Meet the heroes of Le Mans

Hans Herrmann

Born on 23 February 1928 in Stuttgart.

In the spring of 1952, Hans Herrmann starts his driver career in rallying with a private Porsche 356.

1953 Fifth with Richard von Frankenberg in the Porsche 356 at the Lyon- Charbonnieres rally. Contracted to the Porsche works squad and first outing at the Le Mans 24 Hours. German race car champion.

1954 Signed on in the Mercedes factory team to compete in the new Grand Prix race car with Juan Manuel Fangio, Karl Kling and Stirling Moss. Sports car races for Porsche in the new Porsche 550 Spyder. Class victory at the Mexican endurance race Carrera Panamericana.

1956 Formula 1 with Maserati and BRM.

1957 Second in the European Hillclimb Championship as Borgward works driver.

1959 Return to the Porsche works squad. Shares Formula 2 with Moss, G. Hill, Bonnier and Gendebien. Winners of the 1960 Formula 2 Championship.

1960 With Joakim Bonnier, Hans Herrmann wins the Targa Florio in the Porsche 718 RS 60 Spyder.

1963 Hans Herrmann leaves Porsche for three years and competes for Carlo Abarth. The time with Carlo Abarth turns Hans Herrmann into an excellent test driver, who can precisely explain a race car’s handling to his technicians.

1966 Once again back with the Porsche works team, Hans Herrmann not only contests all major long-distance races and the European Hillclimb Championship, but also conducts virtually all test drives in Weissach.

1969 The Porsche works team with Hans Herrmann, Jo Siffert, Vic Elford and Rolf Stommelen brings home the International Championship for Makes for Prototype Sportscars to Zuffenhausen – and this despite Hans Herrmann having to admit defeat after 24 hours of intense fighting by 120 metres behind Jacky Ickx’s 5-litre Ford at one of the most gripping Le Mans races of our time.

1970 saw Hans Herrmann come back to take the laurel: At his eleventh Le Mans start he achieved the first overall victory for Porsche. He took the occasion of this racing highlight to retire from active racing.