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Page 1 - 1950s - 1960s: Part 1
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THE FASTLANE :: Features :: Willy Mairesse - A Tribute :: Page 3
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Willy Mairesse made his comeback in 1964/65. He drove several cars, be it with his friend Jean Blaton for EGF, with the Scuderia Filipinetti or even with the BMW touring car squad. He had another fine victory at the 1965 Spa 500 km, his 'fetish' race, with a EGF entered Ferrari 250 LM. His final victory was driving a Porsche 906 for Scuderia Filipinetti at the 1966 Targa Florio. Having founded a successful business in the meantime, Mairesse spent less and less time at the racetracks. He merely drove from time to time when his friend Jean Blaton asked him to. Right up until that fateful day of 28th September 1968 at the Le Mans 24h, highlight of all sports cars races. Willy had never been lucky there... He started in a Claude Dubois entered Ford GT40, which was then a favourite car. Yet shortly after the start of the race, whilst still in the first lap the door latch came undone in the Mulsanne straight. The wind caused it to fly open and the car crashed very badly. Willy never fully recovered from his injuries and tragically did the unthinkable. Almost a year after the Le Mans tragedy, he brought an end to of his life. That day was 2 September 1969.
Impressions of the 1965 Le Mans 24h:
Enzo Ferrari himself still had high regards for Willy Mairesse's abilities as a test driver. And therefore it didn't come as a surprise when he entrusted a Ferrari 275 GTB to EGF for the pair Mairesse/'Beurlys'. And it paid out: they finished 3rd.
Impressions of the 1965 Spa-Francorchamps 24h:
Young German dirver Hubert Hahne has kept deep memories of his partnership with Mairesse. They were in the lead for most of the race, when 6 hours from the end, technical failure robbed the pair of what could have been a fine victory...
 
Impression of the 1966 Monza 1000 km:
In what was his first race with the Scuderia Filipinetti entered Ford GT40, Mairesse achieved 3rd place, partnering with young Herbert Müller.
Impression of the 1966 Targa Florio:
And in their second race of the year, Scuderia Filipinetti and the Mairesse/Müller pairing would mark two corner stones in racing history: the Scuderia's first win, and Willy's last...
Impression of the 1967 Spa 1000 km:
This picture shows the 'transfer of generation' between two great Belgian  drivers: Mairesse (Ferrari 330 P3/P4) and Ickx (Ford GT40). Young Jacky Ickx takes the lead of what would be his first win in a Manufacturer's World Championship race. Mairesse will be the only one to come near him during the race. Without success.
Ickx star has started to shine, and will do so for years to come... Willy later did crash, trying to achieve the unpossible, in front of his home crowd.
Impression of the 1968 Le Mans 24h:
| In front of his home crowd, Willy will give the best. The start is given and as usual, in his fashion, Willy takes the lead right away! He'll win, of course... |
A fiery passion along with bad luck and many accidents created the kind of driver very untypical in today's scene. In his lifetime, Willy Mairesse was seldom perceived as he really was. He had never taken care of his public image. Not being very talkative and in times not finding the right words, led him to use his hands instead. Willy Mairesse never won a Grand Prix and was never Word Champion. However, the memories he left behind are more tenacious than the ones left by some drivers with more talent or a better record. His career had its ups and downs for many reasons. Those who described him as too brave and fearless to the extreme used his numerous accidents as an obvious proof. But this statement needs to be weighed up. Willy Mairesse devoted ten years of his life to motor racing. As a pilot, he made mistakes and all too often, he was driven to extremes by his grim determination. But it must be said he was also hit by strokes of bad luck, particularly when he was about to reach his goal. At the twilight of his career, Mairesse himself confessed his inner spring had broken in June 1962 in Blanchimont. He went on racing afterwards, but driven by professionalism at first, by his will to rehabilitate later, and finally by friendship. Willy was beyond standards, the kind of man we fear will soon disappear, especially from the motor racing scene.
Willy Mairesse definitely deserved a tribute.
Original article, plus Comments, Pleasantries and Contributions:
http://www.racecarsgalore.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2789 |
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