Gérard Larrousse

Gérard Gilles Marie Armand Larrousse (23 May 1940 - Present): French racing driver from Limoges who achieved success as both a driver and team manager. Participated in two Formula One Grands Prix in 1974, debuting on 12 May 1974, driving Brabham BT42s for Scuderia Finotto without scoring championship points. His greatest achievements as a driver came in sports car racing, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in both 1973 and 1974 driving a Matra-Simca MS670 alongside Henri Pescarolo for the Matra factory team. The 1973 Le Mans victory was particularly memorable, fighting hard throughout the night against Ferrari in an epic endurance battle that showcased the pinnacle of sports prototype racing.

His two consecutive Le Mans victories established him as one of France's premier endurance racing drivers during the early 1970s. Also achieved success in rallying, winning the 1969 Monte Carlo Rally, demonstrating versatility across different motorsport disciplines. After retiring from driving, continued his Formula One involvement as team manager for Renault during their turbocharged era of the late 1970s and early 1980s, contributing to the development of turbo technology that would transform F1. As Renault's sporting director, oversaw the team's third Le Mans victory in 1978 when Didier Pironi and Jean-Pierre Jaussaud triumphed, adding to his Le Mans legacy.

Founded and ran his own Formula One team, Larrousse, from 1987 to 1994, fielding competitive midfield cars that gave opportunities to drivers including Éric Bernard, Bertrand Gachot, and Ukyo Katayama. The Larrousse team achieved occasional podium finishes and demonstrated that well-managed independent teams could compete against manufacturer-backed operations. His atypical career was marked by three Le Mans victories—two as a driver and one as sporting director—making him one of few individuals to achieve success at La Sarthe in multiple capacities. Celebrated his 85th birthday in 2025, honored by Porsche for his contributions to motorsport.

Remains a respected figure in French motorsport, representing the generation of drivers who successfully transitioned from competition to team management and made lasting contributions to the sport beyond their driving careers.