Jean-Louis Schlesser

Jean-Louis Schlesser (born 12 September 1948) is a French racing driver who has competed in both circuit racing and cross-country rallying. He is the nephew of Jo Schlesser, a former Formula One driver. Jean-Louis entered two Formula One races five years apart. At the 1988 Italian Grand Prix, he and race leader Ayrton Senna crashed out after colliding; the race was ultimately the only one of the 1988 Formula One season which was not won by a McLaren.

Early career

Schlesser grew up in Morocco before returning to France to study and to complete military service. He began racing in the early 1970s after enrolling at the racing school at Le Mans, starting with numerous rally events. In 1976, he entered Formula Three, alternating between the French and European series for the next six years, and sharing the 1978 French championship with Alain Prost. In 1977, he began racing sports cars, and in 1981, he attempted the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time, placing second with Philippe Streiff and Jacky Haran. He also began racing touring cars in 1980, competing in the French Supertouring Championship. In 1982, he moved from Formula Three to Formula Two, but it was not a success. Nonetheless, he moved into Formula One in 1983, while continuing to race sports cars and touring cars.

Formula One

Schlesser was working as a test driver for Williams when he gained his first taste of Formula One (F1) in early 1983 when he bought a drive in the RAM team's March-RAM 01-Cosworth. His first race was the non-championship Race of Champions at Brands Hatch, where he started last of the 13 entrants and finished sixth. A week later, at the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, he was the slowest of the 29 cars in qualifying and thus failed to qualify. He did not take part in another F1 race for five years, though he continued to test for Williams, and was active in sports car racing.

1988 Italian Grand Prix

In 1988, Williams called upon Schlesser to deputise for an unwell Nigel Mansell at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza. With 26 of the 31 cars allowed to start, Schlesser qualified 22nd, and thus made his Grand Prix debut the day before his 40th birthday.

In the race, Schlesser worked his way up to 11th, while Ayrton Senna led from pole position in his McLaren. In the closing stages, the Ferraris of Gerhard Berger and Michele Alboreto started to catch Senna, and were only a few seconds behind at the start of lap 49, with three laps remaining. At that point, Senna came up to lap Schlesser for the second time. Going into the tight Rettifilo chicane at the end of the start-finish straight, Schlesser went wide, expecting Senna to pass on the inside, and in the process locked his brakes. Wishing to keep his car on the track, Schlesser turned inside, and his left front wheel hit Senna's right rear. With the rear suspension broken, the McLaren spun and beached itself on a kerb, leaving the Ferraris to secure a one-two finish on home soil, less than a month after Enzo Ferrari's death.

Twenty-five years later, at the 2013 Monaco Grand Prix, McLaren chairman Ron Dennis was reintroduced to Schlesser. Dennis said, "This is the man who ruined my life and our perfect record back in 1988." Schlesser said that "what happened that day at Monza kept you hungry."

Touring car and sports car racing

The mid-1980s saw Schlesser perform in touring cars and sports cars, winning the French Touring Car Championship in 1985 with a TWR Rover Vitesse, as well as driving the works TWR Jaguars in the World Sportscar Championship. In 1986, he raced in the British Touring Car Championship, again in a TWR Rover Vitesse.

In 1988, Schlesser joined the Sauber-Mercedes squad full-time, winning the German Supercup and finishing the World Sportscar Championship in second place, (behind Martin Brundle).

Returning to the podium for 2004 Dakar Rally with third overall, and once again in 2007, beating many factory efforts and winning stages, Schlesser and his team continued to compete in the event until 2008 Dakar Rally. That year, the rally raid was cancelled due to concerns over a possible terrorist attack. The outfit had three cars entered but did not return for the 2009 event.

Schlesser also won the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup from 1998 to 2002 and the 2 WD FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup several times. Schlesser won every edition of the Africa Eco Race from its establishment in 2009 to 2014.

