André Guelfi

André Guelfi (6 May 1919 - 28 June 2016) was a French racing driver and entrepreneur who competed in Formula One and sports car racing during the 1950s. Born in Mazagan, Morocco (now El Jadida), Guelfi was the son of a Corsican military officer and demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit from a young age, chauffeuring tourists along the beach from age 10 and reportedly earning more than the local bank manager. He invested his early earnings in the sardine industry, introducing refrigeration aboard fishing ships and pioneering a technique of freezing sardines that revolutionized the industry, earning himself the nickname "Dédé la Sardine." During World War II, Guelfi enlisted in a Moroccan regiment and served in Italy, where he worked as a driver.

After the war, he started racing in 1950, mainly competing in North Africa and driving first a Delahaye, then a Jaguar. In 1953, Guelfi came to international prominence racing a Gordini sports car, taking it to class and outright wins at Agadir, demonstrating his speed and competitiveness. His greatest sports car achievement came at the 1954 24 Hours of Le Mans, where he drove a Gordini with Jacky Pollet to a class win and sixth place overall, a remarkable result for the smaller Gordini against more powerful competitors. He continued racing mainly in Africa and won the Moroccan championship in 1955, establishing himself as one of North Africa's leading racing drivers.

Guelfi's single Formula One World Championship appearance came on 19 October 1958 at the Moroccan Grand Prix in Casablanca, his home race. Driving a Formula Two car against the full Formula One entries, Guelfi finished fifteen, five laps down on winner Stirling Moss, but completed the race distance to score a finish in World Championship competition. He also participated in several non-championship Formula One races during the 1950s, competing against leading drivers of the era. Beyond his racing career, Guelfi built a successful business empire and remained connected to motorsport throughout his life.

After retiring from competitive racing in the late 1950s, he continued his entrepreneurial activities and became known for his colorful personality and stories from motorsport's golden era. Following the death of fellow French driver Robert La Caze on 1 July 2015, Guelfi became the oldest living Formula One driver, a distinction he held until his own death. André Guelfi passed away on 28 June 2016 at the remarkable age of 97, having lived through nearly a century of motorsport history and witnessed the evolution of Formula One from its earliest days to the modern era. He remains remembered as one of the pioneering figures of North African motorsport and as a character who embodied the adventurous, entrepreneurial spirit of 1950s racing.