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Jochen Mass

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Jochen Mass
Mass at the 1982 Dutch Grand Prix
Born
Jochen Richard Mass

(1946-09-30) 30 September 1946 (age 78)
Dorfen, Bavaria, Germany
Formula One World Championship career
NationalityWest Germany West German
Active years1973–1980, 1982
TeamsSurtees, McLaren, ATS, Arrows, March
Entries114 (105 starts)
Championships0
Wins1
Podiums8
Career points71
Pole positions0
Fastest laps2
First entry1973 British Grand Prix
First win1975 Spanish Grand Prix
Last win1975 Spanish Grand Prix
Last entry1982 French Grand Prix
24 Hours of Le Mans career
Years1972, 1978, 1981–1983, 1985–1989, 1991, 1995
TeamsFord, Martini, Porsche, Sauber, Price
Best finish1st (1989)
Class wins1 (1989)

Jochen Richard Mass (German pronunciation: [ˈjɔ.χn̩ ˈʁɪ.çaɐ̯t maːs]; born 30 September 1946) is a German former racing driver and broadcaster, who competed in Formula One from 1973 to 1982. Mass won the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix with McLaren. In endurance racing, Mass won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1989 with Sauber.

Born and raised in Bavaria, Mass made appearances in Formula Super Vee, Formula Three and European Formula Two throughout his early career. He finished runner-up in the latter in 1973, having already taken victory at the 24 Hours of Spa alongside Hans-Joachim Stuck the year prior. Mass made his Formula One debut at the 1973 British Grand Prix with Surtees, making sporadic appearances before achieving a full-time seat in 1974. Mass moved to McLaren from the Canadian Grand Prix onwards, where he achieved his only race win at the curtailed 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. In his final season with McLaren in 1977, having taken several podiums with the team, Mass finished a career-best sixth in the World Drivers' Championship. After a non-classified championship finish in 1978 with ATS, Mass spent two seasons at Arrows. He was seriously injured at the 1980 Austrian Grand Prix, bruising his neck and fracturing vertebrae as his Arrows A3 rolled over during practice. After a year hiatus, Mass returned in 1982 with March. Following his crash with Mauro Baldi at the 1982 French Grand Prix—only two months after his involvement in the death of Gilles Villeneuve—Mass retired from Formula One, having achieved one win, two fastest laps and eight podiums.

Outside of Formula One, Mass entered 12 editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1972 to 1995, winning in 1989 alongside Manuel Reuter and Stanley Dickens, driving the Sauber C9, as well as finishing runner-up in the World Sportscar Championship, matching his result from 1984. He also finished runner-up at Le Mans in 1982 with Porsche. Mass was the champion of the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft in 1985, as well as twice finishing runner-up in Interserie, all with Joest. Mass was also a race-winner in the British Saloon Car Championship. Upon retiring from motor racing, Mass became a commentator for RTL from 1994 to 1998. Since the 1990s, Mass has made frequent appearances at Goodwood events, including the Festival of Speed and the Revival. In popular culture, Mass appeared as himself in Rush (2013).

Life and career

[edit]
Mass driving for Surtees at the 1974 British Grand Prix at Brands Hatch

Jochen Richard Mass was born on 30 September 1946 in Dorfen, Bavaria.[1] Mass participated in 114 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, debuting on 14 July 1973 at the British Grand Prix. He won one GP race (1975 Spanish Grand Prix), secured no pole positions, achieved 8 podiums and scored a total of 71 championship points.

Mass is perhaps best known for his on-track incident with Gilles Villeneuve which led to the latter's death. On 8 May 1982, with only 10 minutes left until the end of the qualifying session for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder, Villeneuve collided with Mass while attempting to overtake him. As Villeneuve came up behind Mass exiting a super-fast left turn, Mass moved to the right hand side of the track to let Villeneuve through. Villeneuve had already committed to the right hand side and the two cars touched wheels, launching the Canadian skyward. Villeneuve's car hit the ground nose-first and was then torn apart in a series of violent cartwheels. His seat was dislodged and he was flung from his car, landing heavily among the catch fencing at the opposite side of the track. Mass stopped his car, jumped out and ran back to Villeneuve's wrecked car. Villeneuve was flown to hospital and taken off life-support later that evening.

