Gijs van Lennep

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Gijsbert Van Lennep
Nationality  Flag of the Netherlands Dutch
Formula One World Championship career
Active years 1971, 1973-1975
Teams S.A.N, Williams, Ensign
Races 10 (8 starts)
Championships 0
Wins 0
Podium finishes    0
Career points 2
Pole positions 0
Fastest laps 0
First race 1971 Dutch Grand Prix
Last race 1975 German Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Participating years 1970 - 1976
Teams David Piper Autorace, Martini Racing Team, Ecurie Bonnier Switzerland, Gelo Racing Team
Best finish 1st (1971, 1976)
Class wins 3 (1971, 1975, 1976)

Jonkheer Gijsbert Van Lennep (born March 16, 1942, Aerdenhout) is a Dutch esquire and former racing driver who gave a good account for himself in his eight Formula One drives.

Gijs van Lennep with Porsche Carrera RSR Turbo during the 1000 km-Rennen at the Nürburgring 1974
Gijs van Lennep with Porsche Carrera RSR Turbo
during the 1000 km-Rennen at the Nürburgring 1974

[edit] Career

Van Lennep drove for the Porsche sportscar team from 1967 and won the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1971 with Helmut Marko driving the number 22 Martini sponsored Porsche 917K. They set a distance record that still stands today, covering 5335 km.

That year the Stichting Autoraces Nederland (Foundation for Car races in the Netherlands), hired a Surtees TS7 for him to make his F1 debut in his home GP where he finished a creditable 8th in a very wet GP. The following year Van Lennep won the UK F5000 Championship in a Surtees TS11 and drove twice for the Williams GP team, winning his first championship point with 6th place in the 1973 Dutch Grand Prix. With Ensign he scored a second point in the 1975 German Grand Prix, making him the second most successful Dutch Formula 1 driver, until the emergence of Jos Verstappen.

In 1973 he won the last Targa Florio with Herbert Müller in a Martini Porsche Carrera RSR.

He continued with sportscar racing, winning the Le Mans 24 Hours for a second time in 1976, sharing a Porsche 936 Turbo with Jacky Ickx before retiring.


[edit] Complete Formula One World Championship results

(key)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Team WDC Points
1971 S.A.N RSA
ESP
MON
NED
8
FRA
GBR
GER
AUT
ITA
CAN
USA
DNS
Surtees - 0
1973 Williams ARG
BRA
RSA
ESP
BEL
MON
SWE
FRA
GBR
NED
6
GER
AUT
9
ITA
Ret
CAN
USA
Williams 19th 1
1974 Williams ARG
BRA
RSA
ESP
BEL
14
MON
SWE
NED
DNQ
FRA
GBR
GER
AUT
ITA
CAN
USA
Williams - 0
1975 Ensign ARG
BRA
RSA
ESP
MON
BEL
SWE
NED
10
FRA
15
GBR
GER
6
AUT
ITA
USA
Ensign 19th 1


Sporting positions
Preceded by
Hans Herrmann
Richard Attwood
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1971
Helmut Marko
Gijs van Lennep
Succeeded by
Henri Pescarolo
Graham Hill
Preceded by
Frank Gardner
British Formula 5000 Champion
1972
Succeeded by
Teddy Pilette
Preceded by
Jacky Ickx
Derek Bell
Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1976
Jacky Ickx
Gijs van Lennep
Succeeded by
Jacky Ickx
Hurley Haywood
Jürgen Barth