Jean Louis Schlesser Biography, Wiki, Height, Weight, Racing Career, Dating & More

Jean Louis Schlesser Biography: Jean-Louis Schlesser is a French racer who competed in circuit racing and cross-country rallying. He is well-known for his victories in a variety of competitions. He is the nephew of former Formula One driver Jo Schlesser.

Jean Louis Schlesser Biography

Jean Louis Schlesser Biography: Jean-Louis Schlesser was born on 12 September 1948 in Nancy, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France. After enrolling in the racing school at Le Mans in the early 1970s, he began competing in numerous rally events. In 1976, he entered Formula Three, spending the next six years alternating between the French and European series and winning the 1978 French championship alongside Alain Prost. In 1981, he attempted the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time, finishing second alongside Philippe Streiff and Jacky Haran. In 1980, he began racing touring cars in the French Supertouring Championship. The 1982 transition from Formula Three to Formula Two was unsuccessful. Despite this, in 1983, he moved to Formula One while continuing to contest sports cars and touring cars.

Jean Louis Schlesser Wiki

Also Read: Tony Brise Biography, Wiki, Height, Weight, Racing Career, Dating & Cause of Death

Jean Louis Schlesser Career

Schlesser got his first taste of Formula One (F1) in early 1983 when he purchased a drive in the RAM team’s March-RAM 01-Cosworth while working as a test driver for Williams. His first race was the non-championship Race of Champions at Brands Hatch, in which he finished sixth after starting last among 13 competitors. One week later, in qualifying for the French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, he was the slowest of 29 cars and therefore did not reach the grid. Five years he was passed before he participated in another F1 race, though he continued to test for Williams and compete in sports car competitions. In 1988, Williams hired Schlesser to replace a sick Nigel Mansell at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. Schlesser qualified 22nd out of the 31 cars permitted to start and thus made his Grand Prix debut the day before his 40th birthday.

Schlesser advanced to eleventh place during the race, while Ayrton Senna led from pole position in his McLaren. In the closing phases, the Ferraris of Gerhard Berger and Michele Alboreto began to close in on Senna, and by the beginning of lap 49, three laps from the finish, they were only a few seconds behind. At that moment, Senna approached Schlesser to complete his second lap.

Schlesser activated his brakes as he entered the Rettifilo chicane at the end of the start-finish straight, anticipating that the Brazilian driver would pass him on the inside. Schlesser turned inside to stay on the track, and his left front tire collided with Senna’s right rear. Less than a month after Enzo Ferrari’s death, the McLaren’s rear suspension failed, causing it to spin and become stranded on a barrier, while the Ferraris secured a one-two finish at home. Additionally, the collision prohibited the 1988 McLaren team from winning all 16 races.