John Woolfe
John Woolfe ( born March 23, 1932 in London, † June 14, 1969 in Le Mans) was a British racing driver and team owner.
Career
John Woolfe denied in the 1960s sports car racing in the UK and founded in 1968 together with the US - American David Riswick the team John Woolfe Racing. John Woolfe 1969 was one of the first private race driver who was allowed to buy a Porsche 917. To meet the Homologationsrichtlinien for the World Sportscar Championship, Porsche had to build 25 units of the developed at the instigation of Ferdinand Piëch 917. In order to meet the substantial development costs even close, Porsche was forced, some racing cars to wealthy privateers to sell. Woolfe wanted his 917 using the 24- hour race at Le Mans, where he had his debut in 1968 on a Chevron B12. Even before the race came in the British motorsport press criticism that it would be irresponsible for a private race driver such a fast and difficult to driving race cars for sale. However Woolfe had already gained experience with large-displacement race car with the Ford GT40 and the Lola T70.
Richard Attwood was originally planned as a partner for Le Mans. Attwood had a contract with John Woolfe Racing and appearances for the team sports car racing in the UK. But Attwood got a contract for work at Porsche. As a new team-mate Herbert Linge came into the team. The experienced Linge should also drive the first part of the race, but Woolfe this privilege did not miss, as his entire family was present.
Already in the first round, there was a fatal accident. Although the Woolfe Porsche 917 was only 21 starting place, but Woolfe was when Le Mans start one of the quickest and end of Les- Hunaudières straight into the top ten. Input Maison Blanche - the first few laps were driven by the top drivers in the Grand Prix pace - he was left with two wheels on the grass, lost control of the car and beat at high speed right into the guardrail. Woolfe was thrown from the car, because he had not been wearing a seat belt, which explained his perfect start. The tank of the Porsche burst and the car went up in flames. From the moving throng behind Woolfe was Chris Amon - of a Ferrari 312P with Peter Schetty shared - not avoid and crashed into the wreckage. During Amon as was unharmed by a miracle, Woolfe died at the accident site.
After the race, there were rumors Woolfe had the door of the Porsche 917 had not closed properly - 1968 Willy Mairesse had a door of his Ford GT40 only half closed and before the Mulsanne a serious accident - then lost and this at full speed. Flying parts have the rear spoiler damaged and thus contributed to the accident. However, this theory has never been proven.
The fatal crash of John Woolfe was to replace one of the reasons the Le Mans start in 1970 by the Indianapolis start.