Racing clothesline the latest motorsport news from f1 and w. Robert obrien born 11 april 1908, lyndhurst, new jersey died 10 february 1987, hackensack, new jersey was a racing driver from the united states. In many ways robert manzon was the ideal racing driver, small and wiry he was able to throw the little gordini about like a toy and it is no surprise that he was probably the longest serving driver of factory gordinis and gave the team some of their finest successes even when later challenged by jean behra. Manzon, a member of the 24 hours of le mans hall of fame, died at his home in cassis, in. Later operated his own diesel equipment distribution business for years. The formula in the name refers to a set of rules to which all participants and cars must conform. Although every effort has been made to ensure the data is accurate and up to date, gp racing stats does not accept any. The 1951 german grand prix was the sixth race of the 1951 formula one season, set to take place at the nurburgring, nurburg, germany over the weekend of july 29, 1951. At the time of his death, manzon was the last surviving driver. Robert manzon was perhaps not the best known grand prix driver but he was a much greater racing talent than his results would suggest. Sadly died in 2015 after an extended period of failing health. In the late 40s and early 50s, the gordini team comprised of four drivers. Per reuters, friends of the family of robert manzon, 97, have confirmed that the frenchman has passed away at. Robert manzon may not have been a top flight driver, but many say he would have won far more victories if he had a more reliable drive.
The racing community recently bid farewell to two of its own. He participated in 29 formula one world championship grands prix, debuting on may 21, 1950. He largely restricted himself to national events only, often in the monopostorennen. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Robert manzon, the last surviving driver to compete in the inaugural formula 1 world championship in 1950, has died at the age of 97. Pages in category ferrari formula one drivers the following 78 pages are in this category, out of 78 total. He was robert manzon robert manzon, last living driver from first season, dead at 97 motorsportstalk the frenchman made 28 grand prix starts from earning 2 podiums and 16 championship points. Which f1 driver is the last one to use a cooper incl.
One of the key cornerstones of the gordini racing operation, manzon was a diesel equipment distributor from marseilles who joined the team in 1948 after some early success with a privately owned cisitalia the previous year. Find everything in one place on robert manzon including their biography, latest news and updates, high resolution photos, high quality videos and expert analysis. He was the last living driver to compete in the first world championship grand prix for formula 1 cars back in 1950 but now he is gone. Click on the site to see robert manzon s career results at that track.
Racing world bids farewell to a pair of fifties internatio. Jan 05, 2015 paris ap jeanpierre beltoise, a former formula one driver who won the monaco grand prix in 1972, has died after a double stroke. They were called the three musketeers like in alexandre dumas novel. Robert manzon is surely the lesser known of these french racing heroes. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Robert manzon, last living driver from f1s first season. Marseillesborn manzon initially worked with cars as a mechanic and after world war 2 made his racing debut driving a cisitalia d46 in 1947. View f1 statistics and a f1 career summary of robert manzon, including career stats, yearly summary, stats per grands prix and circuits, and more. The story of french grand prix racing during the 1950s was largely one of glorious failure and at its heart were robert manzon and the gordini marque.
In the past, it was a sports car manufacturer and performance tuner, established in 1946 by amedee gordini, nicknamed le sorcier the sorcerer. Jan 19, 2015 view f1 statistics and a f1 career summary of robert manzon, including career stats, yearly summary, stats per grands prix and circuits, and more. He participated in one formula one grand prix, on june 22, 1952. A race of attrition resulted in defeat for the heavily favored mercedes team, and a win for french driver maurice trintignant in a ferrari, ahead of eugenio castellotti in a lancia and. Full details of racing driver robert manzon s record. The frenchman, who was a founder of the former grand prix.
Robert manzon was not only a great racecar driver, but also an amazing person. Robert manzon 19172015 was a french racing driver who recorded 28 starts in the formula one world championship between 1950 and 1956. He achieved two podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points. He was born in marseille on 12th april 1917 and raced in the le mans 24 hours on six occasions between 1950 and 1956. Robert manzon 12 april 1917 19 january 2015 was a french racing driver. If youre looking for a detailed list of f1 podiums by robert manzon with a bunch of statistics thrown in, click the link above for more. Died relatively recently, in a nursing home in mannheim, after a period of ill health. The formula one community was met with some tragic news today. Formula 1 on sky sports get the latest f1 news, results, standings, videos and photos, plus watch live races in hd and read about top drivers. Manzon was the last surviving driver from the very first grand prix season in 1950. A vitantonio liuzzi b robert doornbos c sebastian vettel d pastor maldonado. Media in category robert manzon the following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total.
