Jo Schlesser
Joseph Schlesser ( born May 18, 1928 in Liouville, France, † July 7 1968 at the GP France / Rouen -les- Essarts ) was a French racing driver who drove mainly sports and touring car racing. Three times he took part in Grand Prix racing, once he started there in a Formula 1 car.
Career
Schlesser took the 1950s, successfully touring car races and some belonged to his death at the best sports car racers. In February 1968 he started on a Porsche 907 at the 24 Hours of Daytona and finished with Joe Buzetta third place. In the 1000 - km race at Spa -Francorchamps on May 26, 1968 he was driving - also on Porsche 907 - with 4:00,30 minutes the fastest lap of the race and was with Gerhard Mitter second overall.
1966 and 1967 he competed in the Grand Prix of Germany in the Formula 2 championship. Both times he drove a Matra MS5 - Ford, 1967, he was a driver of the team Ecurie Ford France.
At the French Grand Prix in 1968 in Rouen Schlesser drove a Formula 1 car, the Honda RA302 for the first time. In the third round he lost control of the car, slid along an embankment and rolled over. The vehicle caught fire, and 200 liters pouring gasoline ignited. The magnesium chassis gave the fire extra food. Jo Schlesser burned. The Honda RA302 was not tested and was considered because of its design and the materials used as dangerous. After this accident, no further Grand Prix races was held in Rouen.
Others
Schlessers nephew Jean-Louis Schlesser in 1988 at the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Monza and won several times the Paris-Dakar Rally. Guy Ligier, racing driver, racing team owner and later automobile manufacturer, knew commemorating Schlesser each racing vehicle that was used by the F1 team Equipe Ligier, with the initials Schlessers in the type designation.