24 Hours of Le Mans and WWII (2): 1941
Back

24 Hours of Le Mans and WWII (2): 1941

World War II interrupted the saga of the 24 Hours of Le Mans for a decade, but a generation of 11 future winners was born between 1940 and 1945, including Derek Bell in 1941.

Derek Bell, in the motorsports top five - Born on October 31, 1941, Derek Bell is the winningest British driver ever at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. With five wins (1975-81-82 with Jacky Ickx and 1986-87 with Hans-Joachim Stück and Al Holbert), he figures third in the hierarchy of winners, tied with Italian driver Emanuele Pirro and German driver Frank Biela. Bell has only been surpassed by Tom Kristensen (nine wins) and Jacky Ickx (six wins).

World War II in 1941 - The extensive bombings there had little negative effect: Germany was unable to quash England's fighting spirit, especially in the air. On June 22nd, Adolf Hitler switched goals and launched the invasion of the USSR by Germany, called Operation Barbarossa. On December 7th, Japan's aerial attack on the American base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii incited U.S. entry into the war.

Ten personalities born in 1941 - Italian opera singer Placido Domingo (January 21st), American politician Dick Cheney (January 30th), director Bertrand Tavernier (April 25th), singer/songwriter Bob Dylan (May 24th), Rolling Stone Charlie Watts (June 2nd), singer Otis Redding (September 9th), novelist Anne Rice (October 4th), singing duo Paul Simon (October 13th) & Art Garfunkel (November 5th), American football player and French coach Aimé Jacquet (November 27th).

Jean-Philippe Doret / ACO - Translation by Nikki Ehrhardt / ACO

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, SUNDAY JUNE 15 1975, FINISH. Derek Bell (here at the wheel of the Gulf-Mirage GR8 prototype he shared with Jacky Ickx, standing at his side) had just won the first of his five victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.


 

Major Partner

PREMIUM partners

OFFICIAL partners

All partners