24h Le Mans
Best-known in motor racing circles for his touring car record, Rickard Rydell was also successful at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which he entered four times, coming away with a class win and a podium place.
Rydell announced his retirement on Twitter with a sober “Rickard Rydell retires from racing”. The Swede began his career in the traditional manner, working his way up from go-karting, then single-seaters in Formula Three. He raced in the then highly competitive British championship and his third place in Monaco won him a seat for the sought-after Macau Formula Three Grand Prix in 1991.
The rookie claimed pole position in Macau that year and returned in 1992 to win the race with the Japanese TOM’S team. He remained in Japan and in 1993 was joined at Toyota by the future Mr Le Mans, Tom Kristensen. The Dane won the Japanese Formula Three championship that year, with Rydell hot on his heels.
Kristensen was yet to race at Le Mans but Rydell had already finished 12th aboard the Porsche 962C with Wayne Taylor and Hurley Haywood in 1990.
The Scandinavians then went their separate ways. Kristensen remained in single-seaters for a while and Rydell turned to touring car racing in the BTCC. After seven years with Volvo, then Ford, he joined Prodrive for the 2001 FIA GT campaign, driving the Ferrari 550 Maranello. The next year he was back with Volvo for the European championship.
Satisfied with his performance at the wheel of the Ferrari, Prodrive requested his services as third driver for the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2002 and for Le Mans again in 2004. Rydell, Darren Turner and the regretted Rally World Champion Colin McRae finished third in the GTS class.
The Swede never turned his back on touring cars, representing Seat in the FIA world championship until 2009, when he also returned to Le Mans. It was a case of fourth time lucky: Rydell shared the Aston Martin DBR9 with David Brabham and Darren Turner and the team won the LM GT1 class. Brabham and Turner pulled off the feat again the following year while Rydell concentrated on touring car racing.
Rydell will now be spending his time coaching racing drivers and commentating on Swedish television. And when he needs a complete break from racing, he’ll no doubt lend a hand in the family flower business.
Cécile Bonardel / ACO — Translated from French by Emma Paulay
PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CITY CENTRE, 24 HOURS OF LE MANS, FRIDAY 14 JUIN 2002, DRIVERS' PARADE. Rickard Rydell, flanked by Tomas Enge and Alain Menu. The team did not finish the race.
