Derek Bell

Derek Bell (born 31 October 1941): Derek Reginald Bell MBE is a British racing driver widely regarded as one of the greatest endurance racing drivers in motorsport history. Born in Pinner, Middlesex, Bell began his racing career at Goodwood in March 1964, driving a Lotus 7 and remarkably winning his first ever race. He quickly progressed through Formula 3 and Formula 2 with backing from his stepfather's Church Farm Racing team, turning professional within three years when Enzo Ferrari offered him a Formula 2 drive at Monza. Bell competed in Formula One between 1968 and 1974, racing for prestigious teams including Ferrari, McLaren, Surtees, and Tecno, participating in nine World Championship Grands Prix.

However, his true greatness emerged in sportscar racing, where he achieved legendary status. Bell won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times: in 1975, 1981, 1982, 1986, and 1987, making him the most successful British driver in the race's history. His first three victories came alongside Belgian legend Jacky Ickx, with whom he formed one of motorsport's most famous driver pairings. In 1975, they drove the Gulf Mirage GR8, while their 1981 and 1982 victories came in Porsche 936 and Rothmans Porsche 956 respectively.

Bell's final two Le Mans victories in 1986 and 1987 were achieved with Hans-Joachim Stuck and Al Holbert in a Rothmans Porsche 962. Bell also won the World Sportscar Championship twice in 1985 and 1986, and captured the 24 Hours of Daytona three times in 1986, 1987, and 1989. Uniquely, he won both the Daytona and Le Mans 24-hour races in consecutive years (1986 and 1987), remaining unbeaten across 96 hours of competition, an achievement unlikely to ever be repeated. Bell was awarded the MBE in 1986 for services to motorsport and was later inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2012 and the Le Mans 24 Hours Drivers Hall of Fame in 2013.

His eldest son Justin Bell also became a racing driver, and the pair shared one of Bell's proudest moments when they finished third together at the 1995 Le Mans on Father's Day, driving the Harrods-sponsored McLaren F1 GTR. Bell's partnership with Porsche and his consistent excellence in endurance racing cemented his reputation as one of the sport's true legends.