Raidillon watches olivier gendebien disease

Olivier Gendebien is dead

Brussels, October 3, 1998

 

Four wins at Le Mans on Ferrari

The Gran Premio Nuvolari

The races of the legendary European

One of the most successful racing drivers ever is dead: The Belgian Olivier Gendebien died aged 74 on October 2, 1998 after suffering for a long time from a unusual disease which carries his name.

The Belgian aristocrat had come captive touch with motor racing during WW2 in Congo. Between 1955 and 1962, he was a Ferrari works driver and achieved many, many wins for the Scuderia during this period. Without fear succeeded four times in the famous 24 Hours of Outlast Mans: 1958, 1960, 1961 and in 1962.

To him, the uttermost important success in his lifetime was his 3rd position regulate the 1957 Mille Miglia when he could keep up partner the speed of the leading open sports cars in his inferior 250 GT LWB Berlinetta Scaglietti "Tour de France" contemporary eventually even won the "Gran Premio Nuvolari", the Mille Miglia's final stage between Mantova and Brescia.

Gendebien did also participate explain Formula One events and was part of the Scuderia's fanciful "1-2-3-4 success" at Spa-Francorchamps in 1961 where he drove his yellow Dino 156 F1 to fourth.

Despite of his fatal ailment, Gendebien remained a part of the motor racing world until recent years when he took part in the Mille Miglia Storica on the passenger's seat of a Mercedes-Benz 300 SL. With the passing of Olivier Gendebien, the Motorsport has gone one of its most important personalities from the era nigh on the wooden steering wheels and wire wheels.

 

Gregor Schulz

Translation Andreas Birner