Born on 10 June 1935, Vic Elford began his career as a co-driver in rally before taking the wheel himself in the early 1960s. In 1967, he joined forces with Porsche in rally and endurance, and represented the marque at Le Mans.

Elford finished his rookie 24 Hours in 1967 in seventh place at the wheel of a 906 Carrera 6 shared with Dutch driver Ben Pon. He played a pivotal role in the German manufacturer's progress toward its first Le Mans win in 1970. The previous year, Elford debuted the 917 at the race along with fellow countryman Richard Attwood and German drivers Rolf Stommelen and Kurt Ahrens. After qualifying in second position, the two Brits took the top spot in the fourth hour. However, the car was later forced to retire with an 80 km lead just three hours from the checkered flag due to a clutch problem! Sadly, after scoring pole position in 1970 then second position in 1971 with the 917 LH, he was again forced to retire from both races.

Elford had a well-deserved reputation for bravery: at the 1972 24 Hours as a factory Alfa Romeo driver, he saw the #35 Ferrari Daytona entered by Scuderia Filipinetti in flames on the track. He stopped his 33TT3 prototype nearby to help driver Florian Vetsch (who had already escaped the blaze). French President Georges Pompidou gave the start of the race that year, and proceeded to make Elford a Knight of the National Order of Merit after witnessing his courageous act.

Across his last three appearances at Le Mans, he finished sixth in 1973 in a Ferrari Daytona (fielded by French importer Charles Pozzi) after teaming up with Claude Ballot-Léna whom he rejoined in 1974 at the wheel of a Porsche Carrera RSR. Elford took the start in his ninth and final 24 Hours in 1983 in a Rondeau prototype shared with Anny-Charlotte Verney and Joël Gouhier (retirement).

European Rally Champion in 1967, he also triumphed at the famous Targa Florio in Sicily, at the Nürburgring and at the 12 Hours of Sebring. Also in 1967, at the Lydden Hill circuit, he won the first race ever of the new rallycross discipline. The following year, just one week apart, Elford won the Monte Carlo Rally in a Porsche 911 and gave the marque its first win at a 24-hour race in Daytona along with Hans Herrmann, Jochen Neerpasch, Jo Siffert and Rolf Stommelen. That same year, he finished his first Formula 1 Grand Prix in fourth place. In 1982, he even tried his hand at rally raid in the Paris-Dakar with Lucien Beckers, today an ACO administrator in Belgium.

Nicknamed Quick Vic for his speed in all contexts, Elford wrote legendary chapters in Porsche's history at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, namely at the wheel of the iconic 917. He is also the only driver to hit the track in competition at the wheel of all versions, from the 1969 917 to the 1973 917/30 (1,230 hp).

To Vic Elford's family and loved ones, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest extends its sincerest condolences.