Championship, he was, like many of his contemporaries, very active in non-championship Grand Prix races and sports car races. His first win was at the 1950
Grand Prix des Frontières, held at the
Chimay race track. In 1952 he exchanged his outdate Talbot for a
Gordini, and later for a
Connaught, always with the Écurie Belge colours, but he also raced occasionally for works team, including Gordini and
Maserati. He also won the 1953
Liège-Rome-Liège Rally and took a class win at the 1954
24 Hours of Le Mans.
In 1955, Claes' health problems worsened, as he had contracted
tuberculosis. Claes sold his outfit to fellow Belgian driver
Jacques Swaters, who merged it with his own
Écurie Francorchamps to form
Ecurie Nationale Belge. Claes entered occasional events until the end of the year, but finally succumbed in 1956, aged 39.
Besides motor racing, Claes was also an enthusiast of
jazz music.
Complete Formula One results
