Jochen Mass Biography: Jochen Mass raced in 114 Formula One World Championship Grands Prix, beginning with the British Grand Prix on 14 July 1973. He won one GP race (1975 Spanish Grand Prix), no pole positions, eight podium finishes, and 71 championship points.
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Jochen Mass Biography
Jochen Mass Biography: Jochen Mass was born on 30 September 1946 in Dorfen, Bavaria, Allied-occupied Germany. As of 2024, he is 77 years old. He won one Grand Prix at the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix. Mass competed in sports car racing, winning the 1989 24 Hours of Le Mans. His skill and dedication left a lasting impact on motorsport enthusiasts worldwide.
Jochen Mass Wiki
| Name | Jochen Mass |
| Date Of Birth | 30 September 1946 |
| Age | 77 years old (as of 2024) |
| Birth Place | Dorfen, Bavaria, Allied-occupied Germany |
| Height | N/A |
| Weight | N/A |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Profession | Racing Driver |
| Net Worth | N/A |
| Car Collection | N/A |
Also Read: John Watson Biography, Wiki, Height, Racing Career
Jochen Mass Career
Mass is perhaps best known for his on-track accident with Gilles Villeneuve, which resulted in Villeneuve’s death. Villeneuve collided with Mass on 8 May 1982, with only 10 minutes remaining in qualifying for the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder, while attempting to pass him. As Villeneuve approached Mass as he exited an extremely rapid left turn, Mass moved to the right side of the track to allow Villeneuve to pass.
Villeneuve had already committed to the right side, and when the two cars collided, the Canadian was thrown into the air. The car of Villeneuve impacted the ground nose-first and was later destroyed by a series of violent cartwheels. His seat became dislodged, and he was ejected from the vehicle, landing firmly among the catch fencing on the opposite side of the track. Mass halted his vehicle, exited, and returned to Villeneuve’s damaged car. Later that evening, Villeneuve was flown to a hospital and removed from life support.
In the early 1970s, Mass’ performance in the European Touring Car Championship took him to international prominence following his retirement from Formula One. In 1972, he and Hans-Joachim Stuck won the Spa 24 Hours endurance race in Belgium by driving a Ford Capri RS2600.
He went on to win the World Sportscar Championship that year. In a November 1972 9-hour race at the Kyalami lap in Johannesburg, South Africa, he finished second to Clay Regazzoni and Arturo Merzario. Gerry Birrell followed Mass in a Chevron B-21 as the co-driver. Mass, driving a Surtees TS-15, tied Jean Pierre Beltoise in qualifying for the Jim Clark Memorial Formula Two auto race contested at Hockenheim in April 1973. Both drivers recorded times of 2 minutes and 2.8 seconds, averaging 124.3 miles per hour.
In the 1977 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race, Mass and Ickx piloted a Porsche 935. Mass’ speed around the 3.84-mile Daytona road course was 126.477 mph. Mass won both 20-lap heats at Hockenheim’s 1977 Jim Clark Memorial Race. He drove a BMW in March. Mass’ Arrows flipped multiple times during the 1980 Austrian Grand Prix at Zeltweg. He sustained neck and vertebral fractures but was able to exit the hospital.
After an accident with Mauro Baldi at the 1982 French Grand Prix at Paul Ricard, Mass had enough to retire from Formula One racing. His March and the Arrows of Baldi crashed at top speed, sending both cars flying off the track and through the containment fence. Mass’s car continued and hit a guardrail lined with tires. The March finally came to rest almost halfway into the spectator area, flipped and burning. He luckily left with only minor burns, and Baldi was unharmed.
From 1994 to 1998, he also announced the Formula One races for German broadcaster RTL. He has also played himself in Run Howard’s 2013 movie “Rush”.