After leaving the Formula One circuit, Mass enjoyed great success in sports car racing, gaining international prominence with his performance during the European Touring Car Championship in the early 1970s. In 1972, he teamed up with Hans-Joachim Stuck to drive a Ford Capri RS2600 to victory at the Spa 24 Hours endurance race in Belgium. He went on to win that year's World Sportscar Championship. He finished second to Clay Regazzoni and Arturo Merzario in a November 1972 9-hour race at the Kyalami Circuit, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Mass' co-driver in a Chevron B-21 was Gerry Birrell.[2] Mass, driving a Surtees TS-15, tied with Jean Pierre Beltoise in qualifying for the Jim Clark Memorial Formula Two auto race in April 1973 held at Hockenheim, both drivers recording times of 2 minutes, 2.8 seconds, for an average of 124.3 miles per hour.[3]

Mass placed second to Jean-Pierre Jarier in a Formula Two race at Nivelles, in June 1973. He had finished second in the first heat and third in the second.[4] He completed his first Formula One race at the 1973 German Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. Mass came in seventh in a Surtees.[5] He drove a McLaren-Ford to third place in the 1975 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.[6]

Mass won the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix after leader, Rolf Stommelen's car hit a protective barrier, exploded into flames and catapulted into the crowd at the Montjuich circuit. Four spectators were killed and twelve were injured. Stommelen suffered multiple fractures and was in a critical condition after the accident. Mass was declared the winner in his Texaco McLaren-Ford, when the race was stopped immediately after the accident.[7]

Merzario and Mass led an Alfa Romeo sweep of the first two positions in the 1975 Coppa Florio manufacturers championship automobile race at Pergusa.[8] Mass was third in the 1975 French Grand Prix at Le Castellet. On lap 44 he broke the record set by Denny Hulme, clocking a time of 1:50.60 over the 3.61-mile circuit.[9] Mass and Jacky Ickx teamed in a Porsche to claim victory in the Dijon Six-Hour Race.[10] Mass won the eighth and final race of the 1976 World Sports Car Championship series. He completed the 4.2 kilometre, Salzburg course in 1 hour, 28 minutes, 25.24 seconds, with an average speed of 125 m.p.h.[11]

Mass with Ford Capri Turbo at the Nürburgring in 1980

Mass and Ickx drove a Porsche 935 in the 1977 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race. Mass was clocked at 126.477 m.p.h. around the 3.84 mile Daytona road course.[12] Mass won both 20-lap heats of the 1977 Jim Clark Memorial race in Hockenheim. He drove a March-BMW.[13] Mass' Arrows turned over several times at the 1980 Austrian Grand Prix at Zeltweg. He bruised his neck and wrenched a vertebra but was able to leave the hospital.[14]

Mass was convinced to stop racing Formula One cars after an accident with Mauro Baldi at the 1982 French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard. His March and the Arrows of Baldi touched at maximum speeds, both cars flying off the track and through a containment fence. Mass's car continued, hitting a tyre-lined guardrail. The March finally came to rest upside down and on fire, almost halfway into a spectator area. Amazingly he escaped with light burns only, and Baldi was uninjured.[15]

Among his many victories, in 1985 he won the Circuito del Mugello 1,000 km race in Italy driving a Porsche 962C and in 1987 partnered with Bobby Rahal to claim victory at the 1987 12 Hours of Sebring race. Mass and Bobby Rahal combined to win the Champion Spark Plug Grand Prix at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Driving a Porsche 962, they inherited the lead 18 laps from the end.[16] Mass won the most prestigious endurance race of all, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 1989 driving a Sauber Mercedes C9. It was the second triumph for Mercedes-Benz at Le Mans, their previous win having come in 1952.

Jochen Mass now drives the Mercedes-Benz museum's historic cars. In the 2004 Mille Miglia, he drove the original Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR that Stirling Moss had driven to victory in the 1955 race. To raise money for charity, the passenger seat next to him was auctioned off to the highest bidder.

