Энциклопедия Формулы 1:
1950-2020

Rambler's Top100

Гонщики, C

Курсивом отмечены гонщики,
выступавшие только
в Indy 500 (1950-1960)

Бельгия
Бельгия

Джонни Клэз

Claes, Johnny

Claes, Octave John

Джонни Клэз / Claes, Johnny

(c) 'Who is Who' by Steve Small, 2000

Родился:

11.08.1916

Фулхем, Лондон

Умер:

03.02.1956

Брюссель

Сезонов в Ф1:

5

Лет в Ф1:

6

Гран При:

25

Старты:

23*

*не стартовал:

2

Победы:

- подряд:

Подиумы:

- подряд:

Поул-позиции:

- подряд:

Первый ряд:

- подряд:

Быстрые круги:

- подряд:

Лучший финиш:

7

Лучший старт:

10

Дубли:

Хет-трики:

Лидирование старт/финиш:

Большие шлемы:

Круги:

888

- лидирования:

Километры:

6498.44

- лидирования:

Очки:

- за один сезон:

- подряд:

Ф1: 1950-1955

Джонни Клэз / Claes, Johnny - 1950-1955

Год

Команда

Шасси

1950Ecurie BelgeTalbot Lago T26C
Talbot Lago T26C
1951Ecurie BelgeTalbot Lago T26C-DA
Talbot Lago T26C-DA
1952Equipe GordiniGordini Type 16S
Gordini Type 16S
HW Motors LtdHWM 52
HWM 52
Ecurie BelgeSimca Gordini Type 15
Simca Gordini Type 15
Vickomtesse de WalckiersSimca Gordini Type 15
Simca Gordini Type 15
1953Ecurie BelgeConnaught A Type
Connaught A Type
Officine Alfieri MaseratiMaserati A6GCM
Maserati A6GCM
1955Equipe Nationale BelgeFerrari 500
Ferrari 500
Stirling Moss LtdMaserati 250F
Maserati 250F

A Belgian born in Fulham, London, whose mother was Scottish, Claes' first passion was jazz, but he became involved in motor racing after a chance visit to the 1947 French GP where his bilingualism allowed him to act as an interpreter to the English drivers. His Belgian father was wealthy, and when Johnny tried his hand at racing in 1948, a Talbot was duly ordered for him which saw much service in both 1949 and 1950. However, his first real success came at the wheel of an HWM in the 1950 GP des Frontieres at Chimay, a race he was to win again the following season, this time in a Simca-Gordini.

With his Talbot effectively redundant following the adoption of Formula 2 regulations for Grands Prix, Claes secured drives with the Gordini, HWM and Connaught teams during the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Finding the competition tough at World Championship level, he tasted real success in the 1953 Liege-Rome-Liege Rally, which he won despite having to drive the car single-handed for 52 hours after his co-driver was taken ill.

By 1954 Johnny was a sick man and he raced little, though a visit to Le Mans with a Porsche saw him finish 12th overall and take the 1500 cc class. He was more active in 1955, the highlight of his season being third place at Le Mans in the Ecurie Belgique Jaguar with Jacques Swaters. His last competitive event was to be the Liege-Rome-Liege Rally of that year, in which he took third place partnered by Lucien Bianchi. His health then deteriorated rapidly and, laid low by tuberculosis, he died in February 1956, aged just 39.

(c) 'Who is Who' by Steve Small, 2000

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