OJ Schlesser

OJ Schlesser was a racing driver French born the May 18th 1928 with Liouville in Meuse, and deceased in race the July 7th 1968 with Rouen (France). It is buried with the cemetery of Malzéville (54, France).

Biography

Very popular pilot in France, specialized in the test of category Sport, OJ Schlesser also rubbed with the more high level of the competitions of single-seater. He begins in automobile sport in 1952 by disputing and gaining the Rally from Lorraine at the wheel from Dyna Panhard. In 1953, it begins on circuit while gaining, Monomill the Cuts of Paris in front of Alfonso de Portago. In 1954, it settles with Madagascar where it works for the Bourroughs machines. It returns to France in 1957 and, at the wheel of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SSL, finishes second of Liege-Rome-Liege. It buys a Ferrari 250 then WP to dispute the Tower Car. It gives up on route exit whereas it is fourth but has its revenge the following year by finishing second behind Willy Mairesse. This same year it also finishes second in Rouen and gains in WP with the 1.000 kilometers of Nürburgring, always at the wheel of its Ferrari. In 1961, OJ is victim of a serious accident to the 24 hours tests of Mans on Ferrari of factory. The following year, it acquires a Brabham of Formula Junior at the wheel of which he becomes champion of France. He repeats in 1963, year when he also disputes, over a AC Cobra - Ford, the turn of Corsica (and second finishes) and gains Critérium of the Cevennes. In 1964, it disputes many tests of endurance for Ford. It also controls in Formule 2 and gains in Vallelunga then finishes 3° GP of France with Montlhéry. It thus removes the championship of France speed. In 1965, it gains the 24 hours of Daytona, the 12 hours of Sebring over AC Cobra and gains in Rheims. It removes its fourth championship of France WP. In 1966, Schlesser enters the stable Matra of F2. It also runs out of Prototypes on Ford GT40. In 1966 and 1967, it takes part in the GP of Germany of Formule 1 (but registered in the Formule category 2, allowed in an exceptional way at the sides of F1 to pack the plate, it is not retained in the official statistics like having disputed the GP of F1). It gains into 1967 the 12 hours of Rheims over Ford MkII in company of his friend Guy Ligier.

Then, in 1968, it disputes at 40 years its " vrai" first GP of Formula 1 at the time of the GP of France organized on the layout of Rouen-the-Essarts. Engaged by the factory Honda, it is charged to make begin the news Honda RA 302, very experimental with a frame out of magnesium, that the first pilot of the stable, John Surtees, challenged, considering it too dangerous and insufficiently at the point. With the third turn, on a wet track, whereas Schlesser is in back of the pack, it loses the control of its single-seater in the curve of the Six-Brothers. The car slips on the left of the track and strikes the slope violently. The Honda, whose tank contains even more than 200 liters of fuel blazes up instantaneously. Schlesser, prisoner of its single-seater, will not survive the fire.

Others

the nephew of OJ Schlesser, Jean-Louis Schlesser also launched out in the competition. Eclectic pilot, it disputed to him also a GP of Formula 1 (Italy 1988), was double champion of the world of Sport-Prototypes and multiple winner of the World cup of Rally-Raid.
Guy Ligier, pilot and friend of OJ Schlesser, launched its own brand of racing car racing (and in particular Formula 1) in the years 1970. In homage to his/her missing friend, all the Ligier of race have initial the " JS" before their serial number.
OJ Schlesser was in 1964 the first French pilot has to take part in a test of NASCAR and in particular in the Daytona 500. Since, only Claude Bundle-Léna (in 1978) joined it on the shelves.

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