From 1994 to 1998, he also announced the Formula One races for German broadcaster RTL.

Mass played himself in Ron Howard's 2013 film Rush.

Racing record

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Career summary

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Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
1971 European Formula Super Vee ? ? ? ? ? 15 6th
European Touring Car Championship ? ? ? ? ? 13 14th
Shellsport National British Formula Three 3 0 0 0 1 16 5th
1972 European Formula Two STP March Racing Team 4 0 0 0 0 1 27th
24 Hours of Le Mans Ford Motor Company Deutschland 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
British Saloon Car Championship Ford Köln 1 1 0 0 1 9 28th
British Saloon Car Championship - Class D 1 1 0 0 1 9 7th
1973 European Formula Two Team Surtees 13 2 2 3 6 42 2nd
Formula One 3 0 0 0 0 N/A NC
British Saloon Car Championship Ford Köln 2 0 0 1 1 6 29th
British Saloon Car Championship - Class D 2 0 0 1 1 6 8th
1974 Formula One Team Surtees 10 0 0 0 0 0 NC
Yardley McLaren 2 0 0 0 0
1975 Formula One Marlboro Team Texaco 14 1 0 1 4 20 8th
1976 Formula One Marlboro Team McLaren 16 0 0 1 2 19 9th
European Formula Two Project Four Racing 0 0 0 0 0 0 NC‡
Willi Kauhsen Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0
Fred Opert Racing 1 0 0 0 0
1977 Formula One Marlboro Team McLaren 17 0 0 0 2 25 6th
European Formula Two March Racing Ltd Yardley 2 2 1 1 2 0 NC‡
1978 Formula One ATS Racing 10 0 0 0 0 0 NC
European Formula Two ICI Chevron Cars 3 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Martini Racing Porsche System 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1979 Formula One Warsteiner Arrows 13 0 0 0 0 3 18th
1980 Formula One Warsteiner Arrows 11 0 0 0 0 4 17th
1981 24 Hours of Le Mans Porsche System 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 12th
1982 Formula One March Grand Prix 9 0 0 0 0 0 NC
24 Hours of Le Mans Rothmans Porsche 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd
1983 24 Hours of Le Mans Rothmans Porsche 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1985 24 Hours of Le Mans Rothmans Porsche 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 10th
1986 24 Hours of Le Mans Rothmans Porsche 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1987 24 Hours of Le Mans Rothmans Porsche AG 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1988 24 Hours of Le Mans Team Sauber Mercedes 0 0 0 0 0 N/A DNS
1989 24 Hours of Le Mans Team Sauber Mercedes 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 1st
1991 24 Hours of Le Mans Team Sauber Mercedes 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
1995 24 Hours of Le Mans West Competition / David Price Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF

‡ Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos. Pts
1972 STP March Racing Team March 722 Ford BDA MAL THR HOC
Ret 		PAU
Ret 		PAL
8 		HOC ROU
Ret 		ÖST IMO MAN PER SAL ALB HOC 27th 1
1973 Team Surtees FINA Surtees TS15 Ford BDA MAL
Ret 		HOC
Ret 		THR
DSQ 		NÜR
Ret 		PAU KIN
1 		NIV
2 		HOC
1 		ROU
2 		MNZ
Ret 		MAN
2 		KAR PER
3 		SAL NOR ALB
6 		VAL
Ret 		2nd 42
1976 Project Four Racing March 762 Lancia-Ferrari HOC
DNQ 		THR VAL SAL PAU NC 0‡
Willi Kauhsen Racing Team March 762 Hart HOC
Ret 		ROU MUG PER EST NOG
Fred Opert Racing Chevron B40 BMW HOC
6
1977 March Racing Ltd Yardley March 772P BMW SIL THR HOC
1 		NÜR
1 		VAL PAU MUG ROU NOG PER MIS EST DON NC 0‡
1978 ICI Chevron Cars Chevron B42 Hart THR
12 		HOC
7 		NÜR
8 		PAU MUG VAL ROU DON NOG PER MIS HOC NC 0

