
After a stint in Formula 3 and Formula 2 Enzo Ferrari gave Derek Bell his début in Formula 1 at the Grand Prix at Monza in 1968. After a frustrating time in this discipline, the young Englishman to turned to endurance racing.
So from 1970 to 1996, Sir Derek Bell raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans twenty six times, with Ferrari, Porsche, Mirage, Renault Alpine, Courage and McLaren. His five victories (1975, 81, 82, 86, 87) of which he shares three with Jacky Ickx and four podiums (1983, 85, 88, 95) give him a special place in the heart of La Sarthe. In 1985 and 1986 he won the World Sportscar Championship.
At seventy-two he is still on form when it comes to driving a race car. So in tribute to his late friend, Stefan Bellof (one participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1983), Derek Bell took control of a Porsche 956 (chassis 007) on the Nordschleife on the occasion of the AvD Oldtimer Grand Prix. On the 28th May 1983 Stefan Bellof lapped the Nordschleife in 6m11.13s, a record still unmatched.
Ride alongside Derek Bell MBE in the cockpit of the No.2 Rothmans Porsche
For more clips go to : www.lemans-tv.com
Thierry Arman / ACO