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Porsche congratulates Derek Bell on his 80th birthday Five victories at Le Mans, four in a Porsche / Teammate of Jacky Ickx and Hans-Joachim Stuck
Stuttgart . Derek Bell still has it – a certain, special smile that induced fear in many of his competitors at the race track: warm, yet confident of victory at the same time. On 31 October, the Briton celebrates his 80th birthday. "We would like to wish our former works driver a very happy birthday. Derek Bell was a successful driver for
Born on 31 October 1941 in the London suburb of Pinner in Middlesex, Bell was 23 when he began his racing career at British club events. Just one year later, in 1965, he was competing in the British Formula Three Championship. His talent didn’t go unnoticed, and promotion to the Formula Two European Championship and Formula One quickly followed. The Brit contested his first endurance race at the Circuit de la Sarthe in 1970, and his final 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1996. He started Le Mans no fewer than 26 times and took victory on five occasions, including four times in a
“I first competed for
Bell scored numerous victories in the
Results during his racing career with
1971
1st place 1,000km Buenos Aires,
5th place 12h Sebring,
3rd place 1,000km Brands Hatch,
2nd place 1,000km Monza,
2nd place 1,000km Spa,
3rd place 6h Watkins Glen,
2nd place 1,000km Barcelona,
1st place 1,000km Paris,
1976
3rd place 1,000km Nürburgring,
7th place 1,000km Nürburgring,
4th place 6h Zeltweg,
3rd place 6h Monza,
1978
3rd place 1,000km Nürburgring,
1979
3rd place 6h Riverside,
1980
2nd place 6h Vallelunga,
1981
2nd place 24h Daytona,
1st place 24h Le Mans,
1st place 500km Mid Ohio,
1982
2nd place 24h Daytona,
2nd place 6h Silverstone,
1st place 24h Le Mans,
2nd place 1,000km Spa,
1st place 6h Fuji,
1st place 1,000km Brands Hatch,
2nd place 9h Kyalami,
3rd place 3h Daytona,
1983
1st place Brands Hatch,
1st place 6h Riverside,
1st place 1,000km Silverstone,
2nd place 24h Le Mans,
2nd place 1,000km Spa,
3rd place 1,000km Brands Hatch,
1st place 1,000km Fuji,
3rd place 1,000km Mugello,
1st place 1,000km Kyalami,
1984
2nd place 24h Daytona,
3rd place 12h Sebring,
1st place 1,000km Monza,
2nd place 6h Riverside,
1st place 500km Mid Ohio,
1st place 6h Watkins Glen,
1st place 1,000km Nürburgring,
3rd place 3h Portland,
1st place 500 Miles Road America,
1st place 1,000km Spa,
1st place 500km Pocono,
1st place 1,000km Fuji,
1st place 3h Daytona,
1st place 1,000km Sandown,
1985
2nd place 24h Daytona,
1st place 3h Miami,
2nd place 12h Sebring,
2nd place 1,000km Monza,
2nd place 1,000km Silverstone,
1st place 500km Charlotte,
1st place 500km Mid Ohio,
3rd place 24h Le Mans,
1st place 3h Watkins Glen,
1st place 1,000km Hockenheim,
1st place 1,000km Mosport,
2nd place 1,000km Spa,
1st place 500km Ponoco,
1st place 1,000km Brands Hatch,
1st place 500km Watkins Glen,
10/14/2021
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