Racing record

Complete World Sportscar Championship results

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Entrant

! Class

! Chassis

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! Pts

| 1977

! KWS-Freizeit-Racing-Team 77

! Div. 1

! Ford Escort

! Ford 2.0 L4

| DAY

| MUG

| SIL

|style="background: #EFCFFF"| NÜR

| GLN

| MOS

| BRH

| HOC

| VAL

|colspan=6|

!colspan=2|

|rowspan=2| 1979

! Jacques Guérin

!rowspan=2| GT +2.0

!rowspan=2| Porsche 911SC

!rowspan=2| Porsche 3.0 F6

| DAY

| MUG

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DIJ

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL

| NÜR

| PER

| GLN

|colspan=8|

!rowspan=2 colspan=2|

! Gerard Bleynie

|colspan=7|

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRH

| VAL

|colspan=6|

| 1980

! Jacques Guérin

! GT +2.0

! Porsche 934

! Porsche 3.0 F6t

| DAY

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| BRH

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MUG

| MNZ

| SIL

| NÜR

| LMS

| GLN

| MOS

| VAL

| DIJ

|colspan=4|

!colspan=2|

|rowspan=2| 1981

! Jean Rondeau

! GTP 3.0

! Rondeau M379

! Ford Cosworth DFV 3.0 V8

| DAY

| SEB

| MUG

| MNZ

| RSD

| SIL

| NÜR

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| LMS

| PER

| DAY

| GLN

|colspan=4|

!rowspan=2| 112th

!rowspan=2| 20

! KWS Motorsport

! serT+2.5

! Ford Capri

! Ford 3.0 V8

|colspan=11|

|style="background: #EFCFFF"| SPA

| MOS

| ROA

| BRH

| 1982

! BASF Cassetten Team GS Sport

! C

! Sauber SHS C6

! Cosworth DFL 4.0 V8

| MNZ

| SIL

| NÜR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LMS

| SPA

| MUG

| FUJ

| BRH

|colspan=7|

! NC

! 0

| 1983

! John Fitzpatrick Racing

! C

! Porsche 956

! Porsche Type 935 2.6 F6t

| MNZ

| SIL

| NÜR

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LMS

| SPA

| FUJ

| KYA

|colspan=8|

! 93rd

! 1

| 1984

! New-Man Joest Racing

! C1

! Porsche 956

! Porsche Type 935 2.6 F6t

| MNZ

| SIL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LMS

| NÜR

| BRH

| MOS

| SPA

| IMO

| FUJ

| KYA

| SAN

|colspan=4|

! NC

! 0

|rowspan=2| 1985

! John Fitzpatrick Racing

!rowspan=2| C1

! Porsche 962C

! Porsche Type 935 2.6 F6t

| MUG

| MNZ

| SIL

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| LMS

| HOC

|colspan=10|

!rowspan=2| NC

!rowspan=2| 0

! TWR Jaguar

! Jaguar XJR-6

! Jaguar 6.2 V12

|colspan=5|

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MOS

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SPA

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| BRH

| FUJ

| SHA

|colspan=5|

|rowspan=2| 1986

!rowspan=2| TWR Jaguar

!rowspan=2| C1

!rowspan=2| Jaguar XJR-6

! Jaguar 6.5 V12

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MNZ

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NOR

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BRH

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| JER

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NÜR

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ

|colspan=6|

!rowspan=2| 20th

!rowspan=2| 22

! Jaguar 6.0 V12

|colspan=2|

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LMS

|colspan=12|

| 1987

! Kouros Racing

! C1

! Sauber C9

! Mercedes-Benz M117 5.0 V8t

| JAR

| JER

| MNZ

| SIL

| LMS

| NOR

| BRH

| NÜR

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA

| FUJ

|colspan=5|

! 47th

! 4

| 1988

! Team Sauber Mercedes

! C1

! Sauber C9

! Mercedes-Benz M117 5.0 V8t

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| JER

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| JAR

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MNZ

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SIL

| LMS

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| BRN

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NÜR

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SPA

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FUJ

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SAN

|colspan=4|

!style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

!style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 208 (259)

| 1989

! Team Sauber Mercedes

! C1

! Sauber C9

! Mercedes-Benz M119 5.0 V8t

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SUZ

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| DIJ

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| JAR

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| BRH

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NÜR

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| DON

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SPA

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MEX

|colspan=7|

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

!style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 115 (127)