Click on the site to see robert manzon s career results at that track glossary. Robert manzon, the last surviving driver of formula ones inaugural season in 1950, has died. He split from the team one race into the 1953 season when his wheel came off during the race, and. Robert manzon, born 12 april 1917 in marseille, bouchesdurhone, provencealpescote dazur, france died 19 january 2015 in cassis, bouchesdurhone, provencealpescote dazur, france was a former french racing driver who spent large amounts of his career racing for the gordini team. Despite increased fraility, he still worked on road and micro cars and also returned to motorsport as a formula 3 constructor, albeit this was more through his sons involvement, but the ligier name was also involved in. Nevertheless, this sympathetic man was a fast and talented driver that only lacked a bit of luck on many occasions. Underpowered and underfunded, the light blue cars were no match for their continental rivals. Manfredo lippmann, noted guatemalan racer and collector, passed away last month, as did robert manzon, the last remaining living driver who participated in the inaugural formula 1 world championship in 1950. At the time of his death, manzon was the last surviving driver to have taken part in the first season of formula one in 1950. A olivier gendebien b lucien bianchi c vic elford d ludovico scarfiotti.
F1 news, drivers, results formula 1 live online sky sports. Jan 19, 2015 robert manzon, born 12 april 1917 in marseille, bouchesdurhone, provencealpescote dazur, france died 19 january 2015 in cassis, bouchesdurhone, provencealpescote dazur, france was a former french racing driver who spent large amounts of his career racing for the gordini team. Robert manzon racing career profile driver database. Jan 20, 2015 robert manzon, the last surviving driver of formula ones inaugural season in 1950, has died. He continued to visit historic events until a year or two before his death and even drove a few laps at some of. Once logged in, you can add biography in the database. Manzon started his career in the automotive industry as a diesel engine parts salesman. French racer robert manzon, the last surviving driver from formula ones debut world championship season in 1950, has died at the age of 97. Robert was the sole remaining founder member of our club. Robert manzon born 12 april 1917 in marseille, died 19 january 2015 in cassis was a french racing driver who competed in formula 1 from 1950 onwards. Robert manzon april 12, 1917 january 19, 2015 world. The last surviving driver from formula ones debut season back in 1950 has died.
Per reuters, friends of the family of robert manzon, 97, have confirmed that the frenchman has passed away at his. Team profile for robert manzon, including a comprehensive list of race entries for robert manzon. At the time of his death, manzon was the last surviving driver to have taken part in the first formula one world championship in 1950. Profile for racing driver jean guichet from france. Racing at silverstone aka daily express trophy meeting 1952. Impressive early results, including some achieved racing.
Gordini, pictured through the life of robert manzon. So robert manzon wrote in 2004, while looking back at his life behind the wheel between 1946 and 1956, years of both the golden age of racing and yet the deadliest. Gordini t32 10 f1 italie 1956 robert manzon spark s5315. Jan 20, 2015 paris ap robert manzon, the last surviving driver of formula ones inaugural season in 1950, has died. His longetivity allowed the balance to be redressed somewhat as there was renewed focus on him. Robert manzon 9 april 1917 19 january 2015 f1 gpdc. He achieved 2 podiums, and scored a total of 16 championship points. His best placing was a third in the 1952 belgian grand prix with gordini, duplicating that result in the 1954 french grand prix at reims in a. Miniature gordini automobile du catalogue spark 2018. View career stats like points per seasons, distribution of wins, podiums and more. Profile for racing driver robert manzon from france. Robert manzon the nostalgia forum the autosport forums. Driver robert manzon 1952 formula one results racing. The winner of the 1964 le mans 24 hours, he was french champion for rallying, gts and sports cars during that decade.
Jan 20, 2015 robert manzon, the last surviving driver to compete in the inaugural formula 1 world championship in 1950, has died at the age of 97. He was often seen in a bmw special his own construction or a veritas rs car. Spending his entire racing career driving for gordini, at least in formula one, he was one of the more successful drivers at the start of the championship, winning four championship grands prix and finishing in the championships top ten five. Jan 27, 2015 he was the last living driver to compete in the first world championship grand prix for formula 1 cars back in 1950 but now he is gone. Jan 19, 2015 the last surviving driver from formula ones debut season back in 1950 has died. Or that he never drove for a big team whereas his three comrades have, for example, all been ferrari f1 drivers. The last surviving driver from the debut season of formula one has passed away today at the age of 97. He participated in 29 formula one world championship grands prix, debuting on 21 may 1950. The official site of robert alon racing, imsa driver, rolex 24 at daytona, racing, raceway. Robert manzon born in marseille, april 12, 1917 is a former racing driver from france. Manzon, a member of the 24 hours of le mans hall of fame, died at his home in. Manzon spent the most of a career driving for equipe gordini, although he was ferrari driver for one season in 1954.