‡ Graded drivers not eligible for European Formula Two Championship points

24 Hours of Le Mans results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
1972 Germany Ford Motor Company Deutschland Germany Hans-Joachim Stuck Ford Capri 2600RS S
3.0 		152 DNF DNF
1978 Germany Martini Racing Porsche System Belgium Jacky Ickx
France Henri Pescarolo 		Porsche 936/78 S
+2.0 		255 DNF DNF
1981 Germany Porsche System Australia Vern Schuppan
United States Hurley Haywood 		Porsche 936 S
+2.0 		312 12th 2nd
1982 Germany Rothmans Porsche System Australia Vern Schuppan Porsche 956 C 356 2nd 2nd
1983 Germany Rothmans Porsche Germany Stefan Bellof Porsche 956 C 281 DNF DNF
1985 Germany Rothmans Porsche Belgium Jacky Ickx Porsche 962C C1 348 10th 10th
1986 Germany Rothmans Porsche France Bob Wollek
Australia Vern Schuppan 		Porsche 962C C1 180 DNF DNF
1987 Germany Rothmans Porsche AG France Bob Wollek
Australia Vern Schuppan 		Porsche 962C C1 16 DNF DNF
1988 Switzerland Team Sauber Mercedes Italy Mauro Baldi
United Kingdom James Weaver 		Sauber C9-Mercedes-Benz C1 – DNS DNS
1989 Germany Team Sauber Mercedes Germany Manuel Reuter
Sweden Stanley Dickens 		Sauber C9-Mercedes-Benz C1 389 1st 1st
1991 Germany Team Sauber Mercedes France Jean-Louis Schlesser
France Alain Ferté 		Mercedes-Benz C11 C2 319 DNF DNF
1995 United Kingdom West Competition
United Kingdom David Price Racing 		Denmark John Nielsen
Germany Dr. Thomas Bscher 		McLaren F1 GTR GT1 131 DNF DNF

Complete British Saloon Car Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap.)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pos. Pts Class
1972 Ford Köln Ford Capri RS2600 D BRH OUL THR SIL CRY BRH OUL SIL
1 		MAL BRH 28th 9 7th
1973 Ford Köln Ford Capri RS2600 D BRH SIL THR THR SIL ING BRH SIL
2 		BRH 29th 6 8th
Source:[17]

Complete Formula One World Championship results

[edit]

(key) (races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 WDC Points
1973 Team Surtees Surtees TS14A Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG BRA RSA ESP BEL MON SWE FRA GBR
Ret 		NED GER
7 		AUT ITA CAN USA
Ret 		NC 0
1974 Team Surtees Surtees TS16 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
Ret 		BRA
17 		RSA
Ret 		ESP
Ret 		BEL
Ret 		MON
DNS 		SWE
Ret 		NED
Ret 		FRA
Ret 		GBR
14 		GER
Ret 		AUT ITA NC 0
Yardley McLaren McLaren M23 CAN
16 		USA
7
1975 Marlboro Team Texaco McLaren M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
14 		BRA
3 		RSA
6 		ESP
1‡ 		MON
6 		BEL
Ret 		SWE
Ret 		NED
Ret 		FRA
3 		GBR
7 		GER
Ret 		AUT
4‡ 		ITA
Ret 		USA
3 		8th 20
1976 Marlboro Team McLaren McLaren M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 BRA
6 		RSA
3 		USW
5 		ESP
Ret 		BEL
6 		MON
5 		SWE
11 		FRA
15 		GBR
Ret 		GER
3 		AUT
7 		ITA
Ret 		CAN
5 		USA
4 		JPN
Ret 		9th 19
McLaren M26 NED
9
1977 Marlboro Team McLaren McLaren M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
Ret 		BRA
Ret 		RSA
5 		USW
Ret 		ESP
4 		MON
4 		BEL
Ret 		SWE
2 		FRA
9 		6th 25
McLaren M26 GBR
4 		GER
Ret 		AUT
6 		NED
Ret 		ITA
4 		USA
Ret 		CAN
3 		JPN
Ret
1978 ATS Racing ATS HS1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
11 		BRA
7 		RSA
Ret 		USW
Ret 		MON
DNQ 		BEL
11 		ESP
9 		SWE
13 		FRA
13 		GBR
NC 		GER
Ret 		AUT
DNQ 		NED
DNQ 		ITA USA CAN NC 0
1979 Warsteiner Arrows Arrows A1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
8 		BRA
7 		RSA
12 		USW
9 		ESP
8 		BEL
Ret 		MON
6 		18th 3
Arrows A2 FRA
15 		GBR
Ret 		GER
6 		AUT
Ret 		NED
6 		ITA
Ret 		CAN
DNQ 		USA
DNQ
1980 Warsteiner Arrows Arrows A3 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ARG
Ret 		BRA
10 		RSA
6 		USW
7 		BEL
Ret 		MON
4 		FRA
10 		GBR
13 		GER
8 		AUT
DNQ 		NED
DNS 		ITA CAN
11 		USA
Ret 		17th 4
1982 March Grand Prix March 821 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 RSA
12 		BRA
8 		USW
8 		SMR BEL
Ret 		MON
DNQ 		DET
7 		CAN
11 		NED
Ret 		GBR
10 		FRA
Ret 		GER AUT SUI ITA CPL NC 0

