Vic Elford Biography, Wiki, Height, Weight, Racing Career & More

Vic Elford Biography: Victor Henry Elford was an English racer, rally driver, and Formula One driver. He raced in 13 World Championship F1 Grands Prix after debuting on July 7, 1968.

Vic Elford Biography

Vic Elford Biography: Vic Elford was born on 10 June 1935 in Peckham, London, England. He began as a co-driver in a Triumph TR3A with David Seigle-Morris. By 1961, he had the confidence to see himself as a potential driver in his own right; however, team manager Marcus Chambers did not share this confidence, and Elford purchased a race-tuned Mini, which he rallied with limited success as a pirate before selling it at the end of the season. In 1962 he won several UK rallies while driving a factory-sponsored DKW Junior.

Vic Elford Wiki

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Vic Elford Career

Elford was the European rally champion in 1967 while driving a factory Porsche 911S. Amongst other victories, he won the 1968 Rally Monte Carlo in a Porsche 911S and, a week later, the 24 Hours of Daytona in a Porsche 907, Porsche’s first-ever overall victory in a 24-hour competition. Later that same year, he won the Targa Florio with veteran Umberto Maglioli in a famous comeback race after losing 18 minutes on the first lap due to a tire failure. Elford then participated in the French Grand Prix and finished fourth in his first Formula 1 rainy race. Completing the 1969 Monaco Grand Prix despite difficulties, he became the only driver since Louis Chiron to perform well in these critical events in Monte Carlo.

In practice for the 1971 24 Hours of Le Mans, he recorded over 380 km/h in the Porsche 917LH while competing for Martini Racing against the powerful JWA Gulf team in the World Sportscar Championship. In a Porsche 917K, he went on to win the 1971 12 Hours of Sebring and several 1000km Nürburgring races. Elford stopped in the middle of the 1972 24 Hours of Le Mans to save the driver of a Ferrari Daytona that was on fire. Upon opening the door, Elford discovered an empty cockpit, as the pilot had already fled. Elford then observed the wreckage of a Lola among the trees, with Jo Bonnier’s body inside. Elford was designated Chevalier of the National Order of Merit by French President Georges Pompidou after he was captured on camera committing the crime.

He won the Targa Florio, Sebring, and Daytona races, but his favorite track was the Nürburgring, despite three unsuccessful F1 attempts there, including two lap-1 incidents. His last two GPs were held at the Nürburgring. Elford won six significant races, including the 1000 km and several 500 km events. This record has only been broken by Rudolf Caracciola and Stirling Moss. Elford established lap records at Targa Florio, Nürburgring, Daytona, Sebring, Norisring, Monza, Buenos Aires, Road Atlanta, Laguna Seca, Riverside, & Le Mans.