Robert La Caze

Robert La Caze (26 February 1917 - 1 July 2015): Moroccan-French racing driver who became the first driver to compete in Formula One under an African license when he started the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix, and who lived to age 98, making him one of the longest-lived Formula One drivers. Born in Morocco when it was under French control, La Caze competed in one Formula One World Championship race: the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix at Ain-Diab circuit in Casablanca on 19 October 1958. Entering as a privateer with a Cooper T45-Climax Formula Two car previously driven by Ken Tyrrell, La Caze became the first driver to start a World Championship race representing an African nation. The 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix field included several Formula Two entries competing against the faster Formula One machinery.

La Caze qualified fourth among the F2 entries and drove steadily throughout the race, finishing 14th overall and third in the Formula Two class behind the works Cooper-Climaxes of Jack Brabham and Bruce McLaren. His F2 Cooper was significantly slower than the front-running F1 cars, but La Caze completed the race without incident, demonstrating competent racecraft. After his historic Formula One appearance, La Caze continued in sports car racing. In 1959, he partnered with Jean Kerguen (who had also competed in the F2 class at the 1958 Moroccan GP) to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, though this effort was in endurance racing rather than Formula One.

La Caze never returned to World Championship Grand Prix racing after his single 1958 appearance, focusing instead on national and regional motorsport in North Africa and France. He remained involved in the motorsport community throughout his long life and witnessed the sport's extraordinary evolution over more than five decades. La Caze died on 1 July 2015 at age 98, having outlived nearly all of his 1950s contemporaries. His historic status as Formula One's first African-licensed driver and his remarkable longevity ensure his unique place in motorsport history.

Known for: Being the first driver to compete in Formula One under an African license at the 1958 Moroccan Grand Prix, driving a Formula Two Cooper-Climax to 14th place in his only World Championship race, and living to age 98, one of the longest-lived F1 drivers in history.