|rowspan=2| 1990

!rowspan=2| Team Sauber Mercedes

!rowspan=2| C

! Mercedes-Benz C9

!rowspan=2| Mercedes-Benz M119 5.0 V8t

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SUZ

|colspan=14|

!rowspan=2 style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

!rowspan=2 style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 49.5

! Mercedes-Benz C11

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| MNZ

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SIL

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| DIJ

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NÜR

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| DON

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| CGV

|style="background:#000000; color: #ffffff"| MEX

|colspan=6|

|rowspan=2| 1991

!rowspan=2| Team Sauber Mercedes

! C2

! Mercedes-Benz C11

! Mercedes-Benz M119 5.0 V8t

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SUZ

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| MNZ

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SIL

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LMS

|colspan=11|

!rowspan=2| 7th

!rowspan=2| 45

! C1

! Mercedes-Benz C291

! Mercedes-Benz M291 3.5 F12

|colspan=4|

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| NÜR

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MAG

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MEX

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| AUT

|colspan=7|

!colspan=22|

;Footnotes:

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"

! Year

! Team

! Co-Drivers

! Car

! Class

! Laps

! 1981

|align="left"| Jean Rondeau

|align="left"| Jacky Haran Philippe Streiff

|align="left"| Rondeau M379-Ford Cosworth

| GTP 3.0

| 340

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| 2nd

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st

! 1982

|align="left"| BASF Cassetten Team GS Sport

|align="left"| Hans-Joachim Stuck Dieter Quester

|align="left"| Sauber SHS C6-Ford Cosworth

| C

| 76

| DNF

! 1983

|align="left"| Preston Henn T-Bird Swap Shop John Fitzpatrick Racing

|align="left"| Preston Henn Claude Ballot-Léna

|align="left"| Porsche 956

| C

| 327

| 10th

! 1984

|align="left"| New-Man Joest Racing

|align="left"| Stefan Johansson Mauricio De Narváez

|align="left"| Porsche 956

| C1

| 170

| DNF

! 1985

|align="left"| John Fitzpatrick Racing

|align="left"| Kenny Acheson Dudley Wood

|align="left"| Porsche 962C

| C1

| -

| DNQ

! 1986

|align="left"| Silk Cut Jaguar Tom Walkinshaw Racing

|align="left"| Derek Warwick Eddie Cheever

|align="left"| Jaguar XJR-6

| C1

| 239

| DNF

! 1989

|align="left"| Team Sauber Mercedes

|align="left"| Jean-Pierre Jabouille Alain Cudini

|align="left"| Sauber C9-Mercedes

| C1

| 378

| 5th

! 1991

|align="left"| Team Sauber Mercedes

|align="left"| Jochen Mass Alain Ferté

|align="left"| Mercedes-Benz C11

| C2

| 319

| DNF

!colspan="8"|

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Entrant

! Chassis

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! Pts

! Maurer Motorsport

! Maurer MM82

! BMW

| SIL

| HOC

| THR

| NÜR

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MUG

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| VAL

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PAU

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA

| HOC

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| DON

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MAN

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PER

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| MIS

! NC

! 0

!colspan="19"|

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

(key)

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Team

! Car

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! 19

! 20

! 21

! 22

! 23

! 24

! Pts

| 1988

! AMG Motorenbau GmbH

! Mercedes 190E 2.3-16

| ZOL 1

| ZOL 2

| HOC 1

| HOC 2

| NÜR 1

| NÜR 2

| BRN 1

| BRN 2

| AVU 1

| AVU 2

| MFA 1

| MFA 2

| NÜR 1

| NÜR 2

| NOR 1

| NOR 2

| WUN 1

| WUN 2

| SAL 1

| SAL 2

| HUN 1

| HUN 2

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HOC 1

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HOC 2

! 27th

! 21

Filmography

Taxi 2 (2000)

References

External links

Jean-Louis Schlesser Official website
Africa Race Official website
Interview with Schlesser

Early career

Formula One

1988 Italian Grand Prix

Touring car and sports car racing

Racing record

Complete World Sportscar Championship results

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results

Complete European Formula Two Championship results

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft results

Filmography

See also

References

External links