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.

Complete Formula One non-championship results

[edit]

(key)

Year Entrant Chassis Engine 1 2 3
1974 Team Surtees Surtees TS16 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 PRE
4 		ROC
DNS 		INT
2
1975 Marlboro Team Texaco McLaren M23 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC
Ret 		INT SUI
3
1979 Warsteiner Arrows Arrows A1 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ROC
4 		GNM DIN
1980 Warsteiner Arrows Arrows A3 Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8 ESP
2
Source:[18]

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jochen Mass.
  1. ^ FIA Year Book of Automobile Sport 1979. Patrick Stephens Ltd. white p. 39. ISBN 0-85059-320-4.
  2. ^ Ferrari Wins Nine-Hour Race, The Washington Post and Times-Herald, 5 November 1972, Page C13.
  3. ^ Beltoise, Mass Pace Trials, New York Times, April 8, 1973, Page 261.
  4. ^ Jarier Wins Easily, Washington Post, June 11, 1973, Page D3.
  5. ^ Stewart Captures Prix, Washington Post, August 6, 1973, Page D6.
  6. ^ Pace Victor in Prix As 150,000 Cheer, Washington Post, January 27, 1975, page D7.
  7. ^ 4 Die, 12 Injured As Race Car Hits Barcelona Crowd, Washington Post, April 28, 1975, page D2.
  8. ^ Alfa Romeos Sweep, Washington Post, May 19, 1975, Page D4.
  9. ^ Lauda Holds Off Hunt To Win French Grand Prix, Washington Post, July 7, 1975, Page D5.
  10. ^ Dijon Race Dominated By Porsches, Washington Post, September 5, 1976, Page 70.
  11. ^ "Porsches Place 1st, 2nd", Washington Post, September 20, 1976, Page D9.
  12. ^ Ickx-Mass Porsche Records Fastest Time, New York Times, February 3, 1977, Page 54.
  13. ^ Mass Wins Clark, Washington Post, April 18, 1977, Page D3.
  14. ^ Driving Incident, Kingston, Jamaica Gleaner, August 16, 1980, Page 10.
  15. ^ "Germany's Mass Takes Look At Long Career", European Stars And Stripes, Thursday, May 2, 1985, Page 13.
  16. ^ "Auto Racing", New York Times, June 8, 1987, Page C9.
  17. ^ de Jong, Frank. "British Saloon Car Championship". History of Touring Car Racing 1952-1993. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Jochen Mass – Involvement Non World Championship". statsf1.com. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
Sporting positions
Preceded by European Touring Car Champion
1972 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft
Champion
1985 		Succeeded by
End series
Preceded by Winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
1989
With: Manuel Reuter & Stanley Dickens 		Succeeded by
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