Willy Mairesse Belgian racing driver Date of Birth: 01.10.1928 Country: Belgium

1. Biography of Willy Mairesse
2. Early Career
3. Successes and Setbacks
4. Formula-1 Career
5. Later Career and Tragedy
6. Final Years

Biography of Willy Mairesse

Belgian racing driver, two-time winner of the Targa Florio, and a pilot of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and Formula-1, Willy Mairesse had a successful career in motorsports.

Early Career

Mairesse's first major sporting achievement came in 1956 when he won the Liège-Rome-Liège rally driving a Mercedes 300SL. His main rival at the time was fellow Belgian Olivier Gendebien, and the two Belgians engaged in a long-standing rivalry.

Successes and Setbacks

In 1957, Mairesse experienced multiple accidents in sports car racing, but in 1958, he achieved second place in the 12 Hours of Reims race driving a Ferrari Berlinetta alongside Jacques Swaters. The following year, Mairesse and Gendebien competed against each other once again, this time in the Tour de France Automobile race. Mairesse outperformed Gendebien in some special stages but was unable to win the race.

Formula-1 Career

In 1960, Mairesse caught the attention of the Scuderia Ferrari team, and he was given the opportunity to participate in the Targa Florio, where he finished fourth. He also began his Formula-1 career that year, achieving third place in the Italian Grand Prix. Mairesse's success continued with his first victory in the Tour de France Automobile.

Later Career and Tragedy

In 1961, Mairesse achieved several victories in Gran Turismo and finished second in the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside Mike Parkes. However, he did not find success in Formula-1. After an accident at the German Grand Prix, Mairesse's career was in question, but his victory in the Tour de France Automobile secured him a place as a test driver for Scuderia Ferrari.

In 1962, Mairesse had a strong start to the season, winning the Brussels and Naples Grands Prix, as well as the Targa Florio, alongside his long-time rival, Olivier Gendebien. However, he suffered burns in an accident during the Belgian Grand Prix, which forced him to miss three subsequent races. Mairesse finished fourth in the Italian Grand Prix that year.

In 1963, Mairesse continued racing for Ferrari and achieved second place in the Targa Florio, but after an incident at the German Grand Prix, he was dismissed from the team. He then joined Equipe National Belge and won the Angolan Grand Prix in 1964 and the Spa 500 Kilometers in 1965.

Final Years

In 1966, Mairesse won the Targa Florio for the second time, this time alongside Herbert Müller. However, his racing career took a tragic turn in 1968 when he was involved in an accident during the 24 Hours of Le Mans while driving a Ford GT40. Mairesse suffered injuries that prevented him from fully recovering, and in 1969, without any chance of returning to racing, he tragically took his own life.