Roger Loyer

Roger Loyer (5 August 1907 - 24 March 1988): French motorcycle road racer and racing driver who competed in one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in 1954, having previously won French motorcycle Grand Prix races in the 1930s. Born in France, Loyer first achieved sporting success as a motorcycle racer during the 1930s, when he competed in Grand Prix motorcycle racing across Europe. He won the 1937 250cc French motorcycle Grand Prix and the 1938 350cc French motorcycle Grand Prix, establishing himself as one of France's leading motorcycle racers in the pre-World War II era. These victories demonstrated exceptional skill, courage, and mechanical understanding that would later translate to his automobile racing career.

After the war, Loyer transitioned to automobile racing and became involved with Équipe Gordini, the French racing team run by Amédée Gordini. Gordini cars were known for their spirited performance if not always their reliability, and the team provided opportunities for French drivers to compete at international level. Loyer made his Formula One World Championship debut at the 1954 Argentine Grand Prix in Buenos Aires on 17 January 1954, driving a Gordini Type 16 for Équipe Gordini. The Gordini T16 was a six-cylinder Formula Two car that was eligible to compete in the World Championship, which was run to Formula Two regulations in 1952 and 1953 before reverting to Formula One rules in 1954.

At Buenos Aires, Loyer struggled with the demanding conditions and the car's limitations. His Gordini ran out of oil during the race, forcing his retirement. He scored no championship points and never competed in another World Championship Grand Prix. After his brief Formula One appearance, Loyer returned to French national racing and gradually stepped back from active competition. He remained involved in French motorsport circles and witnessed the evolution of both motorcycle and automobile racing over subsequent decades.

Loyer died on 24 March 1988 at age 80. He represents the pre-war motorcycle champions who later attempted automobile racing, bringing exceptional machine control and racing instincts from their two-wheeled careers. His motorcycle Grand Prix victories in the 1930s were his most significant sporting achievements, while his single Formula One start provided a footnote to a career primarily focused on motorcycles. Known for: Winning the 1937 250cc and 1938 350cc French motorcycle Grand Prix races, competing in the 1954 Argentine Grand Prix driving a Gordini, retiring from his only F1 race when his car ran out of oil, and successfully transitioning from motorcycles to automobiles.